TV Anchor to Shower BC3 Lifelong Learning Students With Behind-Scenes Severe Weather Info

(NEW CASTLE, PA) Rod Cowan has covered tropical storms in Florida.

“The news van was rocking in the sand. Someone said, ‘Put the jacks down.’ I said, ‘The jacks are down.’”

A historic ice storm in West Virginia.

“The power lines were drooping with icicles.”

A tornado in Ohio.

“The hairs on the back of my neck tingled.”

And a “snowicane” in Pennsylvania in which his red 1998 Toyota Corolla was somewhere under 16 inches of snow in his neighborhood of Camp Hill.

The on-air weather anchor and meteorologist at WKBN-TV, Youngstown, will instruct a 12-hour “Severe Weather & You” course at BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing in New Castle, one of 19 new BC3 Lifelong Learning selections offered this fall in Lawrence and Mercer counties.

Cowan will discuss severe weather criteria and events, and break down the evening weathercast from a technical perspective during the class, which will be held on six Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 28 through Oct. 2 at BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing, 2849 W. State St., New Castle.

The Aliquippa native said he was attracted to meteorology by “the infinite challenge of the forecasting side of the weather. You examine the model data, factor in any recent trends, go with your instincts and repeat in six hours.

“I like informing, and warning when necessary, the audience of the upcoming weather for the area. I enjoy the ability to ad-lib an entire forecast on live TV with just a couple hours of research.”

“Severe Weather & You” is also one of 57 courses offered this fall in Lawrence and Mercer counties, said Paul Lucas, director of BC3 Lifelong Learning.

New courses in Lawrence and Mercer counties include Microsoft Word Basics; Foundations in Drawing; Pysanky: An Introduction to Creating Ukrainian Eggs; The Night Sky: An Adventure; Savvy Social Security; Owning Your Own Meditation Practice; and Ghost Tales from the Civil War.

Returning favorites include Social Media: What, When and How to Use It; Authentic Irish Cooking; Restorative Yoga; Intro to Modern Calligraphy; and Sensible Self-Defense for Men and Women.

BC3’s Lifelong Learning courses offer the community a wide range of opportunities to gain knowledge and competence, and a variety of skills, Lucas said.

“It’s also fun to be able to present the community with an affordable way to try new hobbies,” Lucas said. “Our students love the wide variety of classes. The classes are a wonderful way to stay active by continuing your journey of learning, broadening your life experiences, gaining skills to better your employment, or to enrich your life.”

Cowan, a graduate of South Side High School in Hookstown who holds bachelor’s degrees in communication, from Ohio University, and in broadcast meteorology, from Mississippi State University, also worked for television stations in Virginia, West Virginia and in Harrisburg.

Topics in “Severe Weather & You,” which costs $69, will be introduction to weather; rain and flooding; severe thunderstorms; tornadoes; hurricanes; and lake effects and winter forecasting. Students can also learn about the Skywarn Storm Spotter program.

For more information on BC3’s fall 2019 Lifelong Learning courses in Lawrence and Mercer counties, visit bc3.edu or call 724-284-8504.

BELOW: Rod Cowan, the on-air weather anchor and meteorologist at WKBN-TV, Youngstown, will instruct a 12-hour BC3 Lifelong Learning course titled “Severe Weather & You” at BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing in New Castle beginning Aug. 28. He is shown working at WCAV-TV in Charlottesville, Va.