Ron Childers
Chief Meteorologist
Memphis, TN
Watch Chief Meteorologist Ron Childers weekdays on Action News 5 at 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
A native Memphian and second generation Mexican-American, Ron's broadcasting career began in Memphis radio in the early 1980s at WRVR, then onto WMC FM 100. In 1989, Ron moved from radio to television as a marketing and promotion producer and part-time weathercaster for Action News 5. In the mid-90s, Ron pursued weather full time and went on to get his Certificate of Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University.
Ron's 20-plus years of forecasting experience include working through some of the most memorable storms to move through the Mid-South. In 2000, Ron won an Emmy for coverage of a winter storm that blanketed the area with snow. In 2005, Ron was honored by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences with an Emmy nomination for Best Weathercast. And in 2010, Ron was again nominated for an Emmy for his weekly weather web chat on actionnews5.com.
Ron is a member of the American Meteorological Society and holds the prestigious AMS Seal of Approval. He is also a member of the National Weather Association, as well as the local chapter of the AMS/NWA Memphis.
Throughout the year, Ron speaks to numerous schools, clubs and civic groups. He serves as emcee and auctioneer for various fundraisers and he also volunteers his time with several charitable organizations. In 2011, Ron was awarded the Humanitarian of the Year Award from Diversity Memphis for his civic and charitable work in the community.
Ron is married to Action News 5 anchor/reporter Joyce Peterson.
Extreme cold grips the Mid-South once again as the week comes to a close and the weekend begins and it will feel even cold with wind chills in the single digits to below zero for many areas including Memphis and Shelby County. A WIND CHILL ADVISORY will be in effect from 10 PM tonight until 9 AM Sunday for the entire Action News 5 coverage area. Fortunately, we’ll enjoy more sunshine tomorrow and a warmer pattern will begin taking shape Sunday.
Another winter storm system will move into the Mid-South Thursday bringing freezing rain to much if not all of the Mid-South. Accumulation of a glazing to a tenth of an inch will be possible during the day tomorrow. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY will go into effect at 6AM for the ENTIRE Action News 5 coverage area and remain until 7PM. The main impact from this system will be the potential for hazardous travel through the day and into the evening and overnight hour. Another round of extreme cold will set in Thursday night and remain into the beginning of the weekend.
Another winter storm system will move into the Mid-South Thursday bringing freezing rain to much if not all of the Mid-South. Accumulation of a glazing to a tenth of an inch will be possible during the day tomorrow. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY will go into effect at 6AM for the ENTIRE Action News 5 coverage area and remain until 7PM. The main impact from this system will be the potential for hazardous travel through the day and into the evening and overnight hour. Another round of extreme cold will set in Thursday night and remain into the beginning of the weekend.
Extreme cold is gripping the Mid-South tonight along with a WIND CHILL ADVISORY until 10 AM Wednesday for the entire Action News 5 coverage area as overnight lows fall into the single digits with below zero wind chills by morning. Fortunately, we’ll enjoy a full day of sunshine tomorrow, but another system moves in Thursday bringing another round of frozen precipitation to much of the area including Memphis and Shelby County.
Snow and sleet blanketed the Mid-South leaving behind 4 to 5 inches for most areas with 6 to 7 inches in a few locations south and east of Memphis. The snow will remain on the ground for awhile as extreme cold keeps a grip the area for the next few days along with wind chills at or below zero during the evening and overnight hours tonight and tomorrow. As a result a WIND CHILL ADVISORY is in effect for the entire Action News 5 coverage area through 10 AM Wednesday.
now has begun to fall over much of the Mid-South today along with a few pockets of sleet. Snowfall will increase as we head into the evening and continue overnight into Monday. As a result, a WINTER STORM WARNING is currently in effect for the ENTIRE Action News 5 coverage area along with a WIND CHILL ADVISORY for much of West Tennessee and Eastern Arkansas as well as Memphis and Shelby County.
Friday is a FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY as potent cold front will move through the Mid-South tomorrow bringing the threat for strong to severe storms in the morning followed by gusty winds and falling temperatures through the day. A WIND ADVISORY will be in effect for the entire Action News 5 coverage area from 3 AM to midnight as wind gusts of 40 to 50 MPH will be possible. Than an arctic blast grips this weekend bringing dangerous cold and the potential for accumulating snow beginning Sunday night and leading into another FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY Monday.
A series of low pressure systems will move through the Mid-South over the next few days bringing a brief warm up along with rain and thunderstorms to end the week followed by a much colder weekend. But, an arctic blast Sunday intersecting with another low pressure system brings the threat for snow and extreme cold making Monday a FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY!
