|  |
You weather presenters are always getting the forecasts wrong aren't you?!
Actually, for the next day, our predictions are 85-90% accurate. When it comes to looking more than three days ahead, it tends to be a little more difficult but all our information comes from the Met Office in Exeter - one of the most respected meteorological services in the world.
Meteorology is an inexact science. We're never going to get it 100% right - just ask Michael Fish about the Great Storm of 1987! And of course there can be very different conditions within a few miles - especially between coastal and inland areas. Where we are are located, between a vast expanse of ocean, and a huge land mass, means we are particularly prone to changeable weather.
 | | Alina with Sally Taylor in the South Today studio |
How do you become a weather presenter?
The majority of BBC national and regional weather presenters have come from a meteorological scientific background. Once they finish their degree, they train with the Met Office to become a forecaster. Those who are particularly good communicators and can translate the science into everyday language for for TV viewers, get to work for broadcasters like the BBC.
You can find out about Met Office recruitment on their website.
There are a few like me who aren't from a scientific background. I came in as a presenter via BBC Talent. I'd previously worked as a performer on a cruise ship and as an actress on TV commercials. After volunteer work for Southampton's Hospital Radio, I sent a tape in to BBC Radio Solent and a year later, after training at the Met Office, I was on South Today!
 | | Alina in the South Today studio |
What's the best thing about your job?
With the weather, every day is a different story and it can be life changing and life threatening when it becomes a news story in itself. So it's a challenge to get the information across to people in a short time. And its a real buzz doing live TV and Sally and the rest of the South Today team are great to work with. I also get to do lots of other fun things, like presenting the BBCi Southampton Big Screen film festival launch. Is global warming really happening?
It's such a hot topic at the moment - all the more so after the summer we've had in 2003. The earth's climate is always changing, but there is widely thought to be evidence of some alteration in the climate caused by human activity and the release of greenhouse gases. For a look at the full story, check out the BBC Weather Centre Climate Change website.
How do you work out what the weather's going to be like?
All our forecast charts and briefings come directly from the Met Office. They have their computer models, satellites, radars, weather balloons and sensors constantly picking up data about what's going on in the atmosphere and they draw their conclusions about what the weather is going to be like.
I'll get sent a briefing along with the synoptic charts (with all the pressure, wind and rain information). I'll also have a chat to a forecaster in London. I've got my 'Mist' computer which has all the information about what's currently going on in the region and further afield (and have a quick check out the window!) before going on radio and TV and telling everyone about it.
Is your TV spot scripted?
It is in my head, but I don't have an auto-cue. All I have is the map with the weather graphics behind me so I have to be very concise with the story before I go on air. Because the programme is live, the time I've got can vary and I only know a minute or so before I start, how long I've actually got to talk for. Occasionally it even changes while I'm in the middle of the forecast so I have to literally think on my feet!
 | | Doing the radio broadcasts |
So you only work for about a minute each day?!
If only! As well as putting the TV forecast together for South Today's lunchtime and evening broadcasts, I also have to do hourly bulletins for both BBC Radio Solent and Southern Counties Radio. So especially on a busy day when there's a lot of flooding or maybe record temperatures, I'm flat out keeping everyone up to date.
What's your most embarrassing thing that's happened to you?
Well it's live TV so every now and again, things do do wrong. I tripped and knocked something off the desk one time and another time I picked up the wrong buttons which change the graphics, which left me it a bit of a pickle! Whatever happens - you've just got to keep going!
What do you do when you're not doing the weather?
I've got a four year old boy so I don't get much spare time! I teach jazz and modern dancing on a Saturday morning and I'm currently having piano lessons.
Play Alina's Weather Quiz |
