Famous for his apparent command of bad weather school closings, WFAA News meteorologist Pete Delkus has become popular among students on social media and is one of the leading forecasters in the area.

From snow and ice in winter to constant spring showers, Delkus is working to predict the results of the current influx of rainfall and what it means for the infamous Texas summer season.

“It’s very unusual for us to have this much rain,” Delkus said. “On average May is our wettest month of the year, but [rainfall] has been way above average for this May.”

The above average rainfall may have ended drought but according to Delkus, it comes with a warning.

“There is such a thing as having too much rain, and we are definitely in that category of too much right now,” Delkus said. “The ground is completely saturated, it can’t absorb more water, and the water will start to run off. That’s when we get flooding.”

Eventually the rain should taper off and when it does Delkus has predictions for summer that may contradict popular belief.

“Sometimes when the weather is like this it can affect the summer,” Delkus said. “Typically when we have a very wet May, it means we won’t have a brutally hot summer. That doesn’t mean it will be a cool summer, it just means that it won’t be brutally hot. We typically average about 18-20 days in the summer above 100 degrees, and my guess would be we will have around an average summer. The weather pattern that brings the rain in the spring shows a similar weather pattern will stay with you into the summer.”

To stay informed on these weather patterns many students follow Delkus on Twitter.

“He’s the man,” junior Haylee Chamberlin said. “He keeps me informed.”

Another way Delkus uses social media is to inform and connect with those who are not watching TV. This could be on a sunny spring day or when severe storms are in the area.

“Social media has been great with my job because it really helps me connect with people who don’t actually watch TV but get their information from social media,” Delkus said. “I can connect with an audience that doesn’t watch us in the traditional way. It also allows me to give TV viewers information when they can’t get in front of a TV. I am tweeting when I am off the camera all of the time.”

This is a popular way for Delkus to reach students while at school.
“He is funny and calls us all kiddies, and he is the best way of getting weather fast,” sophomore Kendall Fuller said.

Other than weather, Delkus uses social media to build a fanbase and have a little fun.
“Sometimes I tweet more than others, it just depends what’s going on,” Delkus said. “Plus on Twitter I like to have a little fun. I like having fun at my job. Who doesn’t? I don’t want to just be work all the time, I want to screw around and have a little fun too.”