George Winterling
Encyclopedia
George Alfred Winterling was an early television weather broadcaster, Chief Meteorologist for television station WJXT
in Jacksonville, Florida
for almost fifty years, and helped develop television weather forecasting
.
. After discovering that cadet training required two years of college, he chose meteorology and was sent to Weather Observers School at Chanute Air Force Base
in Rantoul, Illinois
. He was stationed for a year at Turner Air Force Base
in Albany, Georgia
, then attended Intermediate Meteorology School at Oklahoma A&M
in Stillwater. He was posted to Shemya Air Force Base
in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska where he observed the Pacific Ocean's killer storms.
After leaving the service in 1954, he attended Jacksonville Junior College (now Jacksonville University
), transferred to Florida State University
and earned a meteorology degree in 1957. He was initially employed by the United States Weather Bureau (now known as the National Weather Service
) and stayed there for five years.
Hurricane Donna
was a major 1960 hurricane which made landfall at Marathon
, moved into the Gulf of Mexico
, came ashore north of Naples
, crossed the state and returned to the Atlantic Ocean
at Daytona Beach
before skirting the east coast all the way to Canada
. Over 17 days, the storm was responsible for over 350 deaths and $900 million in damages. The hurricane piqued Winterling's interest. It convinced him that "the media needed knowledgeable persons doing weathercasts in times of emergencies" such as hurricanes.
would make landfall on the first coast.
Winterling has been a member of the American Meteorological Society
(AMS) since 1963 and his broadcasts carried their Seal of Approval.
In the early days before satellite pictures, he created and copyrighted the weather maps to portray weather systems across the country, and began the practice of predicting rainfall probability.
In 1969, Winterling was appointed to the Board of Radio and Television Weathercasting and redesigned the AMS Seal of Approval during 1973. He was employed by Jacksonville University
as an adjunct professor beginning in 1975, teaching meteorology through 1994.
To account for the combination of summer heat and humidity, he created the "humiture" calculation in 1978, which the National Weather Service adopted as heat index
the following year.
Winterling received an outstanding service award from the AMS in 1984 for his use of animation to enable viewers to better understand weather phenomenon. He became a Certified Consulting Meteorologist
after passing the AMS exam in 1989.
and wind vane. Today, computers and satellites are the primary tools. Ellis commented:
May 20, 2009 was Winterling's last appearance as weather anchor on the 6:00 news show.
On June 23, 2009, the Jacksonville City Council
passed Resolution 2009-396-A "RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING GEORGE WINTERLING FOR HIS FORTY-SEVEN YEARS OF DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE AS CHIEF METEOROLOGIST AT WJXT" and honored him with a standing ovation.
during World War II
.
He maintained a garden at his home, and shared pictures and produce with other employees. WJXT's station manager suggested that he begin a garden at the station in 1991 and they created weekly segment called George's Garden, which offered advice on when to plant, what to grow, watering and fertilization. For nearly 12 years, Winterling delivered the 6:00 weather live from the garden each Thursday during the growing season. Eventually, George began taping the show early to avoid bad weather and changing clothes between broadcasts. Even after his retirement, Winterling assured his fans, “I’ll still be around. I can’t get away from the garden.”
WJXT
WJXT, channel 4 , is an independent television station serving Jacksonville, Florida, and surrounding communities. Its transmitter is in the Kilarney Shores section of Jacksonville, with the WTLV transmitter. The station originally broadcast an analog signal on VHF channel 4 and a digital signal...
in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
for almost fifty years, and helped develop television weather forecasting
Weather forecasting
Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the state of the atmosphere for a given location. Human beings have attempted to predict the weather informally for millennia, and formally since the nineteenth century...
.
Education
Winterling was born in New Jersey, but moved with his family to Jacksonville at age 10. He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1949 and joined the United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. After discovering that cadet training required two years of college, he chose meteorology and was sent to Weather Observers School at Chanute Air Force Base
Chanute Air Force Base
Chanute Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located south of and adjacent to Rantoul, Illinois, about south of Chicago. Its primary mission throughout its existence was Air Force technical training....
in Rantoul, Illinois
Rantoul, Illinois
Rantoul is a village in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 13,674 at the 2010 census. The present mayor is Neal Williams, who was re-elected in 2009...
