Local meteorologists

[Bill Robertson]

I saw the youtube video. I can't understand where she said whatever she said, my computer speakers are crappy.

I played it on good speakers and I don't hear it. Yeah she got tongue tied and said something that sounded kind of like the n-word but it sure seemed unintentional.

[jn1780]

Emily Sutton and her husband are expecting their first child in November.

[Bill Robertson]

Emily Sutton and her husband are expecting their first child in November.

I saw her "announcing" it this morning. It's been pretty obvious for the last month or so she was pregnant but with the hard time they've had making it happen I figured she'd wait until the second trimester to say anything.

[Bill Robertson]

Jeff George has been covering hurricane Ian on NPR this morning.

[Brett]

I noticed that Eric Garlick is no longer with KOCO. Eric's replacement is a Tulsa/Broken Arrow transplant and OU grad named Taylor Cox.

Taylor Cox announced over the weekend that it was her last weather forecast at KOCO. She will be pursuing "other opportunities",

[Brett]

I must have missed his last day but Damien Lodes is no longer employed at KFOR. I was perusing the news personalities roster on the KFOR website and noticed that his image and profile were gone.

[SoonerDave]

I must have missed his last day but Damien Lodes is no longer employed at KFOR. I was perusing the news personalities roster on the KFOR website and noticed that his image and profile were gone.

On his Instagram, he said he took a position with AccuWeather.

[PhiAlpha]

He brings lodes of experience

[crimsoncrazy]

Cassie Heiter from channel 9 is moving to a station in Dallas.

[jn1780]

He brings lodes of experience

I know this is an old post, but good one. lol

[SoonerDave]

Cassie Heiter from channel 9 is moving to a station in Dallas.

Wondering if that's part of more belt tightening at KWTV. She's been there a long time.

[scottk]

Wondering if that's part of more belt tightening at KWTV. She's been there a long time.

I think it's quite a career jump moving from a locally owned affiliate, where there was no sign of advancement in regards to David Payne leaving or retiring, and moving from OKC TV Market #42 to a corporate owned station in Dallas/Fort Worth market #4. Probably a nice bump in salary, and depending on personal or family goals, DFW has a lot of positive things that are a bonus for moving to Texas. She is leaving a severe weather TV market, but probably will have a more traditional schedule in the spring months at WFAA.

Rick Mitchell did the same jump a few years back after around 20 years at KOCO, he made the jump to DFW and the NBC affiliate and seems to be doing quite well.

[jn1780]

She did say it was a rare opportunity she couldn't refuse.

Unless you are the chief meteorologist or the morning show meteorologist where you develop your own little fanbase from all the special segments you do, being an OKC meteorologist doesn't seem all that glamorous. A lot of them have left tv and went on to other gigs.

[kukblue1]

She did say it was a rare opportunity she couldn't refuse.

Unless you are the chief meteorologist or the morning show meteorologist where you develop your own little fanbase from all the special segments you do, being an OKC meteorologist doesn't seem all that glamorous. A lot of them have left tv and went on to other gigs.

I'll disagree with you there. The OKC Market is a dream job for a lot of tv meteorologist. Sure some have left but there have been some around a long time. Morgan still there, Rick Mitchell went on to Dallas but Damon Lane been there a long time. Payne too over for England who was there a long time and Payne was on KFOR for a long time. Jed been around a long time.

[LakeEffect]

I'll disagree with you there. The OKC Market is a dream job for a lot of tv meteorologist. Sure some have left but there have been some around a long time. Morgan still there, Rick Mitchell went on to Dallas but Damon Lane been there a long time. Payne too over for England who was there a long time and Payne was on KFOR for a long time. Jed been around a long time.

The OP stated "unless you are the chief or the morning show..." So you're proving the point when you only list the Chiefs. Many of the early or mid-career mets have either left the market or left the career altogether. It's an amazing market if you're the Chief, but not otherwise.

[LakeEffect]

double...

