ISU student is top Weather Watching Wizzard

Iowa State University students might want to check with one of their classmates before making any outdoor plans. Junior meteorology student Jeremy Grams beat out competitors from 38 other schools to finish first in the National Collegiate Weather Forecasting Contest. Grams made the best prediction on the temperatures and precipitation in selected cities across the country from September through April. The national average score was 70, and he had a score of 75-point-oh-six. Only six percent finished above the national average.The secret to his success involves a passion for weather. While other teenage boys were interested in sports heroes, Grams was more intent on studying high-pressure systems, fronts and storm clouds. He grew up watching meteorologist Dave Dahl on his hometown TV station, and was always a weather fan. Grams who’s from North Branch, Minnesota, won a plaque honoring his accomplishment. Grams has enjoyed the chance to study Iowa’s storms.He says he’s been storm chasing a few times, but has never seen a tornado. After some apprehension Grams’ become a fan of the tornado movie “Twister,” that was filmed in Iowa. He says the movie isn’t very “meteorologically correct,” but otherwise he now thinks it’s a good movie. Grams plans to intern with the National Weather Service this summer, then complete his senior year at I-S-U. After that he’d like to work for the National Weather Service, or become a TV weather forecaster. Grams by the way, led a three person sweep of the top three places in the contest by I-S-U students. Stephen Konarik, an I-S-U student from Taylor, Texas, finished second and Aaron Todd of Sioux City finished third.