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Ben Smith

I am a certified broadcast meteorologist originally from Fredericksburg, Virginia and started at WFTV in July, 2007. I have always been interested in weather from grade school tracking snowstorms up the east coast. After graduating high school, I attended East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina where in 1996 I received a bachelor's degree in Communications and a minor in Geography.

I landed my first on-air job right out of college at WNCT-TV in Greenville, NC where I did weather for five years. While working at WNCT, I went back to school and received a certificate in broadcast meteorology from Mississippi State University. I have also worked in Chattanooga, Tennessee and in Birmingham, Alabama, and was the Chief Meteorologist at WSAV in Savannah, Georgia for four years before arriving in Orlando.

I have been involved in the direct landfalls of several hurricanes including Bertha, Bonnie, Dennis, Fran and the big one....Floyd in 1999. Along with the WNCT staff, I was honored to be awarded the prestigious National Edward R. Murrow Award for continuous coverage of Hurricane Floyd. I bring 13 years of television experience to WFTV.

I hold seals from the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association and also have the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) seal of approval as well.

In my spare time, I watch sports (the N.Y. Jets & Virginia Cavaliers), work out and go to church and the beach.

Have weather-related question or comment? E-mail Ben

Detailed Forecast

Matt Makens
The latest forecast from Severe Weather Center 9 Meteorologist Matt Makens.
Meteorologist Profile

We could really use some rain around here, Orlando is well over 2" behind this fall. Luckily, I am tracking a bit of rain that may move through the rest of this weekend. Sadly, I can't go any higher than a 20% rain chance for Sunday, which means that most areas will certainly continue to stay dry.

This Evening: Mostly cloudy and mostly dry. Temperatures in the 70s along with a bit of humidity.

Tonight: Areas of low clouds, but not much rain. Low temperatures will be in the lower 60s.

Sunday: Patchy morning fog, otherwise mostly cloudy skies and, at most, a 20% rain chance. Highs will continue to stay above average in the low 80s.

3 - Day Forecast
Sat
Partly Cloudy
81
Sun
Chance of Rain
82
Mon
Chance of Rain
81
Orange County
We could really use some rain around here, Orlando is well over 2" behind this fall. Luckily, I am tracking a bit of rain that may move through the rest of this weekend. Sadly, I can't go any higher than a 20% rain chance for Sunday, which means that most areas will certainly continue to stay dry.

This Evening: Mostly cloudy and mostly dry. Temperatures in the 70s along with a bit of humidity.

Tonight: Areas of low clouds, but not much rain. Low temperatures will be in the lower 60s.

Sunday: Patchy morning fog, otherwise mostly cloudy skies and, at most, a 20% rain chance. Highs will continue to stay above average in the low 80s.

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