Bermuda's TV weather forecasters have been forced for many years to fly by the seat of their pants and learn on the job. Because Bermuda's weather forecasters do not have a background in climate patterns but rather broadcasting .

Neither Suzann Holshouser of Bermuda Broadcasting Company or Mike Bishop from VSB have backgrounds in meteorology.

When asked about her qualifications to read the weather Mrs. Holshouser -- who has presented the weather for six years at ZBM -- laughed and said there was none.

"It's been a lot of layman's training,'' she explained.

Mrs. Holshouser's weather career began at the Bermuda Sunrise Show and after it was cancelled she was offered a permanent job as a forecaster at the BBC.

She spent many hours learning about the weather from the late Martin Smith, past director of Bermuda Broadcasting, and Ernest Roberts, her brother who is a pilot.

"Whenever I had questions I would call one of them,'' she added.

When she began presenting the weather at BBC she used to write word for word even funny remarks to read off the TelePrompTer.

Mrs. Holshouser said: "It was then that Rick Richardson told me, `Anyone can read off a TelePrompTer. You have to learn what you are doing.''' She added: "Six years later, I memorise everything and I know what I'm talking about.

And Mrs. Holshouser had to master the technique of presenting the weather on an invisible map when there is no picture behind her.

"In the states forecasters use velcro to mark blank screen, here I put tape on it when I need to.'' She communicates with ACCU weather service and has studied about the weather off the Internet.

Mrs. Holshouser also thought her background in the theatre and music has helped her be more comfortable on the job.

"Growing up, I was always involved in the theatre and I had extensive vocal training which helped for my clarity of speech which is really important when reading the weather.'' "I love it -- people really make my job. They call me with questions about the weather.'' "I also get a lot of comments on my appearance. People say things like, `Oh, I like your hair short or long'. '' Mrs. Holshouser gets her clothes from Coopers and Trimingham Brothers provides her with make-up.

"I've discovered that you're going to get a lot of criticism in this job.

I've learned that criticism is a gift if it is given kindly. It has helped me grow.'' Mrs. Holshouser said one of her favourite parts of the job was talking to local schools about weather.

"I help them make barometric pressure jars and find the wind direction, it is really fun,'' she said.

"For my personality -- which is outgoing -- this job hits the mark.'' She said: "I am very grateful to BBC for giving me this opportunity. Part of it was being in the right place at the right time.'' But presenting the weather is not Mrs. Holshouser's only job.

The weather only takes a few minutes to film everyday while her full-time position is the BBC television programming director.

Mrs. Holshouser said laughing: "At the end of the day presenting the weather is the perfect way to relax.'' Mike Bishop has been reading the weather for six years and also manages the VSB television station.

He said his job forecasting the weather was made particularly easy because of the Bermuda Weather Service.

Mr. Bishop said: "Weather is forecasted for us, so the job is more centred on presenting their info.'' He first experience in broadcasting at ZBM when he was a 15-year old Saltus student and has now been in business for 21 years.

"I have always wanted to be a civil pilot but once I took a summer job at ZBM I never left,'' he said.

"I enjoy the job very much. You get to meet a lot of people who stop you on the street and ask you about the weather.'' Dave Forbes, who has been a meteorologist at the Bermuda Weather Service for two years, has his own thoughts on local weather presenters.

He said: "I don't particularly like watching the weather presenters doing my job. They are not meteorologists and sometimes their terms makes me wince.

"A highly qualified forecaster commands a pretty high salary so I guess it boils down to money.'' "The VSB folk communicate very well with us and they do a pretty good job but overall I'm not too enthralled with the weather presenters here. But at the Bermuda Weather Service we are always willing to help out weather presenters.''