Avdave

Greg Fishel got a new gig. Good for him By Laura Brummett – Staff Writer, Triangle Business Journal 5 hours ago Greg Fishel, the former longtime chief meteorologist at WRAL who left the station nearly three years ago, has a new job in North Carolina — and it’s with an HVAC company. A favorite among WRAL viewers for decades, Fishel resigned from the station in February 2019. Since then, he has worked as a senior atmospheric scientist, moved to Florida, started a Facebook page dedicated to the weather and moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, according to his social media accounts. His newest role is as a spokesperson for Blanton’s Air, Plumbing & Electric, a Fayetteville-based company with operations in the Triangle. As an HVAC company, much of Blanton’s services rely heavily on weather forecasting, said Madison Creech, Blanton’s marketing coordinator. The company also installs generators, another seasonal business dependent on weather, she said. “We thought that having our own weather person would be a fun way to get customers engaged,” she said. “Also, I think most people who grew up in this area know and love Greg Fishel, so that's kind of where the idea came from.” Fishel couldn't be reached for comment. He has already shot a commercial for the company. In it, he appears to be on a beach acting as Tom Hanks’ character in the film "Cast Away." Complete with a Wilson volleyball friend, Fishel is “found” by Blanton’s mascot, Coolidge. He then returns to what looks like a TV station and gives a weather report, shouting out Blanton’s heating technicians. Enlarge Screen shot of a commercial featuring Greg Fishel for Blanton’s Air, Plumbing & Electric. BLANTON'S C/O FACEBOOK e Fishel most recently worked for Priogen Energy as a senior atmospheric scientist from October 2019 till July 2020, according to his LinkedIn profile. In October 2020, he started a Facebook page titled “The O'fishel Weather - and other stuff PAGE.” The description says he uses it to share weather, climate and critical thinking tidbits to the page’s 20,000 followers. Some of his posts describe him traveling across North Carolina and beyond “chasing” weather events. Most posts get thousands of likes, followed by hundreds of comments expressing users’ love for Fishel and his content. Many include his humor, such as this Jan. 15 post, “Snow in the Triangle is like the Mets winning the World Series. It's not unprecedented, but darn is it hard to pull off!” Fishel started at WRAL in 1981 and became chief meteorologist in 1989. His sense of humor and weather reporting won the hearts of thousands of North Carolinians, making his departure from WRAL in 2019 shocking to many. At the time, Fishel gave a statement announcing that his resignation had been accepted. “I have been facing many personal challenges over the last year, and these issues have impacted my ability to work effectively and professionally,” he said at the time. “I take full responsibility for my actions and intend on meeting these challenges head on.”

So basically youll get snow while few miles west nothing. Very similar to the summer storms here lol.

I still dont trust it when it is spitting our ridiculous QPF.

Knock off 20% QPF on the NAM. It loves to overdo QPF

Yep for sure. It would be rain in Dover and up in sussex co it would be winter wonderland. I miss it up there, was a great place to live

Know it well, Born in Boonton and grew up in Sussex county. I left there in 1999 and bounced around the northeast, 2016 Jan I was in Northern VA and we had 34" there

What part of Jersey. Thats where Im from. I remember a few 30" storms, the bliz of 96, Feb 78, just a couple

This would be an epic way to end winter. I would take this and never bitch again. One more ride and use my 4WD again to keep it going.

I dont have one but now I do. See you for breakfast at your house

Hell my south facing driveway was cleared of snow by 11am.

Glad my gut was completely wrong on this lol

This storm alone beat last years hellish winter, so this winter is a plus, with that being said, if Ma nature wants to drop some more, Ill gladly take it Finished with 2.3" here

I have a few different kinds in my yard as well. Not as tall as the ones in Eyewalls pics but they just got planted 3 yrs ago. Back to Weather, Looks like we ended up with 2.3" of pure snow. Good little storm, nothing crazy about it IMO. But gladly take it. Who knows when this will happen again. Happy for everyone whp has seen some wintry precip this past 7 days. That covers most of us.

Yep band over me and nearing RDU is def some of the best snow of the night. Def better growth than earlier this evening. Enjoy your snow and ice peeps. Glad to have gotten some winter wx but still miss a good snow to go out driving in

There are now about 7 diversions avoiding RDU. One from LGA got to the northern neck of VA and turned around and diverting to JFK Even UPS diverted to TYS

Delta from JFK diverting to CHO since RDU isnt taking any planes yet

Endeavor Air landed on 5L/23R at RDU has slid off the runway in a CRJ9 aircraft. 19 souls on board but havent heard of any injuries. There are a handful of birds circling over the airport waiting on clearance to land

Its def a different scene here. You guys will cash in for sure in this system.

My boy isnt too impressed yet with the snow here so far.

He is a legend, Greg Fishel

That bodes well for you then looking at the radar I just have that gut feeling that is how this will set up

I just have a bad feeling that being too far west while Raleigh gets a good snow and here by RDU we get shafted. I hope Im wrong, but I have that feeling

Getting ready and staging along the Triangle Expwy 540 in Cary little bit ago

Was flurrying in Apex at US 1 and 1010 Road about half hour ago. Nothing here by RDU yet

she did mention the triangle area. "We will still see impactful winter weather and accumulations on Thursday night (including the Triangle) and parts of our viewing area will still see a major winter storm Friday"