1st Place: Doug Michaels (WQOW)
2nd Place: Nate Larscheid (WEAU)
3rd Place: LeAnn Lombardo (WQOW)

Choosing the area’s best meteorologist is actually far less subjective than you may think. While likeability, personality, and accuracy certainly play a role in the decision, it really comes down to the execution of their weather-person routines. For example, Doug Michaels, this year’s winner, is the evening meteorologist on WQOW TV-18. He secured victory on the strength of his Alberta Clipper Right-Hand Sweep, the gesture meteorologists use to illustrate cold air rushing out of Canada. His Stalled Warm Front Two-Hand Push, coupled with his delightfully wacky “Grillin’ with Doug” segments, also contributed to his win. WEAU TV-13’s Nate Larscheid boasts a big second place win with his Rising Dew Point Wiggle Fingers and his textbook Storm Warning Shelter Seeking Frowny Brow. In third place, LeAnn Lombardo, who helms WQOW’s morning weather desk, wowed audiences with her especially gleeful Snow Day Pitch. She always nails the landing. – Eric Rasmussen