. He was stationed for a year at Turner Air Force Base
Turner Air Force Base
Turner Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base whose site is located within the current city limits of Albany, Georgia. Following its closure as a USAF installation in the late 1960s, it was transferred to the U.S. Navy and renamed Naval Air Station Albany...
in Albany, Georgia
Albany, Georgia
Albany is a city in and the county seat of Dougherty County, Georgia, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. It is the principal city of the Albany, Georgia metropolitan area and the southwest part of the state. The population was 77,434 at the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the...
, then attended Intermediate Meteorology School at Oklahoma A&M
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater is a land-grant, sun-grant, coeducational public research university located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA. OSU was founded in 1890 under the Morrill Act...
in Stillwater. He was posted to Shemya Air Force Base
Eareckson Air Station
Eareckson Air Station is a United States Air Force military airport located on the island of Shemya, in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands. It was closed as an active Air Force Station on 1 July 1994, however the airport is still owned by the USAF and is operated by the USAF 611th Air Support Squadron...
in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska where he observed the Pacific Ocean's killer storms.
After leaving the service in 1954, he attended Jacksonville Junior College (now Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its...
), transferred to Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
and earned a meteorology degree in 1957. He was initially employed by the United States Weather Bureau (now known as the National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
) and stayed there for five years.
Hurricane Donna
Hurricane Donna
Hurricane Donna in the 1960 Atlantic hurricane season was a Cape Verde-type hurricane which moved across the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispanola, Cuba, The Bahamas, and every state on the East Coast of the United States...
was a major 1960 hurricane which made landfall at Marathon
Marathon, Florida
Marathon is a city on Knight's Key, Boot Key, Key Vaca, Fat Deer Key, Long Point Key, Crawl Key and Grassy Key islands in the middle Florida Keys, in Monroe County, Florida, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 10,255. As of 2005, the population estimated...
, moved into the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, came ashore north of Naples
Naples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of July 1, 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on July 1, 2007...
, crossed the state and returned to the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
at Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
before skirting the east coast all the way to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Over 17 days, the storm was responsible for over 350 deaths and $900 million in damages. The hurricane piqued Winterling's interest. It convinced him that "the media needed knowledgeable persons doing weathercasts in times of emergencies" such as hurricanes.
Broadcasting
In 1962, Winterling approached the manager of WJXT with a new idea: add a meteorologist to the news broadcast to present a weather forecast. The idea was accepted and he was hired for the job. Less than two years later, Winterling was the only local forecaster to warn Jacksonville residents that Hurricane DoraHurricane Dora
Hurricane Dora was the first tropical cyclone on record to make landfall over the extreme northeast coast of Florida. Dora was also the first storm to produce hurricane force winds to Jacksonville, Florida in the almost 80 years of record keeping. Dora killed five people and left over...
would make landfall on the first coast.
Winterling has been a member of the American Meteorological Society
American Meteorological Society
The American Meteorological Society promotes the development and dissemination of information and education on the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences and the advancement of their professional applications. Founded in 1919, the American Meteorological Society has a membership...
(AMS) since 1963 and his broadcasts carried their Seal of Approval.
In the early days before satellite pictures, he created and copyrighted the weather maps to portray weather systems across the country, and began the practice of predicting rainfall probability.
In 1969, Winterling was appointed to the Board of Radio and Television Weathercasting and redesigned the AMS Seal of Approval during 1973. He was employed by Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its...
as an adjunct professor beginning in 1975, teaching meteorology through 1994.
To account for the combination of summer heat and humidity, he created the "humiture" calculation in 1978, which the National Weather Service adopted as heat index
Heat index
The heat index is an index that combines air temperature and relative humidity in an attempt to determine the human-perceived equivalent temperature — how hot it feels, termed the felt air temperature. The human body normally cools itself by perspiration, or sweating, which evaporates and carries...
the following year.
Winterling received an outstanding service award from the AMS in 1984 for his use of animation to enable viewers to better understand weather phenomenon. He became a Certified Consulting Meteorologist
Certified Consulting Meteorologist
Certified Consulting Meteorologist is the title of a person designated by the American Meteorological Society and to possess the attributes of Knowledge, Experience, and Character as they pertain to the field of meteorology...
after passing the AMS exam in 1989.
