“This was a triumph. I’m making a note here… huge success. It’s hard to overstate my satisfaction.”
The line above is from the video game ‘Portal’ and I used it in the e-mail I sent to my coworkers. I really feel it applies here, as well. I owe so much of my success from my six years at WJAC to you, the viewers. I came to WJAC in 2005 and had a really hard time in the beginning because I didn’t have a lot of interaction. I quickly found a way to combat that… social media.
It started with the Severe Weather Team Blog and quickly grew to Twitter and Facebook and even live web streams via Ustream.tv. This is when I really started to feel a special connection with all of you. Not only did you welcome me into your living room every night, but you talked with me as if I was a member of the family. Some people questioned my reliance on social media to connect with you, but I truly believe that it is what made this the ‘huge success’ as I quoted above. Not only did you get your watches, warnings, and forecasts, but you got to see a personal side of me and I got to see a personal side of you… so much so that some of you shared your most upsetting, personal moments. It’s these connections that build your trust in me as a meteorologist.
I came into this just out of college and was a nervous wreck my first day on the air. Just last night, I commented to Corey, my weather intern, that I wasn’t sure when I had more butterflies… my first day or my last day. You don’t realize how hard it is to say goodbye until you have to do it. Then, when you realize that you’re saying goodbye to ‘millions across the Alleghenies,’ it gets even harder. I made it through it, though.
Again, I just want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support throughout the years and in the past 24 hours after my announcement to leave WJAC for Weather Central in Madison, Wisconsin. I’m going to do something else that I think I will absolutely love. I’m going to be a trainer, traveling across the country teaching people how to use the weather systems and make awesome graphics. This is an exceptional opportunity and while I’m young and without roots, I figured I should take a shot and see the country. I’m excited to get started on September 26th.
Now it’s time to take the batteries out of the microphone and turn off the studio lights as this chapter of my life comes to an end. I am hoping to continue to contribute to the weather blog from time to time and even comment on the Facebook page. I’m in the process of uploading my final show, but for now, I’ll leave you with a simple line and a short video message.
Stay classy, (insert your city name here)!
Update 12:08 Wednesday: This is my final weather and my on-air goodbye. Thanks again, everyone!
Filed in: 
Comments: 
Share:
My favorite weather man since Kuzdma . . So sorry to see you leave. Good luck on your new job. You will be missed.
Thanks Joanne! (I am still going to post something up here as a formal goodbye. This is just a placeholder for now.) — And favorite since Kudzma is a high standard! I approve!
Good Luck Tim with the new position, you did an awesone job on the air. I can remember your first news cast and had the honor of catching your final sign off. You were so
helpful when I worked at WHPA radio. Take care my friend and God Bless!
Thanks Chuck! I truly appreciate the kind words. Good luck to you as well.
Hi Tim, Really hate to see you go. You will diffently be missed. You will make it far in you career cause you have what it takes to suceed. The best of luck. Take care. Hopefully you will keep you website going so your fans can keep track of you. May God bless you always.
Thanks Ron! Really appreciate it!
Wishing you the best of luck Tim we will miss you on those cold snowy mornings here in Johnstown. It has been great having you on WJAC ..
Sue
Thanks Sue!
Good Journey My Friend!
Thanks Jason!
Best wishes and I always enjoyed your forecasts, even if they weren’t always what we wanted to hear! LOL!
Laura, thanks a lot!
Good luck on your new job, and your new journey. We will miss you here in DuBois!!! Safe travels Tim!
Thanks Bert!
Wow… six years flew by already; you came not long after I left! Good luck to you, Tim! I caught you on the air a few times back home since they now carry WJAC in the mountains of Maryland. You really came a long way… you have to start somewhere and build your career roots from there. Have fun in Wisconsin and enjoy traveling across the U.S.!
Thanks Chad!!
Tim,
Very, very well done on the forecasts in the past 6 years. I still do not think that I will ever forget 30+ minutes forecast that one evening with a lot of severe storms popping up just all over the viewing area. Wish you the best of luck with your travels in the future!
