www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, June 5, 2015 | 12 When you see this metoerologist, expect bad weather by Bob Mitchell Oakville Beaver Staff If you turn on your television and see Dayna Vettes appearing on The Weather Network, it could be time to batten down the hatches. You see, the 28-year-old Vettes mostly gets camera time when bad weather is coming. "It's my passion," said Vettes, one of 40 meteorologists working at The Weather Network, which is headquartered in Oakville and owned by Pelmorex Media Inc. "I love severe weather, especially severe summer weather. It absolutely fascinates me." But it wasn't always that way for the York University Bachelor of Science graduate. Get the Best Price on your next New Car Hassle Free! Visit www.carcostcanada.com first. Canada's #1 resourCe for deaLer InVoICe PrICe rePorTs. Denis from Oakville saved over $3,500 with his CarCostCanada Dealer Invoice Price Report. Call us at 289-813-3200 special offer! oNlY $2.99 As a youngster, she was terrified of thunderstorms. "I actually had fear and anxiety of thunderstorms to the point where I would hyperventilate," Vettes said. "I had to watch The Weather Network all the time. It was an obsession with me. I had to Dayna Vettes know if there was a thunderstorm on its way so I wouldn't panic." But the more she watched, the more fascinated and interested she became in the weather. "I gained so much knowledge that by the time I was in high school I knew I wanted to have a career in weather," Vettes said. "I turned my fear into a passion. I turned my fear into something I would seek out. Now I'd have to say I respect the weather, not fear it." Vettes joined The Weather Network seven years ago and initially worked the briefing desk. Today, she's one of the team leaders in charge of the briefing desk team. The desk is responsible for communicating the forecasts to on-camera presenters and web writers. The team also creates all the maps and graphs seen on television. Vettes recently returned from three weeks in Texas where she was part of The Weather Network Canada team in Tornado Alley. She also experienced the horrific flooding. "We saw seven separate tornados," Vettes said. "We were down there shooting for The Weather Network's show -- Storm Hunters." Vettes has found herself on the scene of many severe weather events, but the worst for her was in 2013 when a series of tornados ravaged Oklahoma, killing three storm chasers, Tim Samaras, 55, his son Paul, 24, and Carl Young, 45. The three well-known storm chasers were killed trying to document and research the storm. "We were working all day and we were in the same area," Vettes said. "We knew if we headed south we would be safe, but there were so many people fleeing the highways were jammed. "It was a close call for us. It took awhile for us to find out if everybody on our team, our friends, were safe." Vettes has seen many changes in the way weather is presented and talked about since joining The Weather Network. "Social media has changed everything," she said. "We rely on Twitter a lot. The public is our eyes on the ground. They let us known what's happening in their area and we're able to quickly get it on the air to our viewers." The Body Shaping Fitness Studio For Women SPeCIal 3 MontH SuMMer MeMberSHIP Jun 1 - SePt 1 adult Students & Seniors *All classes included. Need To Sell An Older Home? Call Us First! MA XIMIZE YOUR SELLING PRICE WITH E A SY TRIED & TRUE SOLUTIONS Often, the right inexpensive changes can make all the difference. Let us show you how! · Learn which reno's are the most profitable! · Avoid wasting your time & money. · 16+ years of experience. · 100's of homes sold. 149 $ 110 $ Ideal ProteIn ClInIC Ideal Protein... a Quick, Healthy & Fun weight loss program for Men and Women! no exercise required! largest product seletion in oakville! no Consultation or Weigh in Fees! B O O K A F R E E C O N S U LTAT I O N Cory Martin BROKER Glenn Martin BROKER OF RECORD 183 Lakeshore Road W., Oakville | 905.849.1919 | www.bodyshapingstudio.com 905-334-9195 MARTIN GROUP