[jedicurt]

She did say it was a rare opportunity she couldn't refuse.

Unless you are the chief meteorologist or the morning show meteorologist where you develop your own little fanbase from all the special segments you do, being an OKC meteorologist doesn't seem all that glamorous. A lot of them have left tv and went on to other gigs.

i think a third i would add in there is you are a backend note on camera a lot meteorologist who is working on the new things the station has coming and are pumping R&D into... but yes, outside of those positions, you move when you get the chance

[kukblue1]

The OP stated "unless you are the chief or the morning show..." So you're proving the point when you only list the Chiefs. Many of the early or mid-career mets have either left the market or left the career altogether. It's an amazing market if you're the Chief, but not otherwise.

Arron Bracket 10 years. Justin Rudicel 10 years John Slater been in OKC market a while. Armstrong for koco all not really chief or morning guys. Storms chasers really been around long long time. Most stations really only have 4 or 5 guys. You always going to have turnover in the news business but I don't get the sense that people want to leave the OKC weather market.

[Swake]

I think it's quite a career jump moving from a locally owned affiliate, where there was no sign of advancement in regards to David Payne leaving or retiring, and moving from OKC TV Market #42 to a corporate owned station in Dallas/Fort Worth market #4. Probably a nice bump in salary, and depending on personal or family goals, DFW has a lot of positive things that are a bonus for moving to Texas. She is leaving a severe weather TV market, but probably will have a more traditional schedule in the spring months at WFAA.

Rick Mitchell did the same jump a few years back after around 20 years at KOCO, he made the jump to DFW and the NBC affiliate and seems to be doing quite well.

DFW isn't a severe weather market?

[ManAboutTown]

Not sure how much it matters to the average viewer, but Damon Lane with KOCO Channel 5 is the only Chief Meteorologist in Oklahoma City who holds a degree in Atmospheric Sciences or Meteorology. The others have journalism, mass communications, or other degrees. I watch Channel 5 for this reason.

[Zuplar]

Not sure how much it matters to the average viewer, but Damon Lane with KOCO Channel 5 is the only Chief Meteorologist in Oklahoma City who holds a degree in Atmospheric Sciences or Meteorology. The others have journalism, mass communications, or other degrees. I watch Channel 5 for this reason.

Well this has got me curious cause I've always heard Mike Morgan is the only one that didn't go to school for it and on Wikipedia is does say Bachelor of Science for David Payne, although that's all it says.

[jedicurt]

mike morgans degree is in Geosciences, i have never heard what david's degree is in

[scottk]

DFW isn't a severe weather market?

They get severe weather, HOWEVER, they don't cover it in the same manner with wall to wall coverage with all hands on deck, helicopters, storm chasers, etc. OKC dedicates a lot more time and resources to weather, especially severe weather. OKC is probably the #1 severe weather market in regards to resources for coverage, unless there is a station in Florida may cover hurricanes to the same level, but that of course wouldn't be the same frequency.

[progressiveboy]

I think it's quite a career jump moving from a locally owned affiliate, where there was no sign of advancement in regards to David Payne leaving or retiring, and moving from OKC TV Market #42 to a corporate owned station in Dallas/Fort Worth market #4. Probably a nice bump in salary, and depending on personal or family goals, DFW has a lot of positive things that are a bonus for moving to Texas. She is leaving a severe weather TV market, but probably will have a more traditional schedule in the spring months at WFAA.

Rick Mitchell did the same jump a few years back after around 20 years at KOCO, he made the jump to DFW and the NBC affiliate and seems to be doing quite well.

About 2-3 years ago, Rick Mitchell was promoted to Chief Meteorologist in DFW taking the place of veteran meteorologist Dave Finefrock. He seems to have flourished in Texas!

[SoonerDave]

Cassie Heiter from channel 9 is moving to a station in Dallas.

Wait, I am watching KWTV this morning (12/19) and Cassie Heiter is doing the weather. I thought she left for a job in the DFW market.