Student Research Pages - Meet a Meteorologist
Meet a Meteorologist!
Used with Permission of Paul Yura
Paul Yura with the National Weather Service
Mr. Yura’s special job is to predict the weather and to teach others about it. We interviewed him about his job as a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Antonio.
- Q: What does a meteorologist do?
- A: Some meteorologists study the weather so we can learn more about hurricanes, tornadoes, and lightning. This will help to keep people safe during bad storms. Other meteorologists forecast the weather. How hot will it get today? Is there a chance for rain? Will it snow? Where is the hurricane going? Some meteorologists even chase tornadoes so they can learn more about them.
- Q: What do you like the best about your job?
- A: I love going out and talking about the weather. I remember how I was as a kid...with all those questions on why tornadoes form, where does lightning come from? It’s great that I have at least some of the answers and I can share what I have learned.
- Q: Why did you decide to become a meteorologist?
Photo of Paul Yura when he was 9 years old. He's with KXAN Austin meteorologist Jim Giles in December 1979.
- A: Ever since I was a child, I had a fascination with weather. I met my first meteorologist when I was 9 years old. He gave me some weather maps, and I've loved weather ever since.
- Q: What do you think is the neatest thing about the weather?
- A: I love teaching people about weather, why storms form, and how people can stay safe. I particularly like to go to schools and teach kids about weather safety and answer all their great questions.
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Q: Were you ever afraid of storms when you were a kid?
Here's a cute photo Paul Yura supplied of him "teaching" a really young "kid" about weather.
- A: Of course I was afraid of weather, especially loud thunder. To this day it still scares me. But now I respect its power and know how to stay safe from all types of storms. We say, "When thunder roars, go indoors."
MR. YURA SAYS: "WHEN THUNDER ROARS, GO INDOORS!" - Q: Is there anything else you'd like to tell the children?
- A: Please be safe during bad weather and go inside. A lot of kids get injured or even killed by playing outside during thunderstorms. Don’t stand underneath trees if it’s thundering. Lightning tends to strike trees. We say,
"When thunder roars, go indoors."
Picture used with Permission of Paul Yura. Mr. Yura says, "Don't play in flooded creeks and streams like these children. What these children are doing is NOT safe!"
And after a lot of rain, don't go and play in the flooded creeks and streams. You could slip, fall, and get caught in the fast moving water.
We tell the parents, "Turn around, don't drown." Which means don't drive through flooded roads. Make sure your parents follow these rules. Tell them to find another way because their car or truck could get flooded.
Photo used with permission of Paul Yura. Tell your parents, "Turn Around, Don't Drown!"