Al Roker aims sky high for record weather forecast

NEW YORK, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Legendary NBC TV forecaster Al Roker was getting a little foggy, but trying desperately to stay sunny, during his fifth straight hour of weather reporting before dawn this morning. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night was staying Roker from his aim of breaking a Guinness World Record with a planned 33-hour live broadcast.

The heroic effort is also a bid to raise funds for his Crowdrise campaign, which benefits the American armed forces and the U.S. Service Organizations (USO).

The current Guinness Word Record for the longest forecast is a 24-hour stint. A Norwegian broadcaster recently pulled off a 33-hour report, but is waiting for it to be made official.

To qualify for a record, Roker not only has to go for 34 hours (until 8 a.m. Friday), he also has to talk weather all the time — current weather, or what happened up to seven days ago, or predictions up to seven days ahead, anywhere in the world.

He gets a five-minute break an hour, but can save up his breaks for an extended rest. He's watched by two witnesses.