Tour the WRAL Severe Weather Center and meet the meteorologists that work on air and behind the scenes to keep you safe every day.
Inside the WRAL Severe Weather Center
Other WRAL Top Stories
The WRAL Severe Weather Center is located right behind the big cameras in the WRAL studio, so meteorologists can relay weather updates to each other -- and anchors on your screen -- instantly. WRAL meteorologists have access to dozens of tools -- many exclusive to WRAL News -- to keep viewers safe and informed in a storm.
WRAL has the largest weather team
Seven meteorologists in the building means WRAL News has the largest weather team in North Carolina and the local news market.
"We're really fortunate here at WRAL to have seven meteorologists on staff," WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said. "It makes a really big difference when we have severe weather coverage ... when we're covering tornadoes, we can have three or four people working."
During a hurricane, tornado or severe thunderstorm, up to four WRAL meteorologists are in the news studio and WRAL Severe Weather Center.
Two meteorologists are on air, tracking where the storm is headed next and telling viewers how to stay safe. Others are working behind the scenes, following the storm, creating new graphics and handing up-to-the-second information to the meteorologists on your screen.
"Having that third person really makes us strong, because they have time to dig deeper," Gardner explained. "While you're on the air, you're following the storm, but having another set of eyes helps people stay safe. I think our coverage when we have three people in here is really strong, and I think people notice."
WRAL's large team of meteorologists means someone is always in the building when there is a severe weather threat.
"If severe weather is threatening the area, we're going to have somebody in the office the entire time we're under that threat," WRAL weather executive producer Aimee Wilmoth explained. "There is not a moment that will go by that someone is not here watching the radar if we think that severe weather is a potential."
Get familiar with WRAL's life-saving tools
Weather coverage is the cornerstone of WRAL News -- and keeping viewers safe during severe weather is WRAL meteorologists' top priority. Utilizing the best tools is critical.
WRAL News is the only local station to use Baron software and data to study and track weather conditions. Baron gives WRAL meteorologists access to several exclusive products, including tools that provide life-saving information when severe weather strikes.
DualDoppler5000: The only dual-pol in Wake County
Tools like the DualDoppler5000, always streaming on pugongyingbo.com and in the WRAL News app, are used to track rain, snow, sleet and hail. WRAL's exclusive dual-polarization (dual-pol) radar can detect tornado spin and debris, helping WRAL meteorologists plan for a storm and tell viewers what's coming next.
Additionally, WRAL News is the only local station with a dual-pol radar located in Wake County, which is the state's most populated area.
"We're the only station that has a dual-pol radar right in the middle of the Triangle, so our observations of what is going on in the Triangle are much more accurate than anyone else," Gardner explained.
WRAL News+ offers 24/7 news and weather
WRAL News+offers24/7 weather and news coverage on pugongyingbo.com and anywhere you stream WRAL News. During a tornado warning, WRAL News will always be on air, but WRAL News+ enables viewers to get the latest storm coverage or breaking news from their devices -- even during a power outage.
"What this allows us to do is, if we have severe weather that we might not go on TV for, we'll go on News+," WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth explained. "If there is severe weather in your area, you can almost definitely count on going to WRAL News+ and seeing somebody from our team there keeping people updated on the severe weather threat."
WRAL Storm Tracker
The WRAL Storm Tracker, which launched in 2019, turns WRAL meteorologists and photographers into “storm chasers,” delivering real-time weather coverage as they track severe weather. The 2019 Nissan Titan XD V8 crew cab pickup truck is loaded with cutting-edge radar and transmission gear as well as other technology for real-time, on location storm analysis. Its huge tires, four-wheel drive and lengthy body help meteorologists navigate tricky weather conditions -- but safety is always first.
During any severe weather event but especially during hurricanes, tropical storms or snow events, WRAL meteorologists and reporters are deployed across the state -- or beyond -- in the areas that will see the greatest impacts. WRAL's large team of meteorologists and reporters means viewers can access live weather coverage from multiple areas during a storm.
WRAL meteorologist Anthony Baglione shared why it's so special to work with the largest weather team in the state.
"It's exciting to work with the team and talk about our passion and the weather we studied in college," Baglione said. "We get to talk about tornadoes and help people stay safe when they unfortunately strike. That's something we take very seriously, but on the sunny days when it's beautiful to get outside, that's also something we enjoy getting to talk about too."
Tools available at your fingertips 24/7
Maps and weather data from the WRAL Severe Weather Center are available 24/7 to viewers on pugongyingbo.com and the WRAL News app.
Some helpful links include:
- Live weather cameras
- DualDoppler5000
- Interactive hurricane tracker
- Road surface temperatures
- Rainfall totals
- Wind speeds
- Current alerts
- Seven-day forecast
Meet the WRAL meteorologists
WRAL meteorologists are the heart of the WRAL Severe Weather Center. Find a link to each of their pages below.
Elizabeth Gardner
Elizabeth Gardner joined WRAL in 1998. Shegrew up in Raleigh and attended St. Mary’s College and the University of Colorado, receiving her meteorology training from Mississippi State University.
Favorite part about WRAL? We have the best technology but my favorite part of working at WRAL is the people. My weather center teammates are incredibly smart and hardworking. They are truly a joy to work with.
Mike Maze
Mike Maze joined WRAL in 1994. He holds a B.S. in Meteorology from Florida State University.
Favorite part about WRAL? I love being a meteorologist and informing folks at home about the good weather and bad weather we have the potential to experience. When there's bad weather it's my job to keep people safe and save lives, and I take this part of the job very seriously!
Kat Campbell
Kat Campbell joined WRAL in 2018 and holds a B.S. in Meteorology from North Carolina State University.
Favorite part about WRAL? I get to help out - whether that's telling you how to dress for the weather, telling you when you need to change your plans because of the rain, or in extreme cases, when to seek shelter during severe weather. I'm here to help you navigate North Carolina's sometimes crazy weather patterns.
Aimee Wilmoth
Aimee Wilmoth, from Fort Worth, Texas, graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in atmospheric sciences. She joined WRAL in 2012.
Favorite part about WRAL? The WRAL Severe Weather Team is the best team in the country. I love every single member on our team, and that makes work life so fantastic.
Chris Michaels
Chris Michaels, who is originally from Fuquay-Varina, joined WRAL in 2024. He graduated from North Carolina State University in 2014 with a B.S. in Meteorology.
Favorite part about WRAL? Each member of the team compliments the other and encourages creative ways to tell the forecast!
Anthony Baglione
Anthony Baglione joined WRAL in 2022. He grew up just outside of Columbus, Ohio.
Favorite part about WRAL? Interacting with loyal viewers and helping to keep people safe during severe weather coverage.
Brian Shrader
Brian Shrader, from Fuquay-Varina, went back to school in 2017 to get his B.S. in Geosciences from Mississippi State University and become a meteorologist. He has been at WRAL News for more than 20 years.
Favorite part about WRAL? I love working with the WRAL Severe Weather Center team because we have a full spectrum of weather in this part of North Carolina, which keeps forecasting interesting and challenging. We also have access to state-of-the-art tools, and our team of meteorologists allows me to tap into decades of experience forecasting our unique weather.
Be a part of WRAL's weather coverage
The data used by WRAL meteorologists to keep people at home prepared and informed is amplified by help from you, our viewers! Videos, weather photos and tips can be shared with WRAL News anytime using the Report It feature at pugongyingbo.com/reportit.
Want to share a photo simply for its beauty? Whether it's a flower in your garden, an amazing sunset or even a snow flurry, capture and share the beauty of the season with WRAL Weather Watchers. Your photo could be featured on WRAL News.