Q and A with WBAL-TV Meteorologist Tony Pann

Tony has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Meteorology from Northern Illinois University and is a member of the American Meteorological Society. He also holds the AMS Seal of Approval for Television Weathercasting and has over 20 years of TV news experience.
Tony started his career doing dispersion computer model weather forecasting for a private operational weather firm in Chicago in 1988. He then took his first job in TV on WDTN in Dayton, OH. He then spent eight years with WBAL in Baltimore, MD and two with WCBS in New York. Tony then moved to WUSA TV in Washington, DC and spent 8 more years there. He is currently the weekday morning meteorologist again at WBAL in Baltimore. Tony has extensive network-level TV experience…He has been seen on the NBC Weekend Today Show, The Early Show on CBS, and The David Letterman Show.

You can follow Tony on Twitter or check out his Facebook page.

1. What was your most memorable weather event?

It happened just a few years ago here in Maryland! We get big snow events in the Mid Atlantic every 4 or 5 years, but this was the biggest (for the Baltimore Metro). A Nor’Easter type storm dropped 20″- 40″ of snow across the state in January of 2016. There are only a few storms that can truly be classified as a blizzard, and this was one! I’m a big snow fan, so covering an event like this on TV was a lot of fun.

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

My favorite type of weather is snow. It’s the least violent of all extreme weather events. Severe storms are interesting for sure, but can obviously create a lot of damage. My least favorite type of weather to cover would be flooding rain.

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

If I were not a meteorologist, I suppose I would still work in broadcasting or TV in some way. Most likely doing science-related programming. If not that, I would open a restaurant. I’m a foodie! What do you think about a 5 star, gourmet restaurant where you can wear your PJs instead of getting dresses up?

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

For me, the Northeast US would be the ideal weather location. Big snows in the winter, but a low frequency of severe or tornadic storms. You would even still get to talk about Hurricanes!

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

It’s been a great honor for me to make a career doing something that I love. I have known since I was a small kid this was going to be my gig. If you have passion for what you do, whatever it is, others will feel the energy and hopefully respect that joy.

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