When local meteorologist Jim Reif moved to Lee County he went from forecasting snowstorms and blizzards to tropical storms and hurricanes. Reif brings over a quarter of a century experience as a professional meteorologist and has been a major force in Florida weather forecasting for 30 plus years. Reif, one of Lee Countys’ most recognizable on air personalities moved here from Cherry Hill, New Jersey in 1979. “I’ve always loved the warm tropical weather southwest Florida.offers”, says Reif. A Penn State alumni, Reif majored in synoptic meteorology. His route to and from school took him by the local airport where he was friendly with the weather guys. “They would always give me maps and I would study them”. Reif still finds time to get back for a Nittany Lions football game every year or so.

His mother, an active 90 year old who lives on the East Coast of the state pointed him in the right direction. “We would always watch the weather together when I was a child. I was very interested in the tropical storms and hurricanes that came close to us in New Jersey”, says Reif.

Jim20Reif joined Waterman broadcasting in 1999 as Chief Meteorologist for ABC-7. More recently he became the Director of Meteorology for the company’s television stations. Reif loves the changes technology has brought about to the industry. “We have the best advances in forecasting hurricanes. The satellite imagery is all ready to go, it’s easily at your fingertips”, says Reif. “Audiences are more sophisticated. They are far more in touch than they were 30 years ago. And although there are weather challenges no matter where you live in the world, part of it is living in a state that gets hit more often than any other state”. Asked about exciting times in his career, Reif easily comes up with four occasions. “In 1982, Hurricane Albert, 1992 Hurricane Andrew, 2004 we had Hurricane Charley and 2005, Hurricane Wilma. The demands of the job bring out the little kid in me again. I wanted to learn as much as I possibly could with those storms. What could the atmosphere do? The natural curiosity of the job leads you to no sleep as much as the demands of the20position” says Reif. During Hurricane Charley, I got about three hours of sleep a night. I had an emergency hotel room about a mile from the studio and wound up sleeping here most of the time”. Reif was honored as the Naples Daily News Person of the Year for his coverage of Hurricane Charley. His weathercasts have been awarded the American Meteorological Society’s Seal of Approval.

When asked for a prediction for this season,=2 0Reif adds. “This year experts in seasonal forecasting suggest El Nino’s stronger jet stream factors inhibit slightly cooler weather which suggest a less active season, says Reif. “However we can’t take comfort or solace in that. A busy and quiet hurricane season is relative. It only takes one. 1992 was predicted to be a quiet season and you can’t t ell the people of Homestead, Florida about that. They experienced Hurricane Andrew in August, the first named storm of the season”.

Reif, also the entrepreneur, owns U.S. Weather Consultants southwest Florida’s largest private weather consulting firm. His consulting services are used by city and county government as well as local agriculture firms and school districts. Experts in forensic meteorology, Reif is often called upon to reconstruct weather for a particular day. “We research past weather events and reconstruct weather events for litigation. It involves using visual presentation with satellite pictures and imagery”.

Reif enjoys his down time. A private pilot, Reif is a member of a local flying club, the Sundowners. “I own a plane with me and 90 of my closest friends” Reif jokes. “I fly down to the keys a couple of times a month”. Reif would like to combine his love of weather and flying with a trip up in the Hurricane Reconnaisance Plane some day.
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Reif is also a avid cruiser, and boater and enjoys scuba diving. When asked about the last time this Florida transplant saw snow, “ I got out to Colorado last year. It was nice for a short time. It’s funny, I miss the snowstorms but not the snow”.

“Because our area is so vulnerable to the weather, seniors are in better shape than most when it comes to hurricane planning. They are better prepared and take it seriously”, stresses Reif. “They are wise enough to listen and make a plan. Many are footloose and fancy free, they can simply leave town”.

Reif, close to being a senior himself loves the area and what he does for a living. “I have been fortunate to spend my entire career doing something I love to do. I love the area and will always continue my fascination with the weather” says Reif.