by Allison Hickman

Created on: July 22, 2008

If only I would have had more interest in chemistry class in high school to have had the opportunity to pursue a degree in meteorology in college. My life would be saturated (no pun intended) with blizzards, wind storms, and hurricanes. The sad truth is I engross myself in these news making weather events anyhow through my constant obsession with the Weather Channel; I am a self-professed Weather Channel junkie.

I thought it brilliant when, in 1982, someone toyed around with the ingenious idea of creating a television station entirely devoted to weather related stories and local weather for those around our country (later adding world-weather forecasts as well). People were able to tune in anytime, day or night, and check the current/future forecast for their specific area. Just about everyone I know has some sort of fascination with weather, whether it's snow, hurricanes or just good old fashioned thunderstorms.

The Weather Channel has grown in popularity over the past several years and hit an all time high during its coverage on Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Raw coverage of the savage devastation by this weather system was brought into thousands of homes all over the world by the Weather Channel meteorologist who put themselves into the depths of the storm so that the world could follow along, hour by hour as if they were there themselves. The Weather Channel coverage made a human connection in regards to Katrina like no other weather reporting in the past and supported the claim that their channel delivers the most comprehensive hurricane coverage of any other news channel.

The name Jim Cantore, synonymous with the Weather Channel due to his animated reporting and award winning coverage, has made a permanent place for himself within the meteorological community. He is the guy who Americans have come to know and expect to see in the thickest of storms reporting while trying not to be blown away by 100 mile per hour winds.

The world speaks different languages, practices several diverse religions, and enjoys dissimilar cuisine, but the one thing we can all relate to and pay attention to is the weather. Why? It is one of the few things in this high-tech society that remains truly unpredictable no matter how many types of Doppler radars are perfected and how many past weather patterns are studied.

The Weather Channel has even created a popular series that focuses on the environment; Forecast Earth. It revolves around the earth's environmental challenges and what society needs to be focusing its attention on to preserve our planet. The series showcases the harmful effects the rising population has had on our planet over the past century and presents solutions to further damage.

Out of curiosity (or obsession according to my family) I tune into the Weather Channel daily to view the local radar when there is impending weather looming in the shadows. Thanks to the Weather Channel many people have this opportunity as well and if there is inclement weather on their horizon, it is comforting to know that this channel is available to cover the latest in weather twenty-four hours a day so one can always remain informed.

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