‘A blessed career.’ Monty Webb’s career highlights and takeaways headed into retirement

Next week, TV news in Tri-Cities will lose a long-familiar face when Chief Meteorologist Monty Webb signs off for retirement. The 62-year-old’s decades-long career in meteorology is an accomplished one, and his personality is a favorite among viewers.

Webb announced his retirement last week, and his last day on air is scheduled for Jan. 3.

A lifelong lover of weather

Having always been interested in weather, Webb’s start in meteorology came through the Air Force. As a forecaster in the ‘80s, he’d have to hand analyze large, black and white maps that were printed off from two primary weather models, according to Webb.

Then, he was involved in testing for upgraded systems, allowing forecasters to see inside storms for the first time.

“It was like comparing your cell phone to the old rotary dial phone,” Webb said in an interview with the Herald.

After he was medically retired from the military due to a blown-out knee, Webb set his sights on TV meteorology. With some help, he put together a demo reel and was eventually hired by KNDU, the NBC station covering Tri-Cities, Yakima and Eastern Oregon.

This led to a fruitful, award-winning career, with meteorology positions in Seattle, Spokane, Boise, Chicago and Louisville. Ten years ago, he returned to his first station in order to work closer to family.

“Out of all the places that we’ve worked at, this has probably been our favorite,” Webb said, speaking for himself and his wife.

Monty Webb’s most memorable moments

After decades in the industry, Webb has had many unique experiences. From silly bloopers to devastating storms, he’s had many memorable moments in meteorology. When asked about standout memories, he had several.

Like the time in Boise when he flew off a horse’s back on live TV while trying to show off his horseriding skills.

Or, while at KNDU, there was the time his shorts slipped while he was getting out of a dunk tank.

“We had a half-moon. We almost had a full Monty, live on TV,” Webb said. “And the producer was like ‘I tried to avert my eyes, but every monitor I looked at, I saw your butt.’”

But there are also many serious moments he’ll remember forever. Webb really cherishes his time in the Air Force as well, as he realized just how life-or-death weather can be. He told the Herald he got to forecast for just about every location in the northern hemisphere during that time, sometimes for special missions that relied on weather conditions.

But one of the most memorable took place when he was Chief Meteorologist in Louisville, during the March 2012 tornado outbreak. It produced numerous tornadoes, including a massive EF4 tornado that nearly completely took out the town of Henryville, Indiana.

Webb told the Herald that the tornado reached speeds over 260 miles per hour, was a half-mile long and stayed on the ground for an hour straight. His team was on air for five hours that day without breaks.

While surveying the site with the National Weather Service the day after, Webb was looking at what remained of a local gas station. The owner approached and thanked the meteorologist, saying he watched Webb while preparing for the tornado. Following the broadcast team’s direction to take cover, the owner instructed all customers to enter the walk-in freezer. They all lived.

“That’s probably the most serious and the most impactful,” Webb said. “That one is the one that just will forever be in my mind.”

Adapting to a changing industry

Webb says he’s had a blessed career, and one full of growth and vast change in the field as well.

Throughout his career, meteorology has advanced a lot, as has TV news. Instead of hand analyzing printed maps, forecasts are now done using computers, with three times as many models and generated analyses. With each technological advancement, Webb has had to learn new systems and adapt to changing daily responsibilities.

“As a meteorologist, you have to be willing to adapt, you have to be willing to deal with the unpredictable,” he said.

This skill goes beyond forecasting weather, and he says it has kept him adapting with the field for several decades.

He’s had to stay up-to-date with advancements in technology, working with computers and social media. When Webb started in TV, the daily expectation of a meteorologist was one main forecast. Now, there’s numerous forecasts each day, with streaming channels, social pages and web updates.

Though he’s kept up with the developing industries, and still loves the work he does, Webb felt it was the right time to retire. One thing he’s loved about KNDU is its designation as a teaching station, meant to introduce young talent to the ways of the industry and shape them for jobs in bigger markets or with more responsibilities.

Webb says he’s loved growing the industry, since someone has to take over for him now. The majority of his trainees have gone back to school to get their meteorology degree, including his morning show counterpart at KNDU, Sigmund Seroka.

Monty Webb’s retirement plans

But don’t fret, you’ll still see Webb on KNDU from time to time. He told the Herald he’ll be filling in as needed.

In retirement, Webb will spend time with his family. He has two daughters here in Tri-Cities and a son living on the west side, plus 12 grandchildren. A thirteenth grandchild is expected in January.

Webb and his wife love camping, especially with the grandchildren. They go on regional trips every year, and are planning a larger trip to celebrate retirement. Beginning in March, they’re going to visit Oregon then head to Phoenix and stay at the Luke Air Force Base’s family campground.

He also plans to do a lot of fishing, especially at the Columbia River. Webb says he once caught an 11-foot sturgeon out of the Columbia.

Webb is also planning to get a Veterans Service Officer certification, which he’ll use to help other veterans navigate the services and resources available to them.

In a parting message to viewers, Webb said the viewers have become an extended family to him, and he’s always happy to meet them while out and about.

“Thank you for inviting me into your home every single day,” he said. “I appreciate all of the viewers because without them, I really wouldn’t have a job. They are the ones who, in my view, have always been responsible for feeding my family, for putting a roof over my head, because they watch and I can’t express enough gratitude towards them.”