Tim Rybnik, a gifted students’ teacher at Bala Cynwyd Middle School, has become the go-to weather forecaster for Lower Merion Township residents, writes Main Line Times & Suburban.
As winter wreaks havoc with record lows and snowstorms, his predictions help families plan for closures and delays.
A former U.S. Air Force weather forecaster (1987–1993), Rybnik trained in meteorology and holds a mathematics degree from Haverford College. Seven years ago, he began posting storm forecasts and snow day probabilities on his class website. His accuracy has made him a trusted local authority—this January, he correctly predicted every school closure and delay in the district.
Rybnik’s dedication is unmatched—often sacrificing sleep to provide precise predictions. His posts, free of charge, explain weather models in an accessible way, attracting thousands of followers beyond Lower Merion.
Rybnik only discovered he had followers outside the classroom a few years ago. Locals like Mindy Plotnik Levinthal said they were so impressed with his predictions that they stopped watching the news.
Despite his success, Rybnik remains humble. “Man will never conquer Mother Nature,” he said. Yet, he hopes his blog inspires students to explore meteorology.
Read more about Tim Rybnik’s weather predictions in Main Line Times & Suburban.
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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on MONTCO Today in February 2025.
