Fox 5 News meteorologist Mike Woods returned to C.V. Starr Intermediate School in Brewster last week where he taught groups of fourth graders about forecasting the weather.
“It’s been an interesting year to say the least,” said the weatherman.
“From temperatures in the double-digit, below zero range during a recent weekend, and the following weekend setting record high temperatures of nearly 60 degrees,” Woods said. “Thunder and lightning storms with wind gusts of 57 mph in Putnam County are also most unusual for late February.”
Woods, whose visits to Brewster during the past several years were deemed as tremendous successes, was invited to return to the school by Grade 4 teacher Frank LaMorte.
“Children absorb so much more from experiential learning and Mike does a great job in the classroom,” said LaMorte.
Woods joined Fox 5 New York in 2001 and became the morning meteorologist two years later. Originally from Sacramento, California, he began his career in North Carolina where he worked as a weather anchor on a small television station. Woods holds a degree in Communications with an emphasis on atmospheric science from the University of California.
Woods told the children how he loved meteorology as a small child.
“I asked my parents to take me to the library where I read every book I could related to weather.”
When he is not on the air, Woods is an accomplished tri-athlete often working out and skiing. His charitable work includes a cause that is near and dear to his heart—cancer. Recently, he raised $10,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through his ‘Team in Training,’ which is dedicated to training runners, walkers, cyclists, hikers and tri-athletes for events in order to raise money for cancer patients and their loved ones.
Woods is also a patron for the Roger and Beth Ailes Apprentice Program, a diversity initiative that assists students and young professionals interested in pursuing a career in broadcasting and journalism.
“Follow your dream,” Woods told Brewster students. “Who knows? Perhaps one of you may be filling my shoes some day when I decide to hang up my weather forecasting gear.”