LEX18.com - Lexington, KY

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The chances are good that your child or one you know has had a visit from LEX 18 Storm Tracker Chief Meteorologist Bill Meck.  Since arriving in Lexington way back in 1999 Bill has seen over 50,000 Kentucky kids with his Bill's Weather 101 presentations.  It's a program that makes teaching the complexities of weather fun and interesting for the kids that has become very popular.  The year's schedule of 85 to 100 schools throughout central and eastern Kentucky is usually completed early in the fall.

Bill never dreamed of anything but being a TV weatherman. The dream became a reality while a sophomore at Iowa State University when Bill joined the staff at WOI-TV in Des Moines working on air in several different capacities.

After 2 years chasing tornadoes and finishing his degree, Meck moved to WSPA-TV in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It was there he met his wife, Connie. During his tenure in South Carolina, Bill produced and hosted an award winning severe weather documentary, "Danger From the Sky."

A 3 year stint as the Chief Meteorologist at WSLS-TV in Roanoke, Virginia followed. It was here that Bill's Weather 101 was created.

Before coming to LEX 18, Bill was weekend meteorologist at WTHR-TV in Indianapolis.  He also had probably the greatest weeks any meteorologist could dream of while there in 1997. His wonderful little girl was born, and then 7 days later he saw and taped the birth of Indiana's largest tornado of the year.

Meck has a B. S. degree from Iowa State University and a Certificate of Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University. His knowledge and enthusiasm for weather has led to his receiving Seals of Approval from both the American Meteorological Society, and the National Weather Association.  He was also awarded an Emmy for his work in 2002 and has been voted Lexington's favorite meteorologist several times by Ace Magazine.  In 2005 he received another Emmy nomination for the coverage of the Masterson Station tornado.  He was also voted as Kentucky's Favorite Weatherman by Kentucky Monthly Magazine and Ace Magazine voted him, and the rest of the weather team, the most accurate in Lexington.  In 2007 the Lexington Herald Leader and Kentucky dot Com awarded him their 'Reader's Choice Award'.  He has also served on committees with the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the city of Lexington to help the community prepare for severe weather.  Bill has also been on the Board of Directors for the American Cancer Society and in 2005 inaugurated the Strike at Cancer with Bill Meck bowling event which has raised over $20,000 for cancer research.

Being a native Chicagoan, Meck is also a Die Hard Cub Fan, and has the card to prove it. During the autumn you can find him enjoying UK football games from the east end zone.  He also has a collection of about 750 antique beer cans, some dating back to the 1940's. However, enjoying his family and watching his daughter play soccer takes up the bulk of his free time.

Click here to send Tom an e-mail

Tom Ackerman is the morning and noon meteorologist for LEX 18. Tom is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM), a professional recognition from the American Meteorological Society of the quality of his weather broadcasts.

He's from the small town of Dover, Ohio just south of Cleveland. And although he grew up in the Buckeye State he and his family have been "on the road" for years.

His first move was a four-year tour in the United States Navy. Tom was in charge of launching aircraft off the flight deck of the U.S.S. Eisenhower, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Tom was stationed in Norfolk, Va. and toured most of the Mediterranean, Europe and the Middle East. Prior to coming to LEX 18 in 2002, he worked at stations in Wisconsin, North Carolina and South Carolina. Tom has a  B.S. in Geoscience, a B.A. in Electronic Media/Journalism and is a private pilot.

Tom enjoys spending time with his wife Kera, their daughters Anna and Claire and their ex-racing greyhound Daisy.

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Kristie Kubovic brings the weather to the Bluegrass every weekend. Kristie likes the weather because it’s always changing, and it’s one of the few things humans can’t control.

Kristie is a 2000 graduate of Penn State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology. She has also been awarded the American Meteorological Society's (AMS) Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) designation and the National Weather Association’s (NWA) Weathercaster Seal of Approval. These were both awarded in recognition of the quality of her television weather broadcasts and on passing rigorous exams. She previously held the AMS's Television Seal of Approval.

Before joining LEX 18, Kristie worked as the morning/noon meteorologist at WBOY in Clarksburg, West Virginia and as the weekend meteorologist at WHAG in Hagerstown, Maryland.

Prior to her television career, Kristie worked for the United States Golf Association, where she forecast for various golf championships across the country, including the 100th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. In addition, she interned at AccuWeather in State College, Pennsylvania, the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, and at WTOV in Steubenville, Ohio.

Kristie grew up near Pittsburgh. During her free time, she likes traveling, snow skiing, golfing, ice skating, water skiing, and (of course) cheering for the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins! Kristie also enjoys Keeneland and exploring Lexington and Kentucky.