Weatherman goes out on a high

[iomkiwi]

 The big high-pressure system moving across New Zealand suits MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt perfectly.
 "I'm ending my career on a high," he quipped, as he prepared for today, his last day on the job after 40 years forecasting the country's notoriously fickle weather.
 Auckland-based Mr McDavitt, who turns 60 today, has spent his last week back at MetService headquarters in Kelburn, but he now finds Wellington's temperatures too cool for his liking.
 The April 10, 1968, Wahine storm in Wellington and contact with meteorologists from the former New Zealand Meteorological Service while at Victoria University were catalysts for his career in forecasting.
 "The Wahine storm was a bit of a kicker in that direction, I guess. I was at home [in Kaiwharawhara] and the chimney blew down and a fire started in the roof, so mum sent me up to put it out. It was a bit scary."
 He studied mathematics at Victoria and was bonded to the service, which paid for his studies and gave him a forecasting job for three years after he finished his science degree.
 His first posting was to the old Wellington Airport in 1975 and then to Fiji for several years. In 1981, he transferred to Christchurch Airport, where he worked until 1985.
 In the decade from the mid-1980s, Mr McDavitt split his time between forecasting in Wellington and for New Zealand's America's Cup yachting campaigns in Perth and San Diego. He was the New Zealand team meteorologist for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
 Sailing and marine meteorology have remained special interests. Mr McDavitt recently received a cup from Yachting New Zealand for weather coaching over the years and plans to continue his involvement with sailing, despite being "very much a landlubber".
 Over the years technological improvements had made forecasting weather a lot easier, he said.
 "In the old days, we always stuck out our necks just enough so no-one would hang us; maybe put out a forecast for today and tomorrow ... now, on our website, we regularly look ahead 10 days.
 "When I worked at Christchurch, satellite pictures were a rarity. So I used to knock on the door of Deep Freeze and ask the American meteorologists doing forecasts for flights from the Antarctic if I could have a copy of their satellite picture."Fairfax NZ
- © Fairfax NZ News
http://www.stuff.co.nz/science/6434339/Weatherman-goes-out-on-a-high

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[gabba]

Metservice seem to have an ability to develop characters like Bob. He will be missed for his knowledgable commentary and ability to translate information to a level that the general public can understand

[Suezy]

Thoroughly agree gabba and wish him a long and happy retirement.

[Rwood]

Very amiable guy, I had some long chats with him at a conference in November. We need more like him.

[hbweather]

"Goes out on a high"......perfect! Best wishes to Bob McDavitt, and a personal thank you from me!