Greg Fishel's Patreon Forecasts: Honest Weather, No Hype

0:00This is Corey with The Story. Here with your quick two-minute update from Durham News Today, Greg Fischel, the longtime WRAL meteorologist, has returned to the triangle area after being off local TV since 2019. Fans still see him as a trusted friend for weather updates, and now he delivers forecasts through his Patreon page called Official. From his home studio in Foucai, Verena, he provides detailed seven-day outlooks with science explanations and a touch of humor. After leaving WRAL, Fischel moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, then Mertle Beach, South Carolina. In 2022, his sons encouraged him to start the Patreon videos which run about eight minutes each far longer than TV slots. He has around 1,030 subscribers paying $3 or $5 a month, a steady number over four years. Viewers flocked to Fischel for his straightforward style, avoiding the height they see on local stations. One fan drove an hour to meet him at a

1:01Raleipanera bread, calling his reports genuine and accurate. Others follow him on social media and praise how he connects without sensationalizing storms. Fischel has noticed stations pushing early, unreliable snow forecasts just for clicks and money. He enjoys the freedom of Patreon, with no timers cutting him off before sports segments. His wide hair and new-part showtime is passed, but his forecasting passion remains sharp. Looking ahead, Fischel aims to grow his subscribers enough to quit ride-hailing and delivery gigs, then retire in a few years. He dreams of road trips to baseball stadiums, golf and Scotland, and playing his tubamore, all while keeping fans updated on triangle weather. This story is shared with support from our sponsor. It looks like a pillow. It sounds like headphones built for comfort and sound, S-O-L-I, solelypillow.com.