Weather stories are big news, particularly when a celebrity or well-known public figure is adversely affected. When the weather is bad or unusual, be aware of opportunities to be interviewed or to pass along helpful tips to the media.

People love to read about and watch weather-related programming so they can plan their day. At most news outlets, weather stories are obligatory.

Yet reporters need far more than just the forecast provided by the National Weather Service. They need color. They need people stories. They need anecdotes, interesting factoids and humorous items. When I worked as a reporter, I loved writing weather stories, but it was often difficult to track down the human angle after a snowstorm had just dumped 15 inches of snow, or a two-week stretch of rain flooded local roads.

For a large number of ideas on how you can tie your story to the weather, check out How to Tie Your Product, Service, Cause or Issue to the Weather