[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 199 (Tuesday, November 16, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H6272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
                   HONORING THE CAREER OF WAYNE MAHAR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Katko) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the celebrated career 
of Wayne Mahar as he prepares to retire after 36 years of weather 
forecasting in central New York.
  Wayne is one of the most recognizable and trusted weather forecasters 
in central New York. When planning a hike, barbecue, tailgate, or 
family outing, central New Yorkers have relied on Wayne to share the 
weather for nearly four decades.
  Originally from Brunswick, Maine, Wayne Mahar began his career 
working for the National Weather Service. From there, he founded 
Precision Weather Service, a private weather consulting firm that 
builds forecasts for major events like the Major League Baseball All-
Star Game, the Super Bowl, and red carpet events.
  In 1985 Wayne joined the CNY, Central New York, broadcast team in 
Syracuse, becoming the first full-time meteorologist in central New 
York. Here he brought a new level of seriousness to the profession by 
utilizing computer models and hard science to make his forecasts. 
Through this approach Wayne became known for accuracy, reliability, and 
his outdoor broadcasts from the CNY Central Weather Deck.
  An expert on severe weather events, Wayne was also there to deliver 
critical, lifesaving information to families during some of the most 
historic weather events in central New York, including the great 
blizzard of 1993 and the 1998 Labor Day storm.
  Outside of forecasting, Wayne has been a prominent fixture in our 
community. He is an avid hockey player, hosts regular workshops for 
young, aspiring meteorologists, and in 2008 he founded the Priscilla 
Mahar Animal Welfare Foundation. The nonprofit organization was named 
after his late mother and champions animal welfare causes, raising over 
a quarter of a million dollars for local animal rescues.
  For nearly four decades, families like mine have turned to Wayne 
Mahar when we want to know if there will be sun, rain, sleet, or just 
another day of lake-effect snow. While he will be dearly missed on our 
televisions, central New Yorkers can rest assured they will continue to 
see him.
  When he is not spending time with his children and grandchildren, 
Wayne has promised he will remain an active part of our community. 
Personally, I am glad to hear that because I still have not had the 
opportunity yet to putter a few pucks at him while he stands in the 
hockey goal, but I am going to do that before too long.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in 
honoring Wayne Mahar for an incredible career in weather forecasting 
and wishing him the best in his well-deserved retirement.

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