Moore County's local weather source

EMMA SAZONOV
MCHS Student Journalist

In case you haven't noticed, Lynchburg has a new weatherman. Elijah Kirby, the meteorology student (soon-to-be graduate) and National Weather Service affiliate who runs the Shelbyville Weather social media page, has recently added Moore County to his coverage.

His Facebook page has over 20,000 followers and continues to grow. With Moore County now part of his coverage area, the Observer decided to meet with him to get his story and how you can follow and support.

Kirby was not always a fan of storms. Quite the opposite: “I used to be scared of storms. I had really bad storm anxiety, and I guess just me being anxious about the weather turned into a fascination with it.” Kirby says he was 7 or 8 when he knew: “I wanted to be a meteorologist.”

Kirby is attending the University of Alabama-Huntsville, where he will graduate on May 5 with a degree in Atmospheric Science and a concentration in Meteorology.

“I am taking all the classes to be able to be a certified National Weather Service meteorologist,” and adds he is “very excited. I’m ready to be done.”

Kirby has had his share of field experiences during college in addition to managing the Shelbyville Weather page. “I’ve been on a few hurricane chases before,” citing he was on site at some of the most intense storms, such as Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Francine.

“I’ve never seen a tornado before,” he adds. “I hope I can change that. I especially want to go out west, like to Oklahoma.” The way things have been around here, he might not have to go far to channel his inner Bill Paxton.

After college graduation, most meteorology students are likely to try to join an organization, such as a network. Kirby is no different. “My original plan has been to be a National Weather Service meteorologist.

“I was expecting to go straight into the National Weather Service, but [with the recent job cuts in the federal government] unfortunately, that’s likely not going to happen.”

People often ask him which TV station he will work for. Kirby, however, has a successful, growing Facebook page to manage, so that question is not easy for him to answer. “I don’t know,” he admits. “I never really wanted to be on TV or be a TV meteorologist.”

Still. Kirby remains optimistic: “When one door closes, another door opens, and I’m thinking right now that my plan is to try to make Shelbyville Weather sustainable where I can make that my career.” He is working out logistics and brainstorming the different factors for Shelbyville Weather's future. In other words, he is forecasting his career.

Shelbyville Weather has been successful, and Kirby says it has grown steadily since its slow start. “I maybe had 200 or 300 followers, and it was mostly just friends and family starting out,” he says. “Now, I hardly recognize any of the names of people who engage.

“I’ve gotten good compliments about how I’m being an example for the younger generation.”

Kirby has found a niche that resonates with people, providing them with content that keeps them safe and informed. With Shelbyville Weather, he seems to have found lightning in a bottle.

Kirby has received a warm welcome from the people of Moore County as their new weatherman. “I’ve received a lot of encouraging messages from people saying how excited they were that I was going to be expanding to Moore County,” he says.

“My message to y’all in Moore County is that you are seen, I see you, and I’m doing my best to make sure that I can keep y’all up to date on the weather and informed.”

You can follow Shelbyville Weather on Facebook; he has subscription options and links to his website. Kirby and his page are only beginning and will likely offer many more ways to stay weather-informed.

I couldn’t let Kirby go without getting his opinion on one crucial topic: Twister (1996) or Twisters (2024)? “The 1996 one, for sure,” he laughs.

“I did enjoy the 2024 one, but nothing beats the classics. I mean, many of the meteorologists working in the National Weather Service right now, or the up-and-coming meteorologists, grew up watching Twister. That movie has had a generational impact on a lot of people.”

For Kirby, it seems Dorothy is flying, and he has everything needed to get Shelbyville Weather – and his career – right where he wants it.