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Storm Team 4 takes you beyond the forecast.
A warm and dry weekend ahead in Milwaukee...
A mild weekend weather pattern is rolling into Milwaukee with strong southwesterly winds Friday......
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Warm & WindyMild...But Not Necessarily SunnyWarmer air in on the way to Milwaukee...Weather News
Snow could settle Friday in North Woods
Wisconsin's North Woods have had their fall colors. Now it's time for the fall snowstorm.
North......
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Few Octobers have been colder so farFall might be dreary, but winter will be warm Parts of state could see 3 inches of snow 
My Weather Center
Over the past 24 years, John Malan has become a broadcast legend in Milwaukee. His live remotes interacting with people out in the community are classic. "I've always loved doing them," said John. "It gives me the chance to shake hands with people and find out their thoughts on the weather, news, sports -- just about anything. It's great meeting folks." John's been with TODAY'S TMJ4 Weather Plus since February 1994. He came across town after working 14 years as WISN-TV's chief meteorologist. But did John ever think he'd build such a successful career as a broadcast meteorologist?
After graduating from Northeastern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in geography and science, and then from Northern Illinois University with a master's degree in meteorology, John became a part-time teacher. "I taught earth science and meteorology courses at Triton Junior College right outside Chicago," John explained. "A friend casually mentioned one day that a part-time weather producer job was open at WLS-TV. I thought, 'What the heck, I'll try.'" "You could say that I took the place by storm. For one thing, they never thought they would interest someone with a master's degree. Then I worked real hard to put together really accurate forecasts and great looking maps. That level of knowledge usually wasn't expected from the behind-the-scenes guy. A couple of times, I even nailed some long-term forecasts, which really helped the meteorologists to look good on the air."
During those days when producers were deeply involved in putting together the forecast, John made a lasting impression on WLS management. They even created a full-time position for him, which eventually led to a job producing weather segments for "Good Morning America."
After doing so much behind the scenes forecasting, John toyed with the idea of getting in front of the camera. "I would have to say it was John Coleman who encouraged me to get started on the air. We put together an audition tape and sent it out around the country." Three offers came in: St. Louis, San Francisco and Milwaukee. "My wife said to me, 'let's stay closer to home,' and, well, we've been in Milwaukee ever since." John and his wife Marian are both Chicago natives. "I always thought that one day I would end up back in Chicago," said John. "But, I just keep doing my thing here in Milwaukee and enjoying it. It's never occurred to me to move."
One could say fate got John started in the broadcast business. His interest in science, however, goes back to growing up in a very nature-loving family. "I've been interested in geography and nature since I can remember. My parents, four sisters and I always did things that involved exploring nature, like hiking together. Now, Marian, my three kids and I are the same way. We'd much rather spend a vacation canoeing on a lake or visiting the Grand Canyon. Everything about nature is just so fascinating and phenomenal."
While John developed a mature appreciation of nature as a kid, he was never fixated on the sciences. "I never owned a science kit growing up, or thought about making tornadoes in a jar. Stuff like that was the farthest thing from my mind. I was a jock and spent most of my time on the baseball field."
In fact, John wasn't thinking about going to college after high school. He intended to play professional baseball the rest of his life. "I played one week of minor league baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates' farm team, the Muskegon Pepsi's. Then it was all over in one play. I broke my ankle sliding into third. They sent me home for the summer to recuperate. But it wasn't long after I was home that I was drafted and sent to Vietnam."
John spent two years in Vietnam, driving tanks and crewing helicopters. He came home with a Purple Heart for being shot through the leg, with tales of being caught in a typhoon, and with lasting memories of friends and fellow soldiers. "It was so good to get home to my family," said John.
Family continues to be the focus of John's life, although he and his wife, Marian, are becoming "empty nesters." His oldest daughter, Jessica, completed her forestry degree and currently works in a redwood forest near Santa Cruz, California. Jessica also completed forest fire training and helped fight the fires near San Bernandino in the summer of 2003. His second oldest daughter, Jorie, received her degree from UW-La Crosse and went to work for a travel company specializing in adventure and education trips for college students. Jorie spent one summer as a guide and counselor in Costa Rica, and has been accepted to graduate school at the North Carolina School of the Arts, one of the most prestigious art schools in the U.S. John's youngest child, John, is a sophomore at UW-Oshkosh and plays soccer for the Oshkosh Titans. John Jr. was the mid-fielder for the school's undefeated season in 2003, and went with the team to the NCAA Final 4 in New Jersey.
When asked how often John gets to see his children he says, "We still get together for all major family holidays and traditions, which we instilled in them from when they were very young!"
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