Max Mayfield Joins WPLG

Snap. WPLG just announced they hired former head of the National Hurricane Center Max Mayfield as the station’s hurricane specialist. However, he won’t be at the chroma wall forecasting the hurricane, instead he’ll do much the same he did while at the Hurricane Center – answer questions from the meteorologist and explain the weather data.

Mayfield says he chose WPLG because he believes in their no-hype approach to hurricane coverage!

He officially begins work at WPLG on April 1st.

Mayfield is recognized as one of the world’s most knowledgeable scientists with an expertise in forecasting the path and intensity of tropical storms.

From the Herald:

In a note to employees, Pohovey put it more bluntly: “Just imagine the coverage the next time a storm is heading this way. . . . I’d hate to be sitting in a competing newsroom in this market!”

Channel 10 and 4 will be duking it out this summer on who’s got more hurricane coverage power. Let the bragging begin.

Local10.com – Hurricane Coverage Gets ‘Maxxed’ At WPLG
Miami Herald – Max Mayfield to join WPLG-ABC 10
Sun Sentinel – May Mayfield ends retirement, joins Channel 10 as hurricane expert

Max Mayfield to join WPLG-ABC 10
BY MARTIN MERZER
mmerzer@MiamiHerald.com

Max Mayfield was just a government weather forecaster, but he — somewhat reluctantly — posed for pictures, signed autographs, shook countless hands.

His frequent media appearances during hurricane crises made him something of a television star. Now, it’s official.

Mayfield, who retired as director of the National Hurricane Center in January, signed a three-year contract Thursday with WPLG-ABC 10. He will serve as its full-time hurricane specialist.

What he will do: interpret tropical weather forecasts and help viewers prepare.

What he won’t do: issue his own forecasts or wave his arms this way and that in front of those fancy TV graphics.

”I will not expend any effort ever on the forecast,” Mayfield, 58, said. “I don’t think anyone can beat the quality of the forecasts of the hurricane center.

”I’ll just try to make it understandable . . . ,” he said. “I will most likely be doing what I’ve done in the past, sitting at a monitor and interacting with the anchors and the weather people there at WPLG and keeping that close connection with local emergency managers.”

Competition for Mayfield’s services has been keen since he retired after a 34-year career. He said he rejected flattering offers from the Weather Channel and several television networks.

Joining a South Florida operation will allow him to spend more time at his Kendall home with his wife and, when they’re not at school, their three children. He begins there April 1.

”I just had to decide on something, and I just felt like it was a good fit with the local station,” he said. “South Florida, as far as the number of people, is one of the most vulnerable areas anywhere, and I hope I will be able to contribute.”

The contract gives WPLG exclusive media rights to Mayfield’s expertise, though he still plans to speak at conferences and accept other duties related to hurricane preparedness.

Bill Pohovey, WPLG’s vice president of news, said Mayfield will work closely with the station’s chief meteorologist, Don Noe, and the rest of the staff. He called the signing of Mayfield “a coup.”

”He brings such credibility to the weather,” Pohovey said. “He’s the guy that this community and this country has gotten to know and trust.”

In a note to employees, Pohovey put it more bluntly:

“Just imagine the coverage the next time a storm is heading this way. . . . I’d hate to be sitting in a competing newsroom in this market!”