Q and A with Emmy Award Winning Meteorologist Samara Cokinos from Orlando, Florida

Emmy Award-Winning Meteorologist Samara Cokinos joined the Florida based News 6 team in September 2017.

As a Central Florida native, she grew up in Pierson on a fern farm. You can read her full bio here

You can follow Samara on Twitter or if you prefer over on Facebook!

1. What was your most memorable weather event?

There are two that really stick out at me and they kind of go together. In 2017 I was working as the weekday morning meteorologist at KRGV in the Rio Grande Valley aka deep south Texas when Hurricane Harvey was born. That was the biggest hurricane I had covered in my career. It was intense watching it grow and move toward the RGV. I recall some relief when it stayed far enough offshore from South Padre Island, but then my heart sunk watching it slam Rockport which was just a little over 2.5 hours north from where I was. Then 9 days later I drove through that very area on my way home to Florida. It was nerve-wracking not knowing where the next gas station was or if the road ahead was still closed. Had to keep going though! I had just landed a job with WKMG in Orlando and was set to start on September 11th. I drove toward Florida while the rest of central Florida was evacuating due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Irma. I arrived Friday night on Sept 8th and my news director asked me to start early to help with coverage. I started the next day. Talk about a welcome home! It was an interesting first day on the job in Orlando. I stayed at the station for a few days. I got to cover two hurricanes in one season with two different stations. That’s something I will never forget!

2. What is your favourite and least favourite type of weather?

I love rain when I can stay at home and sleep. There’s nothing like the sound of rain on the roof to doze off to. It’s the best! I’m not a fan of freezing cold blizzard conditions. This is coming from a true Floridian haha. I’m considered a wimp in cold weather. I‘m fine with that.

3. If you weren’t a meteorologist, what would you most like to be?

Probably a photographer or chef. I spend a good amount of my free time doing both. I’m no chef, but my food is edible so I have that going for me! Maybe haha.

4. From a purely meteorological point of view, where would you most like to live?

La Orotava de Tenerife…not too hot not too cold. Honestly, I love Florida though. It was hard living away from my home state.

5. Is there anything else you’d like to share?

It’s more than just weather, it’s about how it impacts people’s lives on a daily basis. That’s why I love what I do. I feel very lucky that I have the opportunity to forecast/watch the weather every day while at the same time helping people stay safe during times when the weather is not so great.

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