Meteorologist makes weather wizards out of third-graders

Nov 9, 2017

Third-graders at Center School in Mattapoisett got a little help studying the weather on November 9, when Channel 6 meteorologist Chelsea Priest stopped in to teach them some interesting new weather facts.

Priest took the third-graders, who are currently studying meteorology in their science classes, through some of the things she studies as a meteorologist.

First up: high and low pressure cells. "H' is for 'happy weather," she explained. "That's when it's sunny and clear and nice out."

The letter 'L' on the other hand, means 'lousy' weather. "So," Priest said, "If you see a big 'H' on the board, you know you don't even have to listen to anything I'm about to say. If you see an 'L' though, it means you should probably listen so I can tell you what that weather is going to do."

Priest also went over the water cycle, where precipitation falls, is evaporated into the clouds and becomes condensation, which eventually becomes precipitation again.

Then she covered storm warnings and storm watches. Storm watches, she explained, were good indications that a weather event could happen, and to keep an eye on the skies.

Weather warnings, however, mean that a severe weather event is actually happening at the moment. Depending on the type of severe weather, Priest said, you should focus on finding shelter immediately.

Then Priest opened the floor for questions from the students, who all waved their hands eagerly in the air. The questions ran the gamut, from wondering whether it was possible for snow to appear in the summer, to asking if Priest had ever done anything embarrassing on camera. ("I've messed up before.")

Then, Priest had her own question for the audience. "Would you guys like to be on the news tomorrow morning?" she asked.

The affirmative response was most likely heard by the entire school building.

The third-graders lined up for a photo, both serious and with funny faces; the photos will be shown on ABC Channel 6 at 5:30 and 6:30 in the morning on Friday, November 10.