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Your A-List: Best Weathercaster

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Dale Roe writes about television for the Austin American-Statesman.

He's worked at the American-Statesman for 10 years and has written family movie and video game reviews as well as watched lots of TV. Dale directs, writes and performs with Austin's Gag Reflex comedy ensemble, is a freelance illustrator and has contributed stories and reviews to Macworld magazine. He lives in Round Rock with his wife, two children and a dog named Apollo who barks whenever he hears another dog bark on television.

Available online here.

Dale Roe writes about television for the Austin American-Statesman.

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The entry titled "Your A-List: Best Weathercaster."

By Gary Dinges | Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 09:30 AM

Austin’s favorite meteorologist just so happens to be the featured forecaster on Austin’s most-watched TV newscasts.

Funny how that works.

KVUE’s Mark Murray was the winner in this year’s Your A-List poll for best weathercaster, grabbing 48 percent of the vote. Murray, who arrived in Austin nearly two decades ago, can be seen weeknights at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. alongside news anchors Terri Gruca and Tyler Sieswerda. He also delivers the forecast — with a little help from fellow meteorologists Meghan Danahey, Tom Harris and George Kanuck — found in the Metro section of the American-Statesman each day.

Second place goes to KXAN’s Jim Spencer with 36 percent, and News 8 Austin’s Burton Fitzsimmons was third with 8 percent. KEYE’s Susan Vessell, replacement for last year’s winner, Byron Webre, snagged 4 percent, good enough for fourth. Scott Fisher (KTBC) and Blanca Gaytan (KAKW) round out the list with 3 percent and 1 percent, respectively.

So what makes Murray so popular? Maybe it’s his calm, level-headed approach to reporting the weather — even in the nastiest of conditions. The marketing gurus at KVUE seem to think so, airing commercials that call Murray “the calm in the storm.”

A music lover, he’s also a long-time fixture on the radio dial, delivering the forecast on KGSR’s morning show, where he’s known as the “rock and roll weatherman.”

Congrats, Mark!

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By Jeff

June 9, 2009 10:27 PM | Link to this

Jim Spencer is clearly the best weathercaster in Austin!!! Mark puts me to sleep...... Zzzzzzzz!!!!

By Bevo Proud

May 1, 2009 4:25 PM | Link to this

I agree Mark is the best, tried to watch Spencer but he comes across as such a fear monger that I always returned to Mark Murray. Thanks Mark for keeping a cool level headed approach to the weather no matter the conditions.

By Tommy and Kumi

April 29, 2009 7:43 PM | Link to this

We love Mark - he's the one we check in with for everything weather related! From planning for the ranch animals to travel out of state - we know how to prepare and what to pack. Plus, he's our go-to guy for anything and everything music. Congrats, Mark!