Mike Nelson: For 7News forecaster, National Weatherman's Day will be sonny

As Jef Otte wrote, tomorrow is National Weatherman's Day. No really. Created for 18th-century weather observer John Jeffries, it honors "men and women who collectively provide Americans with the best weather, water, and climate forecasts and warning services of any nation," the National Weather Service says...

By Jonathan Shikes

February 4, 2011

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As Jef Otte wrote, tomorrow is National Weatherman's Day. No really. Created for 18th-century weather observer John Jeffries, it honors "men and women who collectively provide Americans with the best weather, water, and climate forecasts and warning services of any nation," the National Weather Service says.

So what are Denver's weathermen -- and women -- going to do to celebrate, aside from torturing us with more, uh, awkward forecasts like the one that didn't call for snow yesterday? Well, Channel 7's Mike Nelson says he gets a few cards every year -- and has even gotten flowers from some viewers. He'll also go out to dinner with his wife.

"I think they made it February 5 to make us all feel better after Groundhog Day," he jokes, pointing out that Punxsutawney Phil is right about as often as the weathercasters -- and didn't spend all those years in college learning to become a meteorologist.

This year will even more special for Nelson, however, since his son Anders recently got a job as a weather reporter for KRDO Channel 31 in Colorado Springs.

"It's sort of like I'm passing the baton," his dad says. "Or passing the thermometer."

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