KMTV First To Deliver On-Air Warning

Viewers watching "Dr. Phil" on KMTV (Cox Channel 5) were first to learn of the severity of Thursday's thunderstorms when KMTV Chief Meteorologist Ryan McPike interrupted the talk show with word of a tornado warning for Douglas County.

McPike's "First Warning Weather" coverage began just moments after the National Weather Service office in Valley, Neb., issued the warning. His cut-in preceeded the four other Omaha TV stations and capitalized on a huge viewing audience. "Dr. Phil" is No. 1 in its 3-4 p.m. time slot in the latest Nielsen Media Research ratings, compiled during February.

KMTV News Director Ken Dudzik said he was proud of his team of meteorologists for their performance today and for pinpointing the threat of severe weather days in advance.

"We pride ourselves in being 'First With Severe Weather' and I feel we lived up to the promise today," he said. "Our promise goes beyond just being on the air when the warnings go out, we warn viewers days in advance of the threat."