Meteorologist Jackie Layer is joining New England Cable News and NBC Boston, New England One has learned.
Jackie is joining NECN/NBC Boston from WBND ABC 57 in South Bend, Indiana where she currently serves as a weekend meteorologist.
A southern New Jersey native, Jackie is enjoying everything the Midwest has to offer. Even though New Jersey sees all four seasons like the Michiana region does, she is excited to be forecasting severe weather and lake effect snow.
She has had experience forecasting both severe weather and snow storms at Penn State University where she recently graduated with a B.S. in Meteorology.
While at Penn State, Jackie took advantage of all the clubs and activities both the Meteorology Department and the university had to offer.
She took part in the University's Campus Weather Service and a weekly 15-minute educational weather show called "Weather Or Not," which allowed her to get experience forecasting, anchoring, and creating feature weather stories.
Besides her involvement in weather-related clubs, she was also involved in Lion Ambassadors which is a group of students that communicate Penn State's history and traditions through campus tours and annual events. She also enjoyed giving the weather report at the weekly meetings.
Jackie also loves getting involved with charities and while at Penn State, Jackie was involved with Penn State's Dance MaraTHON, which is a year long effort that culminates in a 46-hour no sleep, no sitting, dance marathon to raise money for kids with pediatric cancer through the Four Diamonds Fund. Jackie danced in THON 2013, which she says was one of the best experiences of her life.
Even though she is not quite sure where and when she caught the weather bug, she does give credit to her father who would never leave the house without checking the weather first.
She also credits a family trip to Florida back in 2004 that was interrupted by Hurricane Charley. She didn't mind spending an extra few days in Florida glued to the television screen as she watched the meteorologists track the storm.
Jackie starts at NECN / NBC Boston in August.