Winds diminish and clouds clear tonight allowing for sunshine and a brief warming up before the week comes to a close. More rain is likely to end the week ahead of a cold weekend and a chance of snow to start next week along with drastically cold temperatures.
A potent low pressure system is bringing rain and gusty winds to the Mid-South as the week begins. Showers will taper by early Tuesday, but gusty winds and falling temperatures will be in place tomorrow. A WIND ADVISORY is in place for the entire Action News 5 coverage area until midnight tomorrow night as wind gusts of 35 to 40 MPH will be possible. Another system later in the week will bring more wind and rain followed by even colder temperatures and the potential for wintry weather to start next week.
A great end to the weekend here in the Mid-South ahead of more clouds, rain, gusty winds, and an active pattern for much of next week. A low pressure system brings rain and gusty winds tomorrow along with colder temperatures behind the system. The National Weather Service has issued a WIND ADVISORY that will go into effect Monday afternoon and remain through Tuesday evening. Rainfall Monday through early Tuesday will average three quarters of an inch to as much as an inch and a half.
High pressure to our north kept the Mid-South cold and dry today, but a low pressure system to our south will make for a cold and rainy day tomorrow followed by another system that brings rain back to the area Monday.
High pressure to our north will provide some sunshine to the Mid-South tomorrow, but clouds will soon return as the first of two systems line up to bring rain.
Colder than average temperatures will continue to keep a grip on the Mid-South through the rest of the week along with periods of cloud cover, but a mainly dry pattern for now. A few flurries are possible Wednesday morning with better chances for precipitation late Friday and again next Monday.
A low pressure system with a trailing cold front will move through the Mid-South Monday bringing rain for much of the Mid-South Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Most rain will fall overnight Sunday into the early morning hours Monday, but scattered showers will linger throughout Christmas Day. Rainfall amounts will average a half inch for most areas.
Clouds continue to blanket the Mid-South tonight, but a few breaks in the cloud cover are expected tomorrow ahead of our next round of rain that will take shape over the weekend. Warmer temperatures will also accompany the increasing rain chances making for a somewhat soggy but mild Christmas Day.
Clouds continue to stream into the Mid-South as the final hours of Fall wind down, but no rain with those clouds just yet. Winter begins Thursday at 9:27 PM with clouds and dry conditions, but a low pressure system will exit the Plains and make a move east this weekend keeping clouds in place and bringing rain for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
A south wind will drive warmer air into the Mid-South for the next few days, but it will also contribute to an increase in clouds and ultimately lead to rain for the Christmas holiday.
Your First Alert to a hard freeze tonight followed by a warm up that will lead to rain for Christmas
High pressure in the Plains is driving cold air into the Mid-South making for a night of bitter cold. Fortunately, the cold won’t last long as a southerly flow returns by the middle of the week allowing temperatures to warm well above average, but also increasing clouds and rain chances as the holiday weekend approaches.
A weak cold front will bring scattered showers to the Mid-South tomorrow followed by the return of sunshine to end the weekend and for much of next week along with more seasonable temperatures.
A dry pattern is in place as the end of the week approaches, but a disturbance in the Plains will soon make a move east bringing clouds and rain to the Mid-South for the weekend.
High pressure over the Ohio Valley will keep the Mid-South dry for the rest of the week, but a disturbance moving out of Texas will bring clouds and the chance of a few showers this weekend.
A weak cold front moves through the Mid-South tonight bringing a few clouds, but reinforcing the dry air that is in place and keeping it here through Friday. A system will develop in the Gulf by the end of the week that will drive moisture our way bringing an increase in clouds and the chance for a weekend shower, but it will not be a washout for our weekend.
High pressure is in control as the week begins keeping the Mid-South dry along with near average temperatures. This pattern will remain in place through the week along with slightly above average daytime highs.
A cold front will sweep through the Mid-South Saturday bringing rain and the threat of strong to severe storms to the area. The Storm Prediction Center has places a SLIGHT RISK of severe weather over the entire Action News 5 coverage area. Periods of heavy rain and gusty winds are the main concerns with this system, but we cannot rule out the possibility of an isolated tornado. The main time frame for the strongest storms will be during the afternoon and early evening hours.
Southerly winds are bringing warmer air and Gulf moisture into the Mid-South ahead of a weekend cold front that will bring rain, thunderstorms, and much cooler air behind the front. This set up will bring the threat of strong to severe storms Saturday afternoon and evening.
A southerly wind returns tonight leading to warmer temperatures as the week comes to a close. The south wind will also usher in an abundance of Gulf moisture ahead of a cold front that is poised to bring rain and thunderstorms to the Mid-South this weekend.
