March 2007 - July 2007

FOUNTAIN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
1997-2001
  • Academic Honors Diploma

My passion goes beyond the studio, as I've chased multiple tornadoes and covered the Vortex2 tornado chase mission. I pride myself with staying on the cutting edge of technology and innovation by also being a certified FAA drone pilot. Also I've been a member of the highly respected AMS & NWA organizations with continued education & participation in these programs. Also my work has been recognized with 3 Emmy nominations.

American Meteorological Society

WTHI - TERRE HAUTE, IN
WEEKEND METEOROLOGIST
  • Full-time weekend weather anchor, preparing forecasts for on air presentation. I create numerous graphics and put together a weather presentation to be communicated to the viewers at home. In times of severe weather I chase storms and report for the station. I am also a weekday news photographer with the ability to shoot on JVC & DVCam cameras and edit on Avid and VT3 non linear editing software.

Age: 39
HOMETOWN: Veedersburg, IN
CURRENT HOME: Champaign, IL
DEGREE: B.A. Geography/Climatology with emphasis in Meteorology
FAVORITE WEATHER: Active

About Me

Since I was 5 I knew I wanted to be a meteorologist. I've been so lucky to follow my dreams and for nearly 20 years I've been living out my dream everyday forecasting weather across the midwest.

Education

National Weather Association

February 2006 - July 2007

TV Meteorologist

WRTV - INDIANAPOLIS, IN
FREELANCE METEOROLOGIST
  • Fill-in weather anchor for various morning and weekend newscasts. Make forecasts and graphics and update a 24 hour cable weather channel.

WKYT - LEXINGTON, KY
MORNING METEOROLOGIST
  • Full time morning anchor for "Wake Up Kentucky. Making forecasts and creating graphics for the 2 hour weekly morning show. Performing live cut-ins, along with severe weather coverage. Chasing storms and being involved in community events to help promote the station. Ability to use WSI wxpro software and skytracker radar.

Kevin Lighty


Quick Facts

Since 2011

Seal of Approval

August 2017 - Present

WCIA - CHAMPAIGN, IL
CHIEF METEOROLOGIST
  • I anchor the 5, 6, 9 and 10pm newscasts. I am in charge of our 4 person weather team and help lead the team in severe weather coverage and ideas on how to improve our overall brand strategy when it comes to both on air, online and our digital content.


Professional Experience

July 2002 - Jan 2006

Indiana state university
2003-2005
  • Bachelor of Science in Geography/Climatology with an emphasis in Meteorology

I've covered nearly every major weather event possible. The Joplin EF-5 tornado. Multiple blizzards. Catastrophic once in a lifetime flooding. The Taylorville EF-3 tornado. Powerful derecho wind events and so much more.

July 2007 - August 2017

Since 2009

VINCENNES university
2001-2003
  • Associates Degree in Radio/TV Broadcasting

KSPR - Springfield, mo
CHIEF METEOROLOGIST
  • Anchor for 4:00pm, 6:00pm, and 10pm newscasts. Perform school visits and multiple community live shots for various events. Maintain weather computers and upgrade software.  Major role with online weather content including a blog, a chat room, twitter, and facebook. Supervise a 3 person weather team, update software, record radio forecasts, and chase tornadoes!