MIAMI (CBS4) – Nearly 8,000 students from the Tri-county area attended the 5th annual CBS4 Weather Day Wednesday which took place prior to the Marlins vs. Dodgers game at Sun Life Stadium.

Elementary and middle school students from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties were on hand as part of the fun-filled, science-focused educational field trip.

CBS4 Chief Meteorologist David Bernard, along with Meteorologists Craig Setzer, Jeff Berardelli, and Lissette Gonzalez hosted the event from the field.

The pre-game program is designed to teach kids some basic concepts of weather and climate and how these topics relate to living in South Florida.

“We try to teach the kids things they can use. What  they can do to stay safe when a hurricane or a tornado threatens and we tell them all about the different weather patterns and how they form,” explained David Bernard.

The students learned about thunderstorms, lightning, tornadoes and hurricanes, as well as cloud formation, jet streams and what causes the seasons to change.

Lissette Gonzalez and Craig Setzer took part in a high-flying feat. Assisted by a spokesman from the National Weather Service, they launched a National Weather Service weather balloon. The balloon, filled with helium, is used to predict the weather by measuring wind, temperature, humidity and pressure.

Thousands Of Students Attend CBS4 Weather Day

Jeff Berardelli explained to the enthusiastic audience how the CBS4 Weather Bug system works. There are more than 100 Weather Bug sensors in South Florida. Jeff also talked about lightning and how it forms. Florida is the lightning capital of the United States.

Craig Setzer focused on flooding and tornadoes and showed off a tornado demonstrator which was swirling in the dugout. Florida has the 4th highest number of tornadoes in the country.

“I learned all about weather and what to do when a tornado comes. It’s been fun so far, said 6th grader Eli. 

“I learned all about bad weather. I never knew that Florida was the number one place for lightning,” said 6th grader Jett.

David Bernard also talked about hurricane season and officials from the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale joined Lissette Gonzalez on the field for a demonstration about the seasons. Using some student volunteers, they explained why it’s so hot in the summer and cooler and drier in the winter.

The event has been officially approved by all three school districts and complies with Florida’s Science standards.

Weather Day is a collaborative effort of CBS4, the Florida Marlins, the National Weather Service, the Museum of Discovery and Science and Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties public schools.