Interview with Meteorologist Dylan Robichaud

                                                    By Hampton Herald Staff
Mr. Dylan Robichaud is a Meteorologist for WMAR-2 News.  He sat down for an interview with the Hampton Herald Staff to talk about his career.

Why does weather fascinate you?
It changes so quickly and I love things that keep me interested.

What is your favorite type of weather?
I love snow, it is just so beautiful.

What inspired you to become a meteorologist? 
I remember in 4th and 5th grade; I loved the snow and was glued to the weather channel.
 
Are you a meteorologist that chases weather or are you on TV?
I used to be the person that chases storms and now I report the weather.

Did you study weather in college?
I started off in journalism.
 
What degrees do you have?
 I have two—a degree in journalism and a degree in meteorology.
 
Where did you go to college to become a meteorologist?
 Lyndon state, in Vermont.  I also took online classes through Mississippi State.
 
How long did you have to go to school for?
Four years.
 
Do you still have to learn new things or take new classes? 
You need to take a new set of classes every four years.
 
What was the application process like for your job?
I have actually never once applied for a job.  All of my jobs I got from Youtube.  I put up a reel of me doing the weather and then a station manager would call me, which is really how it is done now.
 
Do you report from the studio or live in other places? 
Both 
 
Is your job dangerous?
It used to be, not so much now.
 
How long have you been a meteorologist for?
 10 years
 
Is it scary going on live?
Depending on the weather.  If there is going to be bad weather, it can be scary, but if it’s like today, it’s not really scary.
 
How does it feel knowing so many people are watching you?
I actually like it.  I like public speaking.  I feel like if no one was watching me, it wouldn’t be as fun.
 
What was the most dangerous weather you’ve reported on?
Probably Hurricane Harvey, which hit Houston in 2018.  That was probably the scariest thing I had to report on.
 
What tools or technology do you use?
We use satellites that are in outer space, we use doppler radars, which are situated near airports, barometers, and rain gauges.
 
How do you prepare for your job each day?
I look at lots of data.  I also make the graphics, so that is the artistic part of my job.
 
What’s your favorite part of your job?
Probably the TV part.  I like public speaking.  It’s a form of presenting.  I like getting to get out there and present every day.
 
Is it difficult to act happy on TV?
It can be hard—sometimes life hits—and you still gotta put on a smile.  No matter what the day brings, you have to be happy.
 
What is the worst part of your job?
Feedback from viewers; some people can be very mean.  Sometimes people really like you but also you have people who hate you.  But you just kill them with kindness.  It really works.
 
Are there any people that don't go away and keep being mean in the comments? If so, what do you do?
The block button works nicely.
 
What is something that would surprise people about your job?
We don’t have a script we have to make it up as we go.
 
Have you ever made a mistake?  What did you do?
I make mistakes every day.  The important thing is to keep going and to not draw attention to it.  You have to learn from your mistakes.  We learned more from your losses than from your victories.  We have to go back and see where we can fix what went wrong.
 
Is your job fun?
Yes, it is fun.  Sometimes if we don’t have anything going on, it can get a bit boring.
 
How many times do you report each day?
3 times—6,7, and 11 o’clock.
 
How long are your broadcasts?
It varies.  Usually between two and three minutes.  You have to cram everything in.  You have to be quick with it.
 
Is it hard trying to get people not to change the channel?
Yeah, that why we put the weather in the middle of the show.
 
What was it like winning an Emmy?
Honestly it was one of the coolest moments of my career, I think they gave it to me because I went into a wildfire and reported from a wildfire.
 
What kind of skills do you need to be a meteorologist?
In terms of schooling, you need math skills, and I’m not good at math.  You also need presentation skills and the ability to talk to people.  I would tell people to work on their presentation skills.  Take an acting or theater class because that’s a lot of what the  job is.
 
What advice would you give to someone looking to get a job like yours?
 Focus more on digital than on tv.
 
Do you have to move around a lot?
Yes, if you want to make money, you do have to move a lot.
 
Where have you worked?
I have worked in Louisiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Oregon, and Maryland.
 
What is your favorite place you’ve worked?
I like working here because I can go down to BWI and get on a plane to Boston within an hour, go to Chicago, it’s kind of like a centralized area and in Oregon it took FOREVER to get there.
 
Do you ever get recognized from being on TV?
Mostly by old ladies in Costco.
 
Is there anything else in the news that you would like to do besides the weather?
I think doing sports would be cool.
 
If you weren't a meteorologist, what would you be?
A pilot 

Do you have any pets?
No, someday I will.
 
What's your favorite food?
Shepherd's pie.
 
What other hobbies do you have?
Basketball and music.  I am learning to play the guitar.

The Hampton Herald Staff wants to thank Mr. Robichaud for meeting them for an interview and sharing his time and expertise.