Record breaking snowfall and erratic temperatures throughout the Midwest has made the weather a big topic for people and media alike, with phrases like “Polar Vortex” to be popular in the public eye.

Two Eastern geography professors, Cameron Craig and Chris Laingen, planned to use this interest in the skies as an opportunity to have a video magazine focused on weather produced and aired to better inform the public on the hot topic issues regarding weather, primarily in Illinois.

“Illinois Sky,” will have five segments where either Laingen or Craig will be talking about problems regarding weather as well as tips for community members to do their own forecasting. The program will air at 7 p.m. Tuesday on WEIU.

During the 30-minute program, Craig said the two would be talking about cloud types and what each might mean for the day helping people forecast when rain might come. He added they will also be talking about Fresno, Calif. and the cautionary tale that has come from the California area.

As of now, unless there is large amounts of money to gain access to Saint Louis Reservoirs, farmers in Fresno have been cut off from the water necessary to grow the tomatoes and other fruits grown mostly in that area. Craig said all the water farmers are getting are from the sky, which is not much.

They were closed off from the water to save the dwindling population of fish in the delta where the water from the reservoir comes from.

Craig said it is important Illinoisans know of the environmental problems affecting other states as to be prepared and to not follow in their footsteps. He added prices will assuredly go up across the country on fruit from California.

Craig and Laingen also wanted to make sure people are educated on common misconceptions, which prompted them have a segment discussing what a polar vortex is.

“Polar Vortex’s have always existed,” Craig said.

Many media outlets have skewed what a polar vortex to excite and misconstrue have big a deal it really is, he added.

Laingen said it is important the public is aware of weather processes in their area. This is excluding the five minutes taken to watch the news.

Craig agreed. He said the information hey talk about have a crucial effect in everyday life. It is their landscape, he said.

Laingen said these types of programs also are necessary to clueing people in to the science of what is happening around a person.

“Academics are bad at bringing information to the public,” Laingen said.

Craig said he hopes questions will be raised to him after the broadcast and wishes it will be fruitful enough for a second episode, which he said would focus on climate and art.

Jarad Jarmon can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].