How weather became one of the most important parts of local news

This article is part of The Poynter 50, a series reflecting on 50 moments and people that shaped journalism over the past half-century — and continue to influence its future.  

The Weather Channel, Doppler radar and a new generation of meteorologists transformed forecasts from filler into one of local news’ defining features

When James Spann began his career in Alabama as a broadcast meteorologist in the 1970s, TV station owners were reluctant to devote much airtime to something as mundane as the weather. “I would break into prime-time programming, or whatever, and say, ‘We’ve got a tornado warning here,’ and then you’d have to go right back to regular programming,” he said.

If viewers missed the update, they might not know a tornado was heading their way until the sirens sounded or the sky turned green.

Before The Weather Channel launched in 1982, weather was often treated as a light segment near the end of the local newscast. Over the next several decades, that changed dramatically. Forecasts became a ratings driver, meteorologists became trusted local celebrities and stations poured money into radar, graphics and severe weather coverage.