Today we’d like to introduce you to Trevor Birchett.
Trevor, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Southaven and was always absolutely terrified of storms to the point of a near panic attack. My dad knew a little bit about the weather and would always try to explain what was happening to me, in hopes it would calm me down (it never really worked). On February 5, 2008 (when I was 8), a tornado hit Southaven and caused significant damage about half a mile from my house.
I’ll never forget watching weather coverage on TV when the power began to flicker and my dad yelled at us to go to the bathroom. About a week later, former Channel 5 meteorologist Dave Brown visited my school to talk about the weather, and I knew right then that I wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a television meteorologist. Specifically, since I had dealt with storm anxiety, I wanted to be a voice of calm in the storm to other people who had a similar fear.
I learned as much as I could through middle and high school and even had a makeshift studio in my house to record weather videos for friends and family. I graduated from Northpoint Christian School in Southaven in 2017 and attended Mississippi State University, where I got my Bachelor’s degree in Geosciences, with a concentration in professional and broadcast meteorology and a minor in broadcasting. While I was in college, I did the weather on the weekends at CBS affiliate WCBI in Columbus, Mississippi for two years.
I’ve also recently been doing outreach on TikTok, where I show videos of how my job works and give advice to up-and-coming meteorologists. I never would have imagined that so many people would be intrigued – but I’ve amassed a following of 100,000 and counting. It’s a unique way to teach people how it all works!
I could never have dreamed that my path would bring me back to my hometown, especially this early in my career, but I am truly honored to serve the folks of Memphis and the Mid-South. This community holds such a special place in my heart, and you won’t find better people anywhere in the world. I truly believe that.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not necessarily.
Growing up, I found it pretty hard to fit in. Some people may have called me the ‘weird’ kid, and to be fair, I really was. I mean, what other 8-year-olds do you know that are filming weather videos in his bedroom? It took me a while to work on being comfortable and confident in myself and to be honest, I’m still working on it. I struggle with self-esteem and anxiety issues which can sometimes be made worse by being on TV.
I have found myself harshly criticizing the way that I look, the way that I dress, and the way that I talk. While most viewers are amazing and positive, the ones who have something negative to say will make sure you hear it. The problem is even worse for my female colleagues. You have to make a real effort to focus on your mental health in this industry. It can be easy to fall into a dark place, and I’ve had to take time to focus on myself and my confidence over the last few years.
I’ve also struggled with my sexuality as a gay man. Growing up in the South, it’s hard to get away from the idea that being queer is wrong. This was an internal struggle for many years and something I was ashamed to admit. I’m very thankful to have friends, family, coworkers, and management who supported me when I came out at 18 and continue to support me today.
However, I realize that not everyone is as lucky and that we still have a long way to go. I mean, some people in my situation were put out on the street and told by their parents to never speak to them again. I hope I can continue to be a voice and work toward a greater change for the future of the LGBTQ+ community.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a meteorologist at ABC24 and CW30 News in Memphis. Typically, I do weather on the weekend evenings, but you may see me on any shift. I also cover severe weather and winter weather any time it hits the Mid-South, sometimes in the studio, and sometimes out in the field. I also provide weather updates on all of my social media platforms (@weathertrevor) and our website (abc24.com).
I’m most proud of my educational angle on TikTok. While I post a “funny” video here or there, most of the videos I make teach something they might not have known before – how the green screen works, how we go live in the field, things like that. I’ve gotten a lot of positive reactions from it, and a good chunk of it is from younger kids who want to be a meteorologist one day. I’m honored to be someone they can look up to and learn from!
I like to think I’m different because of the way I present the weather. As someone who grew up with storm anxiety, I know that weather scares many people, and sometimes the meteorologist can inadvertently make it worse. I hope I can be a voice that explains what’s going on and what could happen without completely terrifying those who are scared of storms.
While my job is to forecast and present the weather, I also hope you can learn a thing or two about meteorology while you watch. After all, the more you know about the weather, the less scared you need to be!
Any big plans?
For right now, I love being in Memphis and being with friends and family. I love this city with all my heart. I couldn’t ask for a better team to work with and to be a part of – they are truly phenomenal. As far as the long-term future… who knows? Anything could happen!
Contact Info:
- Email: tbirchett@abc24.com
- Website: abc24.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/weathertrevor
- Facebook: facebook.com/weathertrevor
- Twitter: twitter.com/weathertrevor
- Other: tiktok.com/@weathertrevor