Thanks Nate! (And my all-time record was about 80 minutes!!)
Wow, I don’t know what to say. You’ve been a constant in our home for a while now and even though I’m sad to see you go, I know that an opportunity like this doesn’t come along every day. I wish you the best of luck in your new job – I know that you will succeed at it. Stay safe and God bless.
Thanks Bonnie! Appreciate all the support!
Hi Tim!
Best of luck to you as you begin your new adventure at Weather Central! WJAC won’t be the same without you and I have enjoyed your weather forecasts the last 6 years. Best of luck and take care!
Thanks Lindsay!
To add on from my previous comment from 6:03 this morning, I just want to say thank you for your everything you have done. It never is easy taking partial blame as a meteorologist from certain people and I know that you guys still put up with that. I really am sorry for that and maybe in the future, people will just listen to the forecasts, give more credit to meteorologists, and accept the weather. Like I always say, Pennsylvania does not get off easily with weather but there is worse weather around different parts of the globe. Take care my friend and stay safe!
Best of luck to you, Tim. We’ll miss you!
Thanks Rhonda!!
Good Luck Tim, we will miss you!
Thanks Janet!
Take the other weather bozos with you as you go! If the station cleans house completely maybe we’ll get some accurate weather forecasts around here for a change.
That’s not very nice. I’d take our weather forecasts any day of the week compared to some of the others I’ve seen. But… everyone’s entitled to their own opinions.
Hey Tim, Well make sure you take your long johns with you! We will miss you! Good luck and I know you will do great no matter what you do! Its been fun.
Haha. Thanks Pat!
Congratulations Tim! We’ll miss you but what an awesome opportunity and challenge. I have no doubt you’ll be a great trainer and successful no matter where life takes you. Take care and have a safe move!
Thanks Jill! Appreciate it!
Hi Tim, Good luck & safe travels on your new journey. Don’t forget your friends here in Johnstown, keep everybody in mind next time your on facebook, I would definately friend you! My son started college this year taking communications but because of you & the WJAC weather guys, he’s also going into meteorology! Thanks for a great few years of on air reliability!
Hi Beverly! Thanks for the kind words. Good luck to your son. Tell him if he needs an internship in his junior or senior year, to send Tony and Jim (or whoever is there) a message. Details are on the website.
Thank you for your professionalism and your efforts in keeping the people of the Laurel Highlands informed, especially given the challenge of trying to predict the weather in an ever shifting environment. Best wishes for future success. What are we going to do now that we only have 2 horseman of the Snow Apocalypse. Try to keep warm in Wisconsin. I think their wind chill is more severe there by great lakes. BRRRR….
Well, if you count me and they add another, then there truly are 4 horsemen! Haha. Thanks Ralph!
Just wanted to say good luck and thanks for getting us through the worst of times(major storms in the winter and the nasty weather that summer can bring) as well as the best of times(the warm spells that occur during the dreary days of winter). Godspeed and best wishes from Millheim.
Thanks Dan! I really appreciate it!
THANKS TIM FOR A GREAT 6YEARS!!! GOOD LUCK IN YOUR NEW JOB!! MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS ALL
YOU DO!!I’LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO READING YOUR BLOGS!!
SINCERELY,
TERRY L. MOYER
Thanks Terry! I appreciate the kind words. I’m hoping to get settled and maybe write something in the near future.
Thought you were on vacation or something so I started poking around the web…
Your presence on WJAC will be greatly missed I thought you did a GREAT job with the weather hope the new job works out for you …. GOOD LUCK!
Dan,
Thanks for the kind words. I’m still floating around and keeping an eye on this site (which will likely be going away) and the Facebook page. So far so good in Wisconsin! Maybe you’ll see me back sometime in the future. Who knows!!
Hey! Tim,
Loved your presentation of the weather….
Very clasy job!!
Good luck always!
Thanks! Appreciate the kind words!! It means a lot.