Your love for animals gets a lot of press around here. Tell me about the animal-centered groups that you are involved with in the community.
I am involved to some degree with all of the local shelters. Both of my current dogs, Breezy and Stormy, were adopted from the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City. There are plenty of purebred and mixed breed dogs and cats available for adoption at these shelters. I’ve also hosted the Pet Telethon for nine years now, and I do a lot of work emceeing the Wayside Waifs’ fundraiser, Fur Ball. It’s coming in May to the Overland Park Convention Center.
What about your own pets?
Breezy and Stormy are my two dogs now. Breezy, who’s 4 years old, and Stormy, who’s 9, are both Shepherd mixes. They act sort of like sisters. They love each other, but sometimes have to just tolerate one another too. They have their own little quirks and lives. Stormy goes out with me to all my public appearances. What is most amazing about her, as it was with my former dog Windy, is how she can adapt to any environment—whether it’s a school filled with a hundred screaming kids or a black-tie affair.
You mentioned your former pet, Windy the weather dog, who passed away several years ago.
I got Windy after meeting her and having an instant connection. Windy had the most amazing character of any dog I have ever known. She was so independent and in tune with her environment. She went to almost 1,000 schools with me as well as various other public events throughout her almost 17 years.
Do Breezy and Stormy get to sleep in bed with you?
There are times when they’re both sleeping with me, so it’s not unheard of to have 110 pounds of dog in my bed at once!
Do they get to go to work with you?
Stormy goes to work with me at least once a week as well as on public appearances. Every Friday, she sits beneath the desk during our live telecast, usually somewhere between me and [news anchor] Elizabeth Alex’s feet.
Has she ever gotten you into trouble at work?
No. Stormy is so attentive to me that I can just nod or clap and she’s right by my side. I think that shows just how tuned in and smart dogs can be.
How do your dogs feel about the weather?
It’s amazing how much Breezy and Stormy love snow. When there’s snow around their energy levels go way up. They love to run around in it and bury their noses in it.
I love snow, too, which is funny because I spent the first 18 years of my life near Los Angeles—I’m a San Fernando Valley boy. Forecasting snow is one of the most exciting things I do, and one of the most challenging. But I did predict we’d get 32 inches of snow this past winter.
What do you think makes pets so special to us?
They know something that we should all learn—how to love unconditionally. It’s so hard for humans and so easy for pets—and unconditional love has such an extremely powerful effect on all of us.
Do you ever get tired of talking about the weather with people?
Never. One of my biggest life goals is to prove to Kansas Citians that there’s a weather forecast out there that they can actually count on. I’ve developed a theory that says a weather pattern sets itself up in October or early November, and then it just repeats, or cycles, throughout most of the year—all the way to early summer. I think it’s a major discovery in meteorology, and I base my forecasts on it. I’ve been tracking and testing this theory intensely for the last five years. My blog followers even have a name for it: Lezak’s Recurring Cycle. You can learn more about it at LRCweather.com.
Speaking of theories, what do you think about global warming?
There’s overwhelming evidence that the earth is warming as a long-term trend. That doesn’t mean we won’t still have cooler periods in the short-term.
What’s the most interesting weather event you’ve ever witnessed?
The snow during this past Christmas in 2009—we got over a foot of snow in four days! That quite possibly won’t happen again for many years to come. I predicted it weeks beforehand.
You battled cancer several years ago and won. How did that change you?
My life really isn’t defined by my battle with cancer. Does the experience make me appreciate every day? Absolutely. But I saw cancer as a challenge; I was excited to take it on, and I was also scared to death. But I kept thinking that if I could just get through it, I could inspire school kids and other people that I talk to every day.
You love weather and animals but you also love sports. Any predictions about your beloved Kansas City Chiefs?
I think they’ll be turning the corner this year.
You could live anywhere in the city and you choose to live in south Johnson County. Why?
I have the greatest view of the weather that I could possibly have from my house. Out south the ground is higher, so you can see all around. I get to see some really great sunsets.
Interview has been condensed and edited.
words: Cisley Thummel