Cranford Meteorologist, TV Crew To Broadcast Live Downtown

Sitting at a table in , Cranford resident Dave Curren checks his phone intently. Every few minutes, his expression changes and his eyes widen as he stares at the screen. A meteorologist for News 12 NJ, Curren is monitoring a system of storms that's moving through parts of the state.

Just minutes after a downpour soaked the Cranford area, Curren and a crew from the local television station began preparing to broadcast their weekly 5 p.m. show, "On the Road."

"On The Road - now in its sixth year - allows us to showcase the communities we cover by uncovering what makes these towns and neighborhoods so remarkable. We're looking forward to being in Cranford, spreading our own brand of positive community spirit," Marketing Director Rick Young said.

Curren and Special Projects Producer Ivy Charmatz said Cranford was chosen as a location for the live broadcast mainly because they wanted to highlight the positive aspects of the town and how it managed to rebuild in the wake of last August.

"We were with Cranford during the storm and we wanted to come back and highlight what was great about the town," Charmatz said.

Curren, a 1989 graduate, remembers the storm well. He was on the air for several hours, broadcasting live from the News 12 studio in Edison, while his hometown was hammered by heavy rain and wind. At one point, a friend sent him a picture of the rising flood waters that he showed viewers during one of his reports.

Before the storm hit, Curren went down to the Rahway River. He could tell by the water level that when hit, his hometown was going to flood - and it was going to be bad. Watching the maps, radar and forecasts of the storm system moving across Cranford, Curren knew it was his job to keep his fellow resients informed, so they could be safe. Before the rain even moved in, the meteorologist began warning residents to move their belongings to the upper levels of their homes, and make preparations to be safe in the event of a .

"While I wasn't in town, I was on air, telling everyone that has News 12 what to do to be safe," said Curren, a father of three Cranford students.

He added that in the wake of the storm, people in Cranford began to recognize him when he was out and about. Curren said he was fortunate that his family home didn't experience too much damage as a result of the flood.

As he continued to monitor the rain that was rolling through parts of New Jersey, Curren explained that his interest in meteorology actually began on a surfboard.

"In order to surf, you need waves. In order to get waves, you need wind," Curren said.

He attended Kean University, where he studied meteorology.

"I've always enjoyed storms, but the decision to have a career focused on it  didn't happen until college," Curren said, adding that he's always enjoyed "fiddling around and making stuff."

His job as a meteorologist allows him to make maps and graphics to illustrate weather systems. As a college student, Curren would often sit for hours, poring over long, paper weather charts and maps. He once went on a storm-chasing trip in Texas, where he got a first-hand look at a small tornado.

His path to News 12 began with an internship at the local TV station. He was later hired to work as a meteorologist, bringing weather forecasts to 1.8 million homes - a career he clearly enjoys. Whenever he begins talking about weather, Curren becomes increasingly animated. He'll chatter as long as you let him about barometers, storm systems and cumulonimbus clouds. And now that his children are part of the local school district, Curren is bringing his excitement about weather into the clasroom. He has given several presentations to students about his weather, his job, and what he does as a meteorologist.

Crews from the local cable news channel will be broadcasting from various locations downtown, beginning at 5 p.m. Curren and anchorwoman Carissa Lawson. They plan to interview residents and local business owners.