How to Write a Weather News Story

A weather news story transcends mere numeric reports, percentages and calculations. It entails interviews with the people who thrive in such circumstances and provides a setting, some dialogue and draws from multiple sources. The reporter usually makes an appearance in the midst of a terrible storm or disaster to give a firsthand account. Writing a news weather story overlaps many different fields of learning such as writing and reading to report the facts, the use of science through observation and includes mathematical statistics and percentages. Like most news stories, weather stories requires a writer to immerse in the details of who, what, when, how, where and why.

Instructions

  1. Writing steps

    • 1

      Pick a significant weather event and compile research of that event regarding facts, sources and raw data about air temperature, wind speed and humidity. Plot the raw data on a graph of your choice such as a histogram, time series or scatter plot. Include the most important variables that factored into the storm such as temperature versus time of day and decide which measurements, like Celsius or Fahrenheit, to include in the graph or graphs.

    • 2

      Provide a topic from the given materials to create your own headline of the story that succinctly describes the direction of the event. Reference an actual recorded event to model how headlines are written. For example, the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys Superbowl was dubbed "The Ice Bowl," because of the icy conditions that affected the game.

    • 3

      Describe the setting of the story by correctly mapping the location. The geographical region provides clues as to the typical climate found in that part of the map. Gather information from eyewitness sources to give credibility to your story such as the people caught in the storm and how it influenced them and the environment. Brainstorm interviewing questions and quote the people interviewed.

    • 4

      Add additional information in how the government or independent volunteers are helping those recovering from the bad storm or tragedy.

    • 5

      Debrief the audience with an upcoming forecast that is to follow. Incorporate temperatures and additional photos.

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