Despite the clouds today, a dry pattern and somewhat seasonable temperatures area in place as the week begins and will remain for the next few days. This will lead up to a weekend cold front that will bring rain and possibly a few thunderstorms as well.
An upper level disturbance will move through the Mid-South late tonight bringing the chance of a few showers mainly south and east of Memphis. Another disturbance will move through Saturday night keeping a slight chance of rain in the mix as well. Fortunately, it won’t be a weekend washout and there’s more dry weather and sunshine coming our way next week.
An approaching cold front is driving rain into the Mid-South tonight along with gusty south winds, but no severe storms are expected. A WIND ADVISORY from 10 PM to 7 AM Friday morning as winds gust up to 35 MPH. Overnight rainfall will average a quarter inch to an inch for most areas.
Clouds are moving into the Mid-South tonight ahead of a developing system that will bring rain tomorrow and then leave behind a dry and mild pattern that will remain through the weekend and into the beginning of next week.
Winds shift to the south tonight allowing warmer air to stream into the Mid-South along with Gulf moisture ahead of our next cold front. The front won’t bring a big chill but it will bring rain before the week is over.
A north wind is diving cold air into the Mid-South as the week begins, but a southerly flow will soon return allowing warmer air to stream into the area. That will be followed by a cold front that will bring rain by the end of the week.
A cold front moved through the Mid-South today driving cool air into the area which will keep below average temperatures will be in place through the weekend. Another front will move through Sunday bringing a chance of rain for some and even colder temperatures for all for the beginning of next week.
Clouds are streaming into the Mid-South this tonight ahead of an approaching cold front. The front will keep cool temperatures in place as the week comes to a close, but don’t expect any rain for now. However, another front this weekend will bring the chance of a few showers for some but not all.
A cold front bringing rain to the Mid-South today will leave cooler temperatures and dry air in place behind the front for the next few days.
A cold front brought a few showers to the Mid-South today, but another front next week will bring more significant and much needed rain to the Mid-South ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. In the meantime, a cooler and drier pattern is emerging tonight and will remain through the weekend.
An approaching cold front will bring a chance of showers late tonight and tomorrow, but a more organized system will bring a better chance of more widespread rain to start next week.
Clouds continue to stream into the Mid-South this evening, but will break tomorrow before returning Friday along with a chance of rain. However, the better chance of widespread rain will move in next week.
A southerly flow aloft if driving Gulf moisture and clouds into the Mid-South making for periods of overcast and increasing rain chances. Despite the flow, rain chance remain slim for now, but clouds will continue to stream into the area.
Clouds are streaming into the Mid-South this evening, but no rain for now. We’ll enjoy seasonable temperatures and a mainly dry pattern this week here in the Mid-South.
Much cooler air from the Northeast is streaming into the Mid-South as the weekend gets underway, but aloft moisture from the Southwest is also streaming into the area. This will make for a mainly dry pattern and more seasonable temperatures for the next few days, but there will also be a mix of sun and clouds that will extend well into next week.
Showers will fall overnight behind a cold front that is also ushering cool air into the Mid-South as the week comes to a close. Rain will exit tomorrow, but clouds and more seasonable temperatures will remain for several days.
Another record high was recorded in Memphis today as the temperature topped out at 84 degrees, but a cold front will soon move in bringing much cooler temperatures along with clouds and some much needed rain.
High pressure is driving record warmth into the Mid-South. Memphis broke a record high temperature today and we’re on track to come close again Tuesday and Wednesday. That will be followed by a cold front Thursday that will bring rain and falling temperatures to end the week.
A warm, dry pattern is firmly in place across the Mid-South as the week comes to a close. This will continue through the weekend and into the beginning of next week with even warmer temperatures. This will be followed by a late week cold front that will bring a chance of rain and cooler temperatures to end next week.
A southerly flow is driving warmer air into the Mid-South as the week comes to a close. We’ll have a chilly night ahead, but not as drastically cold as the past few nights. A dry pattern will also continue through the weekend and well into next week.
The Mid-South will endure another cold night tonight, but the return of southerly flow will lead to a much warmer pattern in the coming days.
A clear and cold night is underway across the Mid-South prompting the National Weather Service to issue another FREEZE WARNING for the entire Action News 5 coverage area from 9 PM to 9 AM Wednesday. This will lead to another chilly day tomorrow, but a southerly flow will return tomorrow night which will be the catalyst for a warming trend that will begin as the week comes to a close.
Cold Canadian air is gripping the Mid-South this evening and will lead to a frosty Tuesday morning prompting the National Weather Service in Memphis to issue a FREEZE WARNING for the entire Action News 5 coverage area tonight and tomorrow night. We’ll have a dry pattern for the next several days along with well below average temperatures through the week followed by a warmer weekend.
