‘What’s the forecast?’ - Evan Thompson in the meteorology business for more than three decades

"People see me on the street and the first thing they ask me is 'What's the forecast?' but I'm no longer a forecaster. My job is much more encompassing. People don't understand that as a meteorologist your job is more than just forecasting."

Evan Thompson is well known for his role as a broadcast meteorologist, a capacity he has flourished in for 17 years, having started in 1999. However, the director of the National Meteorological Service explained that his job is far more extensive than what the public sees.

"One of the things about the job as a meteorologist is that people think you only work during a hurricane season, which is not at all true. The monitoring of the weather conditions happens all the time, so it keeps you active all the time. You see something you didn't see before," he said.

Before becoming the head of meteorological service, Thompson harboured thoughts of becoming an architect, but while at Excelsior High School he was streamed in predominantly science classes. The ease with which he was able to grasp the concepts of the sciences caused him to reshape his focus. However, it was not until he attended a career talk in fourth form on meteorology, which was delivered by John Clarke, who later became the director of the Meteorological Service, that Thompson discovered his passion for the field.

Thompson has held several positions at the Met Service, including head of the Weather Branch and Severe Weather (Tropical Cyclone) Forecaster from 1995. He has now spent 33 years in the profession, more than 15 of which have been on television. Thompson said that the job, though rewarding, has its downsides.

"If there is thunderstorm activity, you have to go outside at every hour to observe and then record it in the computer. There is a risk involved because of the adjustment for your eyes. Another risk is that you have to work during a hurricane, you don't get to be with your family, so that family life aspect is disturbed."

Thompson said, though, he does not allow the love of the job to dominate other areas of his life. Thompson said that he makes it his duty to spend time with his family and being involved in ministry.

"I'm very involved in church activities as well, and I was involved in the music at my church and leadership. I was an elder for a number of years and a member of the praise team," he explained.

Family, too, is a vital part of Thompson's schedule. "I don't make it a habit to go home and do the work of the Met Service. I encourage people to spend their time with family when they are home in the evenings," he said.