By Cory L. Higgs
Hunter Hubbard is an energetic student in the sixth grade at Hardin Reynolds Elementary School with an interesting pastime that he brings to school daily: He is an impromptu meteorologist, and at 11-years-old, has never given a false prediction.
In fact, his forecast generally is down to the hour. Just ask anyone at the school where they get their weather forecast. They say, “Hunter.”
Hunter, along with his friend Jeremy, conducted his interview with The Enterprise in a nonconventional way — via a ‘broadcast’ Q and A, with the help and guidance of HRMS Principal Kensie Woods. Hunter’s playful and energetic personality is evident in his responses to questions from the media.
Being an avid news and weather forecast watcher, Hunter said he does his research and gathers his information before making a prediction. He gets a lot of his information from other meteorologists, including those on television, and then works his predictions around that.
Hunter says his favorite weather to predict is snow, which may or may not result in some delays or missed school days. He added that his parents, Candice and Billy Hubbard, have started listening to his forecasts and preparing accordingly.
When asked how it is to be one of Patrick County’s most accurate forecasters, Hunter responded simply, “it feels good.”
Woods said that Hunter has gained quite the following at school, and is known as ‘The Man. The Myth. The Legend.’
“With it being winter, our kids pray for snow days, and we have an insider who has never given a false prediction of a snow day in almost three years,” Woods said. “Hunter Hubbard does our daily weather forecast on our morning announcements and is the highlight of the production. Whenever snow comes through, Hunter has predicted down to the hour when school is canceled or when we will have a late arrival.”
Hunter may even be on par to out predict the infamous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, who makes a forecast in February. If Phil sees his shadow, six more weeks of winter is anticipated, but if no shadow is seen, winter is on the way out, according to Phil.
However, based on his research, Hunter is calling the groundhog out.
“I think the groundhog was wrong,” he said of Phil’s prediction.
Hunter determined Patrick County would have a winter blast of snow last week, Thursday’s early dismissal and no school at all on Friday as temperatures plummeted.
But even he says there won’t be much more weather related impact on school schedules this year.
Still, although he isn’t sure why it’s so warm right now, Hunter but stands firm in his critique that the groundhog must have mis-predicted his forecast.
“I can feel it in my veins,” he said, predicting that Old Man Winter hasn’t left the area completely.
When he grows up, Hunter said he wants to pursue a career in news, specifically in meteorology, and has aspirations to become a weatherman.
“I think I sound good,” he said, adding meteorologists “aren’t always right on TV, but I’m always right.” He also thanked Woods for her help in getting students involved with the daily school news.
To stay up to date with Hardin Reynolds Memorial School news and to catch Hunters predictions, check HRMS on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hardinreynolds/.
The video of Hunter’s interview also will be uploaded to The Enterprise’s Facebook page.
