“People talk about the weather” …that’s an old saying, but when Greg Bostwick talks about the weather people really listen. Why? Because Greg has been the ‘authoritative voice’ of weather for 44 years at KFDM TV.

Greg’s clear, accurate and calm presentations have been keeping TV viewers better informed on the forecast and when necessary, on how to cope with life threatening storms. Storms such as “Rita” which came in 2005 killing seven people and causing $12 Billion in damage and “Harvey” which left Beaumont as an island due to record flooding.

He has covered more than one hundred tropical storms, hurricanes, and significant winter storms. In addition to his broadcasts on both KFDM TV and KLVI radio, he also provides weather consulting services to industrial and emergency management officials.

Greg is known for his candid reporting of both the weather and the chatter about the changing weather conditions globally. He gave us perspective on past storms and what we may expect for the 2023 hurricane season. Hurricane season is from June 1st to November 30th. The period from June to July is usually mild and uneventful. But starting in August and particularly in September and October storms are likely to form and present risks for coastal areas. The big question is how strong and where will it go?

El Nino is on the way and La Nina left around March. El Nino presents warming conditions and affects hurricanes by creating warmer waters in the Pacific, but in our area, this can result in more rain and increased flooding. Predicting the number of hurricanes, the strength and the location is as much a science as it is an art. History is important to analyze but it does not always give us what we need to know to prepare. Evacuation notices are being extended to 2 to 3 days and are more accurate due to the advanced technology and measurements. Lives are saved by these evacuation plans.

The facts of climate change clearly tell us that climate changes. The data is clear that the frequency of major global hurricane frequency has decreased. The trend in tornadoes continues to decrease in numbers. These are the facts, not the hype. The earth may be warming but is not a threat to human life. Earth operates better warmer rather than cooler such as during an ice age. Increases in the temperatures are gradual and there are questions among the climate scientists as to the impact on our life here on earth. Greg brings a calming perspective sprinkled with a little humor about our probabilities of surviving climate change. He ended with the slide of Greta in 2065 saying “We only have 1 month to save the World”. Let’s not be a Greta.

Greg took questions and most of them were about his other passion – gardening. He is well known for his expertise in this area, and he was clear that there are no more tomatoes!!! Thank you, Greg, for coming to us with wit, professional experience, and calming words of wisdom. You are a treasure to our community. Please continue to grow tomatoes and talk about the weather.