Looking Forward To Severe Weather?

WTAJ found that one group in Centre County, is actually eager for the potential sever weather.

Possible power outages, winds up to 60 mph, even snow is possible in higher elevations. WTAJ Chief Meteorologist Joe Murgo, like many Meteorologists, are baffled by this hurricanes path.

"It's not common that you get a storm system, first of all, it's not common to get a hurricane to hit this late in the season, it's not common at all, for it to back, from the coast, westward into the northeast..."

As of now, Murgo expects the hurricane to hit around New Jersey or New York, and he thinks many folks in central PA, especially in rural areas could be left in the dark.

"I'm expecting widespread power outages, this could go well beyond just tens of thousands across the state."

And if the storm ends up being as severe as Joe Murgo says it could be, it would impact many in our area, but it could serve as a teaching tool, for those teachers and students at schools like Penn State.

PSU Senior Michael Page says he wants to be a Mmeteorologist on tv like Murgo, he says you can't get experience like this in a classroom.

"You can read about these sorts of anonymous situations in a textbook, but to see it unfold, and help people prepare for it, is a unique opportunity especially in an academic environment."

Page's Professor Fred Gadomski stresses the importance of this kind of event to his students.

"I want the students to look carefully at all the observations, and watch how this storm unfolds... Pay attention to every detail and catalog it."

Gadomski says many of the experienced forecasters who have seen it all, are stunned by what could happen. Including WTAJ's own Chief Meteorologist.

"I haven't seen a storm like this, in my 12 years here at WTAJ..."