AccuWeather forecasters recount their journeys for National Weatherperson's Day
By
Lauren Fox, AccuWeather staff writer
Published Feb 5, 2020 7:28 PM EDT
On National Weatherperson's Day, AccuWeather honors all individuals in the fields of meteorology, weather forecasting, and broadcast meteorology.
National Weatherperson's Day, recognized annually on Feb. 5, celebrates the faces behind the forecasts. The holiday takes place on the birthday of John Jeffries, one of the first weather observers in the United States, who was born in 1744, and began gathering the first weather observations at about the age of 30, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
For 24 hours a day, seven days a week, meteorologists at AccuWeather provide weather forecasts both on and off the air — including Brittany Boyer and Daji Aswad.
Boyer is a Pennsylvania native and AccuWeather on-air meteorologist who grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs. Summer heat waves and winter snowstorms were an integral part of her childhood, and these helped spark her interest in the weather.
As someone who was "always curious" as a child, Brittany Boyer took on a fascination with the weather around her.
In contrast, fellow on-air meteorologist Aswad grew up in Houston, Texas, and has experienced two hurricanes, Ike and Rita, in her life firsthand.
Boyer said she has been interested in weather since she was a kid, when she would watch the news every night with her family.
“I grew up wanting to be the people I saw on TV every night,” she said. “I would walk around talking in my news voice. Or I was outside measuring the snow after a storm.”
Brittany Boyer aspired to be a meteorologist since she was a child watching the nightly news with her family.
To follow her childhood aspiration, Boyer planned to study meteorology upon starting college at Penn State University, but was deterred by an adviser that told her she was too far behind in math and would not be successful as a meteorologist. Boyer earned a journalism degree instead, but took as many classes as she could in meteorology to fill her other class requirements.
Regardless of the deterrence, being a weatherperson was her calling, so Boyer went back to school and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology from Mississippi State University. She received her degree in three years while also upholding a full-time job.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
“Becoming a meteorologist didn't come easy, and I definitely took a roundabout way of getting here,” Boyer said. “But once I listened to myself and followed the steps I wanted to, I learned it was achievable. It just took some patience and work, like many things in life.”
She said the best part of her job is helping keep people "informed and safe" through her broadcasting.
"I love to learn and I love to share my knowledge just as others do for me," Boyer said. "It's heartwarming when we get emails or notes back from people about the positive impact we may have had on their day."
She is inspired by people she considers to be strong and determined, and enjoys reading biographies about people to learn how they have achieved their own success. She said her mom is someone that has always inspired her to be true to herself.
Aswad also can recount memories of watching the news with her family, and went to a science-driven charter school that allowed her to explore meteorology at an early age.
Daji Aswad graduated from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, and earned a B.S. in Broadcast Meteorology.
Her favorite part of being a meteorologist is piecing together what she considers to be a "puzzle" of information.
"People always say 'Well, why did you get it wrong?' It's a big puzzle, we have lots of pieces to work with and we try to... put all the pieces together to get the best possible outcome to predict the best possible results as close as possible," she said.
Having her own personal ties to two hurricanes, Aswad said she is able to understand firsthand what people are experiencing during severe weather events, which ultimately helps her to deliver the most helpful broadcasts she can.
"I remember driving around the city of Houston, which is a big oil place," Aswad said. "They have lots of oil companies based out of Houston, but it was so hard to find gas for your generator or simply even for your car."
Growing up in Houston, Texas, Aswad is familiar with severe weather herself in the form of hurricanes.
As a black woman, Aswad said a big hurdle many women of color face is lack of introduction to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) at an early age, which can lead to a lack of confidence in their abilities from missing the "building blocks."
“It just may be a mental thing, but sometimes it is a resource thing,” Aswad said. “And I think that schools are trying to do a better job at making sure that stuff is incorporated into their academics.”
She said considering the lack of diversity in meteorology specifically, but also in STEM as a whole, women of color, as well as women in general, can feel "intimidated" by the environment of mainly men who are oftentimes white. She said community outreach and providing resources can bridge the gap and expand representation in the field.
“I say to all those who are people of color that you should not be intimidated, you went to school, you got your education and you are just as qualified as others," Aswad said. "So if you hear a naysayer… that has nothing to do with your perspective. That may be their perspective."
AccuWeather Broadcast Meteorologists Brittany Boyer and Daji Aswad show their support for International Women's Day in 2019. (Photo/Taliya Riesterer)
Boyer also said growing up, she did not see any meteorologists on TV that looked like her.
“As a kid I can't remember a time when our local news station had any black meteorologists,” Boyer said “You saw them doing the news but never the weather. As I grew up, things started to change.”
She further explained that since she was a child, STEM fields, including meteorology, have increased in their diversity. She said her own experience in STEM has been positive.
“I hope I can continue to inspire others no matter their background or the color of their skin,” she said. “If you have a dream, you should always pursue it and never let anyone tell you no.”