Semi-retirement
Beginning in March, 2009, the station began promoting "The Big Secret". On April 23, 2009, WJXT's general manager, Bob Ellis revealed that Winterling's job was changing. They insisted that he was not retiring, but would leave the daily broadcasts and return as severe weather expert for hurricanes and fill in when the station's other weatherpeople were on vacation. Winterling stated that he would have more time for community events and appearances at schools and civic organizations, which he claimed to enjoy. He noted that in the early years, there were occasions when he needed to alert viewers to severe weather conditions, but the network's broadcast rules did not permit the interruption of programs. Television weather forecasting had advanced immeasuribly from when his only tools were a rain gauge, thermometer, anemometerAnemometer
An anemometer is a device for measuring wind speed, and is a common weather station instrument. The term is derived from the Greek word anemos, meaning wind, and is used to describe any airspeed measurement instrument used in meteorology or aerodynamics...
and wind vane. Today, computers and satellites are the primary tools. Ellis commented:
“George Winterling is as famous as it gets. He pioneered the way we do weather, he helped us understand how we can make it relevant to viewers. He was the first to invent satellite maps. He painted clouds on them. He was the first in television to predict rainfall. He created the humidity/temperature thing we call the humiture or how hot the humidity combined with the temperature makes the air feel. The National Weather Service today calls it the heat index.”
May 20, 2009 was Winterling's last appearance as weather anchor on the 6:00 news show.
On June 23, 2009, the Jacksonville City Council
Jacksonville City Council
The Jacksonville City Council is the legislative governing body of the city of Jacksonville, Florida.-Composition:The Jacksonville City Council is composed of nineteen members who are elected to four-year terms and serve as part-time legislators...
passed Resolution 2009-396-A "RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING GEORGE WINTERLING FOR HIS FORTY-SEVEN YEARS OF DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE AS CHIEF METEOROLOGIST AT WJXT" and honored him with a standing ovation.
WHEREAS, George Winterling, originally from New Jersey, came to Jacksonville at the age of ten, and he attended local schools before joining the United States Air Force, where he received training in the field of meteorology, the field destined to become his lifelong passion; and
WHEREAS, upon discharge from the United States Air Force, Mr. Winterling continued his academic studies at Jacksonville Junior College, now known as Jacksonville University, and then at Florida State University, where he received his degree in meteorology prior to beginning his career as a meteorologist with what is today called the National Weather Service; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Winterling approached WJXT, local Channel 4, in 1962 with what was at that time a novel idea of having a meteorologist deliver the weather forecasts, and he soon gained fame as the only local weathercaster to accurately predict Hurricane Dora coming ashore near Jacksonville in 1964; and
WHEREAS, George Winterling’s long and storied career involving weather, environmental experiences, and gardening tips is punctuated with untold innovations and firsts, as well as numerous national honors and awards, including achievement of Certified Consulting Meteorologist status with the American Meteorological Society, and he is well-known and respected for his timely and accurate forecasting skills while under pressure from imminent danger to the community, but he will always be remembered as a beloved and trusted friend for his unique ability to make complex meteorological concepts simple, understandable, personal, and particularly enjoyable to the average television viewer; and
WHEREAS, in addition to being a household name due to his television duties, George Winterling has welcomed and enjoyed innumerable opportunities to meet with tens of thousands of area residents through public appearances and school visits, and his faithful dedication to serving, informing, and protecting the citizens of the greater Jacksonville area has made him worthy of both emulation and honor; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Jacksonville:
Section 1. The City Council does hereby recognize and commend George Winterling for his forty-seven years of dedicated public service as chief meteorologist at WJXT.
Section 2. The City Council does further thank Mr. Winterling for his unfailing commitment to keeping the residents of the greater Jacksonville community apprised of the latest weather-related news and developments, wishing for him much personal success and happiness in his new role at WJXT as severe weather and hurricane expert, and in all his future endeavors.
Section 3. This resolution shall become effective upon signature by the Mayor or upon becoming effective without the Mayor's signature.
Garden
Winterling was also known for his gardening skills. His interest in gardening began with his mother's victory gardenVictory garden
Victory gardens, also called war gardens or food gardens for defense, were vegetable, fruit and herb gardens planted at private residences and public parks in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Germany during World War I and World War II to reduce the pressure on the public food supply...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
He maintained a garden at his home, and shared pictures and produce with other employees. WJXT's station manager suggested that he begin a garden at the station in 1991 and they created weekly segment called George's Garden, which offered advice on when to plant, what to grow, watering and fertilization. For nearly 12 years, Winterling delivered the 6:00 weather live from the garden each Thursday during the growing season. Eventually, George began taping the show early to avoid bad weather and changing clothes between broadcasts. Even after his retirement, Winterling assured his fans, “I’ll still be around. I can’t get away from the garden.”