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Woman Gets Top Weather Spot At WTSP, Channel 10

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By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 10, 2008

Updated: 09/10/2008 06:10 pm

  Tammie Souza

It's official. The Tampa-St. Petersburg TV market is getting its first female chief meteorologist.

WTSP, Channel 10, has confirmed that Chicago weather forecaster Tammie Souza is going to be the station's chief meteorologist, replacing Dick Fletcher, who died in February after a stroke.

She is expected to be on the air by October, according to station officials.

Souza, who now is at Fox-owned WFLD in Chicago, will become one of only a handful of women working as chief meteorologists at television stations in the United States.

"Tammie has impressive credentials along with an engaging personality," said WTSP President and General Manager Sam Rosenwasser. "She is someone who has the training and experience you can trust during times of severe weather -- and enjoy during calmer days. We are very excited to have her joining us."

The station has been conducting a nationwide search to find a replacement for Fletcher, who had been with the station for 28 years.

Souza has worked at WFLD since 2006. She spent six years at NBC's WMAQ in Chicago. She has been working the morning and midday shifts at WFLD.

According to the WFLD Web site, Souza was born in Pittsburgh and grew up in San Diego. Her sister, Patty, is a meteorologist at an ABC station in Sacramento.

Before working in Chicago, she was at WDJT in Milwaukee. She started her career at KHSL in Chico, Calif.

A WTSP news release states that she is certified by the American Meteorological Society and has earned the seal of approval of the National Weather Association.

Additionally, she serves on the certification boards of both the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association.

She has a bachelor's degree in biology and environmental science from San Diego State University. She has broadcast meteorology certification from Mississippi State University.

Souza has a 2005 Chicago Emmy for Best Weathercast, a 2006 Chicago Emmy for Best Science and Weather Report and two Chicago Emmys for her work hosting auto show specials.

According to the WFLD biography, her notable weather stories include the "Blizzard of 1999, the deadly 2004 Utica Tornado, the 2003 wildfires in San Diego and a series of special reports about Lake Michigan and Climate Change in Chicago."

She is married, and she lists snow skiing, scuba diving, gardening, gourmet cooking, flying, hiking, boating and never-ending remodeling projects as her hobbies.

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