Embedded Files
Blake Harms
Presentation Topic:
Presentation Topic:
Snow Day Predictions
Snow Day Predictions
Synopsis:
Blake will focus on predicting school closings, or 'snow days', a brand he's built over the past twelve years. He'll share how the process began, where it went and what it looks like now. He'll also discuss the importance of impact-based forecasting, and how to tailor those special forecasts to specific audiences in the age of fractured media consumption.
Speaker Bio:
Blake Harms is a meteorologist at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids. He's from Hudsonville, where his family still resides. Blake is a graduate of Valparaiso University, where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Meteorology in 2021. He began his career at WLNS-TV in Lansing before moving back to West Michigan in 2022.
Blake Harms AMS presentation.pdfMeeting Minutes
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, October 23
WMAA Flight Training Center
4151 Aviator Way, Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Officers Present: Alana Dachtler, Matt Kirkwood, Aubrey Papke, & Kim Scholten
Attendance: Bill DeVries, Jim Carpenter, Warren Wheeler, Kreigh Tomaszewski, Logan Breaker
Call to order: 6:43 pm
Blake Harms ~ School Closing Wood TV8 Predictions
President Alana Dachtler welcomes everyone and opens with Andy's Treasury report:
Savings: 729.82$
Checking: 5.31$
Unfortunately, the next meeting for November is a bit different, the location will be in the old classroom at the Academy at 6:30 on November 21st which is a Thursday. At-Large, Kim Scholten, announces that there are two more days for the photo contest on the 25th. Blake Harms then starts his presentation by giving some background information; he attended Hudsonville High School and Valparaiso University for his studies in Meteorology. He tells the group that he started the snow day predictions in high school and then started them at WLNS-TV. Afterward, he went to Wood TV8 which made its own segment just for him while he was still a junior in college! Blake describes how he uses the aspect of social media to promote his predictions since most people pay attention to that instead of the news, especially the younger generation.
Blake then talks about his difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic since all schools were closed, he created a special school openings segment. Blake explains all the factors he looks at in his predictions along with the complications. Some examples for predicting are: temperature, timing, and amount of precipitation. Some examples of complications are: sways in the opinion of superintendents, parents' opinions, and the allotted six days by the state for snow days. Blake also talks about the difficulties in which most people don't really need weather in the news anymore and how they have adapted to applying forecasts to driving conditions, weather Q&A questions, and outdoor activities. Blake talks about the evolving use of psychology to the snow day predictions for example the personality of the superintendent can sway decision-making. Blake goes into detail about his respect for superintendents who will ask him for advice and use their resources wisely by connecting with professionals in the meteorology field. Blake opens it up for discussion and questions.
Meeting adjourned: 7:30 pm
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