Shel Winkley

Shel Winkley is the Weather & Climate Engagement Specialist at Climate Central. His focus is to collaborate with meteorologists, journalists, scientists, and other trusted voices to help them understand the science of attribution, and identify when a fingerprint of climate change has influenced current and past weather events. Utilizing Climate Central’s tools and resources, he helps empower and ensure accurate and informed reporting to help audiences comprehend the ways our changing climate leaves its mark on local weather.

Shel spent 17 years working as a Broadcast Meteorologist in local news. Prior to Climate Central, he spent almost 15 of those as Chief Meteorologist at KBTX, the CBS affiliate in Bryan-College Station. During that time he also instructed the Broadcast Meteorology course at Texas A&M University and served as the meteorologist for Texas A&M Athletics. He started his career forecasting, presenting, and chasing the weather in Amarillo, Texas.

Shel has earned multiple awards from the Texas Association of Broadcasters, EMMA awards from the Lone Star Chapter of the National Academy of Television, and an Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Innovation. He was also featured in The Atlantic for his role communicating the science of climate change as part of the Brazos Valley’s essential weather message.

Shel holds a B.S. in Meteorology from Texas A&M University. He carries a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist designation from the American Meteorological Society and was a past member and chair of the Board on Broadcast Meteorology.