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#FollowFriday: Local weather gurus have a certain charm

By Katie Toussaint
Lightning strikes above the Transform Charter School in west Charlotte Wednesday, August 19, 2014. Thunderstorms brought heavy rain to the region.
Lightning strikes above the Transform Charter School in west Charlotte Wednesday, August 19, 2014. Thunderstorms brought heavy rain to the region. TODD SUMLIN CHARLOTTE OBSERVER FILE PHOTO

As a native, I don’t think a whole lot about the appeal of Charlotte’s weather. I’ve always known the four seasons (fall, you’re my favorite), the overarching theme of sunny days and clear nights, and the annual “snow” day.

Then my (beloved) parents ruin everything and drag me back to their North Dakotan homeland every other winter and all I can dream about is my return to the South.

In an effort to start paying more attention to what’s happening with the local skies, I’ve started following four Charlotte weather gurus. They each have their charm.

Larry Sprinkle

Twitter handle: @larrywcnc

The charm: Basic consistency

Bonus point for: Last name that parallels career. (Sprinkle really is his last name.)

Favorite aspect of his job: “Knowing there’s a loyal audience who’s there every morning, waiting for the first forecast of the day!  And if they are real- early risers, that would be at 4:30 a.m.” 

Where he spends rainy days: “More often than not, I’m actually here at the station when it’s raining.  It’s always good, though, when you can fall asleep — listening to the rain on the roof.” 

Where he spends sunny days: “Charlotte is such a beautiful city, anywhere is great when the sun is shining.  I guess my most favorite spot is out on the patio, just being lazy and enjoying that awesome Carolina sunshine.”  

Brad Panovich, NBC Charlotte

Twitter handle: @wxbrad         

The charm: Variety.  

Favorite aspect of his job: “Easy, sharing what I love with other people. I’ve loved weather since I was 6 and always look forward sharing that passion and excitement for weather with other people. It’s always nice to meet all the closet weather geeks out there.”   

Where he spends rainy days: “Sleeping. Well I don’t do much of that but if I’m not I’d like to be watching a good movie or having a great cup of coffee at a local coffee shop.”   

Where he spends sunny days: “When the sun is out I need to be outside. Running, playing golf or spending time with  my family at the park.”

Al Conklin, WBTV  

Twitter handle: @AlConklin 

The charm: Relevance

Favorite aspect of his job: “Helping people make life-decisions about how our weather will impact their lives; especially warning them about severe and disruptive weather.  On the flip side, my least favorite part of my job is wearing make-up and a tie, LOL.”

(Bonus point: For reviving the LOL.)

Where he spends rainy days: “It rains in Charlotte?  Really?  When it does rain, I enjoy watching it from the serenity of the screened-in back porch off the back of my home.”

Where he spends sunny days: “With my family and anyone we meet at Freedom Park and the Little Sugar Creek Greenway.”

Leigh Brock, WBTV  

Twitter handle: @LeighBrock2

The charm: Enthusiasm.

Favorite aspect of her job: “I like predicting what the weather will be like and then seeing if I’m correct by the next day. It’s like a new game/challenge every time I go to work.”

Where she spends rainy days: “Hard to say. I can’t seem to remember the last time we had rain.”

Where she spends sunny days: “I like to be out running around Charlotte. It doesn’t matter where I am.”

Photo: Todd Sumlin/Charlotte Observer

@katietoussaint

This story was originally published September 24, 2015 at 10:24 PM with the headline "#FollowFriday: Local weather gurus have a certain charm."

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