Ken Foote's Radio/TV Files: When Weather's At Its Worst, We're At Our Best!

Today's outbreak of tornadoes in northern Alabama reminded me of the responsibilities that radio and TV stations have to the public they serve when natural disasters occur.

CBS11 and Newsradio 1080 KRLD are leaders in the DFW area in providing concise, up to the minute information on severe weather conditions. With CBS11 Chief Meteorologist Larry Mowry and KRLD Chief Meteorologist Krista Villarreal, nobody covers severe weather better than us.  With technology today, we can get you prepared for a potential tornado threat better than at any time in the history of mankind……..and that technology continues to improve year by year. CBS11 has the best weather equipment, both in hardware and software. Larry's experience in covering hurricanes in Florida before coming to CBS11 is a huge plus for us…….and you. And on the radio side, with KRLD's 50,000 watt signal coverage day and night, it reaches a lot of people so that Krista and the KRLD 1080 newsteam can get you information first…get it fast….and get it now!

Growing up in Dallas, the most trusted weatherman was the late Harold Taft. Harold was a former meteorologist in the armed forces and American Airlines. He joined WBAP-TV (now KXAS NBC5) in October 1949 as Chief Meteorologist and continued with the station until his death in 1991. Back then, WBAP AM-FM-TV was owned by the Amon Carter family who also had owned the Fort Worth Star Telegram. After Harold would do his 10pm news on Channel 5, he would walk over to radio and do weather live on WBAP 820, a 50,000 watt clear channel that to this day covers 38 states at night and parts of Canada with its huge nighttime signal. Legendary country radio personality Bill Mack, know as "The Midnight Cowboy" because he was on the air overnights, deemed Harold as "the World's Greatest Weatherman" and it stuck. I still remember that old black and white radar on Channel 5, a far cry from today's colorized radars and maps. But whatever Harold Taft said, you could count it! (As a side note, WBAP-FM is now New Country 96.3 KSCS).

With today's bad weather in Alabama, one of the best weathermen there is James Spann at ABC 33-40 (WCFT/WJSU/WBMA) in Birmingham/Anniston. He has been a meteorologist in Alabama for years but did have a stint with KDFW Channel 4 in the 1980's.

Here at CBS11 and Newsradio 1080 KRLD, when the weather is at its worst, we're at our best!  Our job is to keep you and your family safe when storms approach!

See you next time.