An Important Weatherman

Angelle Barras

English 1001

October 16, 2007

An Important Weatherman

When it comes to predicting and understanding the weather in Louisiana, particular in the Baton Rouge community, no one probably forecasts and educates the public about it better than Mr. Jay Grymes. He takes the weather to a new level and makes it an art. He delivers an attractive package of probabilities, education and preparedness all wrapped up with a little wit and human. Mr. Grymes is currently the chief meteorologist for a local television station, WAFB. He has received many awards for his work there, but Mr. Grymes appears very modest and shrugs it off as just being part of the job. Before I started my English 1001 student interview I noticed how he was a distinguished looking gentleman with a little touch of grey in his hair and beard. When we began to talk I then noticed how well spoken he was and how he had the ability to put me at such ease instantly. He never seemed to have a loss for words and he transmitted from one subject to the next. He was very opened and engaging and he seemed genuinely happy to do this interview for me, while having on a kind smile. It does not take me long to realize that he has a genuine admiration for the science of climatology of weather. On his television newscast he is always trying to educate the public about his understanding and love for science of climate. He presents it all in a humorous way which makes it easier to understand. I guess he cannot help it since he teaches climatology at Louisiana State University. He said that his teaching is a very important part of his life
Mr. Grymes came to Louisiana in 1985 to study in the department of geography and anthropology. As fate would have it, before he came to Louisiana he had just turned down a job for an assistant supervisor of custodian’s after taking a class in water resources. His new passion for water resources and water resource management gave him the courage to take a course in meteorology and the rest is history. Mr. Grymes major professor was quite taken with him and believed in him, so he helped get Jay a scholarship to study in Baton Rouge at Louisiana State University. He then moved to Louisiana to attend class at LSU, but at the time had no intention of becoming a meteorologist, but he does believe that it was the right thing to move in Louisiana. He then began teaching and got a job at the University and has been there for 20 years now. Mr. Grymes then explained to me how he was, “very fortunate in coming to Louisiana”. He did several guest appearances for WAFB as the state climatologist, which introduced him to the public, and he was well received in these appearances, which eventually landed him the role as WAFB’s weekend weatherman. After the chief meteorologist, Mike Graham, retired he took the job and had to cutback time in teaching.
As a meteorologist, Mr. Grymes biggest impact for the Baton Rouge Community came with the arrival of a hurricane called Katrina. Mr. Grymes was one of the first weather caster’s to point out that the probability of Louisiana landfall was much higher predicted than what was predicted by the National Weather Service. He pointed out all of the necessary climatologically events for a landfall in Florida were not likely and that landfall appeared destined for Louisiana. Unfortunately his predictions were correct and Katrina came smashing down on the coast of Louisiana. He told me that he worked non-stop and simultaneously with the Louisiana Office of Emergency. Mr. Grymes gave them the most up to date reports and his predictions. Because of his accuracy the governor was able to take preparedness while simultaneously updating the public on the storm.
Since technology has evolved, Mr. Grymes believe that the advances of technology have gradually improved with forecasting the weather and the public benefits from earlier warnings that allow more time to repair. He admits that he tries diligently to keep up with the advances but also admits its quite a daunting task with more advances coming all the time. Many people might tend to think that meteorologist just have to pull up the forecast from the national weather service in which he must talk about it for three minutes on television. Mr. Grymes said, “As a meteorologists, I‘m expected to be a graphic artists, weather scientist and a public relations person all rolled into one”. Mr. Grymes has to be more than a news reporter. He also has to use many different types of computers and create the corresponding maps and graphs. Most of the maps he uses are the ones that the public sees on their television. He also must incorporate the science he has learned in his field to assist him in forecasting. He sad that he also has to be able to speak to the community on a level that everyone understands. In addition to his life as a meteorologist, he also teaches classes at LSU in climatology.
In this point of the interview I am wondering how does he have time and energy to do both jobs. With a simple smile, He told me that having to do two jobs can be laborious. He usually starts his day at seven thirty in the morning and does not come home until after eleven at night. He would not change a thing because he can combine his life work with his hobbies. I could not imagine how much work he has to do to be able to give the public just a brief three-minute news report.
As the interview was winding down, I asked him, if he were given the chance to relive his life, would he make the same choices, starting with the move to Louisiana. A broad question, but being so good with words, Mr. Jay then gave me a great answer in responding to all the different possibilities that the question could pertain too. He replied saying that and if he knew what was going to happen in his life he would not change anything. Either way he is more than happy with the way things turned out, and he could not imagined it any other life.
Even though Mr. Grymes role in the community may seem small, his role affects many aspects of people’s lives. He had some difficulty accepting that he does make a significant contribution to the community. Before he ever became a meteorologist, Mr. Grymes never thought that he would be in the position he is today. Every time the weather comes on many people tune in to find out what their day will be like. When I asked him if he thought people respect him and his role, he replied with a grin and a quick nod in affirmation. I believe he knows how much of an impact he makes but he seems to have a hard time believing how fortunate he is to have been given this chance in life.