WNBC/CH.4’s meteorologist Janice Huff sure had a busy week. It was the kind of week, weather-wise, that could make you forget about Al Roker, the guy she replaced nearly five years ago. Here’s some things you never knew about her.
Are there any books or movies that changed your life?
You’re going to think this is weird but, ” The Wizard of Oz,” has had the greatest influence on me. It was the first time I had ever seen a tornado. I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen when Dorothy is trying to outrun the tornado. That whole scene made me think that weather is so cool.
Who are your heroes?
I’d have to say that my mother and my grandmother , or my teachers. They’re the ones who stood by me and encouraged me.
What was the worst day of your life?
It was probably the day that the chromakey [ the blank, blue screen on the weather map is projected] fell off the wall while I was on the air doing the weather at my old job in St.. Louis. There was this humongus crash off-camera and everything just kind of stopped.
There was another day when the [St.Louis] station had just installed robotic cameras. I was standing in front of the weather center…and all of a sudden the robotic camera starts [panning] down. It was some sort of bad movie. So I started in my seat and ended up down on the floor with it— on live TV.
What would you be doing if you weren’t doing this?
I’d probably be a cartographer— a person who makes maps— or flight attendant. I used to always want to be a flight attendant because I would get to travel and I love flying and going places. In my next life I’ll probably be a travel agent.