

I learned a lot from him during those storms, and I try to carry that type of commitment to serving others in my job as a meteorologist, as well as in life." He always took it upon himself to calm everyone there, and provide for them. Growing up, I remember by grandfather Snooks (Leo Ray) was the one in our community who would open up the church as a shelter during severe weather. She adds: "I’m no police officer or first responder, but I do believe that being a meteorologist is a job that falls into the 'community servant' field. "I enjoy working as a meteorologist, but what's most important to me is being a trusted, reliable and active community member," she says. Weather attracted Nikki-Dee throughout her life, as evidenced by her being a “Kid Caster” at WHNT-TV in Huntsville, Alabama. My focus has always been on serving my community though, and I aspire to be someone they can trust and turn to in need." In the years following, it has always meant so much to me when I hear from a young meteorologist, or even reporter, who emails me to say they took inspiration from me. "That has never really been a goal of mine, but because of how much social media has grown since 2011, more people than I even knew were watching.
#Channel 5 meteorologist professional#
It was really gratifying to be seen as more than just blonde hair and blue eyes on TV, but actually as a professional and someone the community could trust, especially in severe weather, which West Texas experiences frequently," Nikki-Dee recalls.Īt the time, she says she didn’t think it would inspire others. "It was a huge honor so many people gave me that kind of credibility and responsibility at such a young age. Known for her forecasting accuracy, style, personality and faith, she began her career in Lubbock, Texas, and then led a team of meteorologists there. Extreme New England Weather, Greenfield, New Hampshire : SciArt Media, 1st Edition, November 6, 2010.Nikki-Dee Ray, the woman who became America's youngest female chief meteorologist in 2011, now is seen weekdays on Middle Tennessee’s top-ranking morning show, News Channel 5 This Morning. Two New England Emmy Awards for outstanding achievement in television weathercasting.2003 Silver Circle Award from NATSNE (National Academy of Arts and Sciences New England Chapter) for more than twenty-five years of broadcast excellence.1999 winner of the Award for Outstanding Service by a Broadcast Meteorologist from the American Meteorological Society.1999 Fellow of the American Meteorological Society.They have two daughters and five grandchildren. He lives in Natick, Massachusetts with his wife and family. He's been called the dean of Boston meteorologists.

Leonard is an avid outdoorsman and lecturer at Harvard, MIT, Boston University, and Boston Medical Center.He is a charter member of the National Weather Association. In late 2010, he contributed to the book, Extreme New England Weather, with his story of the Northeastern United States blizzard of 1978. After the retirement of then-chief meteorologist Dick Albert in 2009, Leonard was once again promoted to chief meteorologist, this time at WCVB.

He left WHDH-TV in April 2002 and joined WCVB-TV in that same year. Leonard was also a meteorologist for radio station WROR-FM in 1980. During his long tenure at Channel 7, Leonard has been named "Best Meteorologist" by Boston Magazine in 1984, '86, '88, and '92. By the time the station was sold to New England Television and became WNEV-TV in 1982 (the same ownership would rename it again to WHDH in 1990), Leonard became chief meteorologist, the role he would hold there for the next 20 years. For the first few years, he was a staff meteorologist.
#Channel 5 meteorologist tv#
Leonard first came to Boston TV in May 1977 at Channel 7, then known as WNAC-TV. He worked as chief meteorologist for WPRI-TV in Providence, Rhode Island for three years. He also taped reports for radio stations in New York and Connecticut as well as teaching at New York University. preparing forecasts for aviation and industry. He began his career as a meteorologist for Universal Weather, Inc. in Meteorology from the City College of New York in 1970 and an M.S. For 25 years, Leonard was previously best known as a meteorologist at Boston's WHDH-TV (Channel 7). Harvey Leonard is a former chief meteorologist on WCVB-TV Channel 5 in Boston, Massachusetts. City College of New York (B.S., Meteorology, 1970)