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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News / Weather News
AccuWeather forecasters recount their journeys for National Weatherperson's Day
By Lauren Fox, AccuWeather staff writer
Published Feb 5, 2020 7:28 PM EDT
On National Weatherperson's Day, AccuWeather honors all individuals in the fields of meteorology, weather forecasting, and broadcast meteorology.
National Weatherperson's Day, recognized annually on Feb. 5, celebrates the faces behind the forecasts. The holiday takes place on the birthday of John Jeffries, one of the first weather observers in the United States, who was born in 1744, and began gathering the first weather observations at about the age of 30, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
For 24 hours a day, seven days a week, meteorologists at AccuWeather provide weather forecasts both on and off the air — including Brittany Boyer and Daji Aswad.
Boyer is a Pennsylvania native and AccuWeather on-air meteorologist who grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs. Summer heat waves and winter snowstorms were an integral part of her childhood, and these helped spark her interest in the weather.
As someone who was "always curious" as a child, Brittany Boyer took on a fascination with the weather around her.
In contrast, fellow on-air meteorologist Aswad grew up in Houston, Texas, and has experienced two hurricanes, Ike and Rita, in her life firsthand.
Boyer said she has been interested in weather since she was a kid, when she would watch the news every night with her family.
“I grew up wanting to be the people I saw on TV every night,” she said. “I would walk around talking in my news voice. Or I was outside measuring the snow after a storm.”
Brittany Boyer aspired to be a meteorologist since she was a child watching the nightly news with her family.
To follow her childhood aspiration, Boyer planned to study meteorology upon starting college at Penn State University, but was deterred by an adviser that told her she was too far behind in math and would not be successful as a meteorologist. Boyer earned a journalism degree instead, but took as many classes as she could in meteorology to fill her other class requirements.
Regardless of the deterrence, being a weatherperson was her calling, so Boyer went back to school and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology from Mississippi State University. She received her degree in three years while also upholding a full-time job.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
“Becoming a meteorologist didn't come easy, and I definitely took a roundabout way of getting here,” Boyer said. “But once I listened to myself and followed the steps I wanted to, I learned it was achievable. It just took some patience and work, like many things in life.”
She said the best part of her job is helping keep people "informed and safe" through her broadcasting.
"I love to learn and I love to share my knowledge just as others do for me," Boyer said. "It's heartwarming when we get emails or notes back from people about the positive impact we may have had on their day."
She is inspired by people she considers to be strong and determined, and enjoys reading biographies about people to learn how they have achieved their own success. She said her mom is someone that has always inspired her to be true to herself.
Aswad also can recount memories of watching the news with her family, and went to a science-driven charter school that allowed her to explore meteorology at an early age.
Daji Aswad graduated from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, and earned a B.S. in Broadcast Meteorology.
Her favorite part of being a meteorologist is piecing together what she considers to be a "puzzle" of information.
"People always say 'Well, why did you get it wrong?' It's a big puzzle, we have lots of pieces to work with and we try to... put all the pieces together to get the best possible outcome to predict the best possible results as close as possible," she said.
Having her own personal ties to two hurricanes, Aswad said she is able to understand firsthand what people are experiencing during severe weather events, which ultimately helps her to deliver the most helpful broadcasts she can.
"I remember driving around the city of Houston, which is a big oil place," Aswad said. "They have lots of oil companies based out of Houston, but it was so hard to find gas for your generator or simply even for your car."
Growing up in Houston, Texas, Aswad is familiar with severe weather herself in the form of hurricanes.
As a black woman, Aswad said a big hurdle many women of color face is lack of introduction to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) at an early age, which can lead to a lack of confidence in their abilities from missing the "building blocks."
“It just may be a mental thing, but sometimes it is a resource thing,” Aswad said. “And I think that schools are trying to do a better job at making sure that stuff is incorporated into their academics.”
She said considering the lack of diversity in meteorology specifically, but also in STEM as a whole, women of color, as well as women in general, can feel "intimidated" by the environment of mainly men who are oftentimes white. She said community outreach and providing resources can bridge the gap and expand representation in the field.
“I say to all those who are people of color that you should not be intimidated, you went to school, you got your education and you are just as qualified as others," Aswad said. "So if you hear a naysayer… that has nothing to do with your perspective. That may be their perspective."
AccuWeather Broadcast Meteorologists Brittany Boyer and Daji Aswad show their support for International Women's Day in 2019. (Photo/Taliya Riesterer)
Boyer also said growing up, she did not see any meteorologists on TV that looked like her.
Related:
“As a kid I can't remember a time when our local news station had any black meteorologists,” Boyer said “You saw them doing the news but never the weather. As I grew up, things started to change.”
She further explained that since she was a child, STEM fields, including meteorology, have increased in their diversity. She said her own experience in STEM has been positive.
“I hope I can continue to inspire others no matter their background or the color of their skin,” she said. “If you have a dream, you should always pursue it and never let anyone tell you no.”
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo