I am BEGGING. Please get NWS chat the funding it needs to fix the stability issues. It is failing right now with multiple Tornado warnings across the country. This is how emergency managers, broadcast meteorologists, & NWS meteorologists communicate life saving critical info.
Career News: I’m excited to announce that I am officially the Chief Meteorologist at KOMU 8 News. It’s an honor to lead the rest of the First Alert Weather Team as we continue to serve mid-Missouri.
@KOMUnews
Damage reports coming in from Jefferson City are heartbreaking. We are hearing reports of people trapped in there basement. If you believe in prayer please pray.
Just to be clear... I care about the life of every single viewer. I don’t care if you live in Columbia, Jefferson City or Vandalia. We will ALWYAS cover a tornado warning especially when we have reports of one on the ground. I’m not sorry you missed half of nightly news
Look at this hail! This was taken at “3:45ish Sturgeon/Harrisburg Line (Riggs area).” I asked the viewer to compare to a baseball and it was pretty darn close! Thank you to Lori Westhoelter for sharing.
@KOMUnews
#MidMoWx
#MoWx
#MidMo
@EmmyChirpichWX
Well there you have it. NOBODY picking the
#ChiefsKingdom
. More reason now to show up if you want to prove the experts wrong cause there's no shortage of them.
I’ve spent the last year finishing up my meteorology degree. Now it’s official!
I’m Meteorologist Matt Beckwith, but don’t worry.... I’m staying put right here at KOMU 8. 😊
S/O to all the fantastic meteorologists in the St. Louis TV market. I won’t tag them and clog up their twitter feed, but life saving tornado warning coverage is always more important than any programming, including a football game. Thank you for what you do.
#MoWx
#STLWx
Approximately 5 years ago I was headed to the Missouri Broadcasters Association annual meeting to receive a scholarship. Yesterday, I received an award for “best weathercast” from that same organization.
I’m honored and incredibly thankful to have a job doing what I love.
Incredibly honored to take home the award for Best Weathercast at this year’s Missouri Broadcasters Association awards.
I’m so lucky that I have a job where I get to showcase my passion every single day. Thank you, Mid-Missouri for your trust and for watching.
I think it’s time to officially announce that I’ve joined KOMU 8 full time as the third member of the Live Doppler 8 First Alert Weather Team. I’ve learned so much from working with these guys and I can’t wait to see what’s ahead.
Here's a look at every Tornado Warning, Severe Thunderstorm Warning, & Flash Flood Warning this month in Missouri.
Your local meteorologists are TIRED!
#MidMoWx
#MoWx
#MidMo
@KOMUnews
Respectfully… what’s the point? Would a special weather statement get to anyone? Most apps aren’t going to send an alert for a “special weather statement.” WEA certainly isn’t going to go off.
NWS offices offer DSS services for local decision makers. This is just a cheap shot.
Thunderstorms dumping 2" rains with tens of thousands of people attending two LARGE outdoor events in the second biggest city in Kentucky (Lexington) and the NWS in Louisville doesn't even put out a Special Weather Statement.
#kywx
Thank you, Mid-Missouri! I am honored to say that you all voted me “best tv personality” in Inside Columbia Magazine’s, Best of Columbia contest this year. Thank you all for your trust and for watching KOMU 8 News.
#MidMoWx
#MoWx
#MidMo
THANK YOU, MID-MISSOURI! You're votes for "Best of Columbia" helped
@KOMUEmily
and I win "Best Local TV Personality" in
@Inside_Columbia
Magazine.
I'm thrilled to say Emily won 1st place & I got 2nd place. I love this community and it's an honor to be here.
#MidMo
@KOMUnews
“What’s the most controversial issue in your city?”
Columbia, MO: “Trash”
Literally every other city: “wait what?”
It has happened folks… roll carts are coming after more than 10 YEARS of debate.
BREAKING: Columbia City Council votes unanimously to approve trash roll carts.
It comes after more than 10 years of debate over whether to bring roll carts to the city.
Honored to share that I was awarded “Best Weathercast” by the Missouri Broadcasters Association last night. I was also awarded hey certificate of merit for the ”Social Media Star” category.
I also want to congratulate my good friend
@JordanGBerger
for his “Best Anchor” award!
This is well deserved! I think it’s far too often that
@Pink
doesn’t get the recognition she deserves. She has so many iconic songs and performances. Can’t wait for her next tour to see her live!
FYI: We’ve gotten a few phone calls already. Unfortunately, KOMU 8 has no control over the decisions that the NBC network makes. Please don’t yell at our desk assistants.
Just saw
#Wonka
this morning and it flew past my expectations! It’s a new story, with small little blasts back to the original.
Timothée Chalamet plays the part of a young Willy Wonka phenomenally. I’m really impressed and would highly recommend it.
A little over a year ago this guy waited almost 2 hours after his producing shift to talk to me because he was thinking of switching from journalism to meteorology. Now he has completed his first year of grad school & his doing his first full weathercast! Cheers,
@PatrickHerion
He’s intensely watching The National Dog Show and it’s so cute. I’m thankful for so much on this thanksgiving, including the rash decision I made this summer that I was ready for a dog.
This guy has changed my life 💜
I’ve received tons of funnel cloud photos this evening! This one was taken near old Highway 124 between Hallsville and Centralia.
Notice the funnel in the distance and the rain shaft up close!
#MidMoWx
#MoWx
#MidMo
📸: Scott Lenz

Weather has been my passion for as long as I can remember. My interest in weather started as a fear, but with the help of a few books and amazing mentors it quickly became something I love.
It's an honor to do what I love.
#MidMoWx
#MoWx
#MidMo
I really hope we get past this phase of “Meteorology” where meteorologists tweet every single model run. It’s not helpful and it’s confusing to the public.
#WeAreMoreThanAComputerModel
Honored to take home the “Best Breaking Weather Coverage” Award from the Missouri Broadcasters Association for our coverage of the first winter storm of 2024!
I’m blessed to lead this incredible weather team
@kesley_wx
@BethFinelloWx
As a broadcast meteorologist, I promise you I will not make a “No Chance, but in this color white Christmas forecast”
As an enterprise, the joke jumped the shark 5000 posts ago. 😭
Putting a lot of faith in road crews on this one! We are slipping and sliding in Storm Patrol 8 on grindstone. Remember road treatment won’t work very well when the temperature is near 0°
A funnel cloud was reported in Columbia this evening. There are a few very small thunderstorms, this one is working along a boundary, enhancing the low level spin. This is allowing for the funnel to form. No reason to believe it will cause any problems.
Photo Credit: Alyssa
I am legitimately shocked by the number of people that think NWS Chat 2.0 is worse than 1.0
Is it different? Sure. Are there things that aren’t great? Yes (improvements are coming).
But folks it’s a stable platform that’s not going to kick partners out every severe WX day.
The fact that Ricky and Nini didn’t sing “I gotta go my own way” this season was a real missed opportunity
@disneyplus
. Hoping for a season 3!
#HSMTMTS
Look who
@BenArnetKOMU
and I ran into at the KOMU 8 Holiday Lunch! Happy to say that Jim and Chris are both doing well and enjoying retirement.
@KOMUnews
Beyond honored to be the recipient of the National Weather Association Broadcast Meteorology Scholarship. Thank you to the scholarship committee for their continued investment in my education. Also, thank you to all of my mentors that have taken the time to recommend me.
National News Media? Sure.
Local News Media? That is absolutely the place to get life-saving real-time information. Trust reliable and local sources for weather information in your area.
For severe weather, a majority of news media is less of a source of life-saving real-time information and more of a place to just watch damage footage the next day. If you want real-time information from the front lines of severe weather, follow storm chasers on social media
I’ve said time and time again that
@KOMUEmily
is the hardest working person I know. The perfect anecdote for that statement…. Last night (on her 2nd to last night) she went out and shot a story between the 6PM & 9PM newscasts.
Help us say goodbye tonight at 6 & 10 on KOMU 8 😭
“Tonight at 10 people are concerned about where to store their roll carts”
Me *stunned silence*
*screams internally, but continues to do weather recap*
Me: “I’m proud of not saying my sarcastic comment.”
*Newscast ends*
Me: “IN YOUR GARAGE OR BY THE SIDE OF YOUR HOUSE”
BLOOPER ALERT: Today I was live for our morning newscast at Float Your Boat for
@TheFoodBankMO
and I accidentally introduced the executive director of the food bank, Lindsey Lopez, as Jennifer Lopez.
We're officially a full team!
@BethFinelloWx
started today as our morning meteorologist. You can watch her Monday-Friday on KOMU 8 News Today from 4:30-7AM.
Excited to be a full team of 3 with
@kesley_wx
. Emmy, Andrew, Benjamin & Patrick will still be here too :)
#MidMoWx
#MoWx
You've asked. I've found the data!
Mid-Missouri just had its second largest temperature drop (over a 12 hour period) since 1969!
1) October 12, 1974: 58° drop.
61°-->3°
2) February 27-28, 2024: 57° Drop.
78°-->21°
#MidMoWx
#MoWx
#MidMo
@KOMUnews
This is why we do what we do. We are here for you, to keep you and your family safe until the threat is over. If you believe in the power of prayer the folks of Jefferson City and Eldon could use it.
I’m late to the party, but after months of making my way through “The Closer” and then “Major Crimes.” I think I can now say that I’m a fan of a good procedural drama.
@MaryMcDonnell10
cements her way in my list of favorite actresses (already there after BSG). Incredible shows.
Join me in congratulating
@DanielMcDKOMU
on a job well done! Today is Daniel’s last day at KOMU 8. He’ll be graduating next weekend and he is continuing his career close by as a meteorologist in Topeka, Kansas.
#MidMoWx
#MoWx
#MidMo
#KsWx
An incredible picture of Undulatus Asperatus clouds in Boonville, Mo
What causes this? Cooler stable air at the surface colliding with warmer unstable air above it.
Thank you to Betty for sharing this photo!
@KOMUnews
#MidMoWx
#StormHour
#MoWx
#MidMo
Tonight is the
@mujschool
graduation and I wanted to say congratulations to the many students of KOMU 8 that are taking the next step in their careers.
These pictures are just with a couple of the seniors I’ve gotten to know over the last several years. Congratulations to all!
Happy National Weather Person’s Day to my weather team! Everything we do is a team effort to bring you the forecast. Thank you for trusting us.
@KOMUnews
#MidMoWx
An absolutely stunning view of the sunset creating a “sun pillar” on Thursday evening. Sun pillars form when light reflects off of ice crystals in the clouds.
This photo was taken at Eagle Bluffs just outside of Columbia. Thank you to Deborah Lucia for sharing.
#MidMoWx
#MoWx
Yesterday was a really hard day, but I’m so thankful that I had over 14 years with my french fry loving best friend
Thank you for being the best dog ever, Daisy 💜
WOW!!! After the 10PM newscast I drove north and ended up about 10 miles outside of Columbia. I noticed a faint green hue to the sky with the naked eye, but the night mode setting on my phone really helped them pop! The northern lights in Missouri 😍
#MoWx
#MidMoWx
@KOMUnews
Not me asking my dog “how’s my little man?” In my “dog voice”……To wake him up from a nap so I can take him outside before I go to work ON A ZOOM WITH OUR WHOLE NEWS DEPARTMENT because I forgot to go back on mute after my questions 😭🤣
This storm was a lot of things, but unexpected was not one of them. Here’s a look back at the weather leading up to the tragic duck boat accident.
@KOMUnews
It's an honor to be the first person to receive the Walter Cronkite Scholarship for 4 years in a row. Thank you to the Mid-America EMMY Awards/NATAS for making me feel welcome in this industry and for the continuous contributions to my education.
#EmmyMidAM
Since I’ve got nothing better to do, i’ll weigh in on tonight’s drama.
-5 days out is premature for a snow event, but I respect a hand drawn map more than 🗑️ model output.
This is going to be a thread….
Today is Angie Bailey‘s last day. Angie has worked at KOMU for 17 years! It wasn’t uncommon for commercial breaks to be filled with a deep dive for knowledge. Heck, one time she fixed a button on my jacket between reads.
We’ll miss you, Angie! Enjoy your normal sleep schedule.
Wow! Check out this gorgeous sunrise from early this week at the Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary.
Thank you to Rafael for sharing.
#MidMoWx
#MoWx
#MidMo
#StormHour
It’s beyond an honor to be a 4 time recipient of the Walter Cronkite Scholarship. I can’t thank the Mid-America National Academy of Television Arts & Science enough for their continued contribution to my education.
#EmmyMidAM