During storm coverage, I want local meteorologists.
I completely agree and I hope this doesn't become the norm but I believe it will be. Pay is **** and due to it there are next to no applications in most of these smaller markets when there is an opening.
So now in the CR/IC/ALO market you have one station with no mets now, one with at least one weatherman who although he has decades of experience does not have a meteorology degree and the rest are mostly (other than Joe) young mets that are very much still learning the presentation side of things. Then you have KGAN that is regularly a dumpster fire with at least one non-met with little broadcast experience on top of it.
Bring on IE but I would also suggest that they network out to mets around the state to help build up that side of things for severe weather coverage and whatnot that know the different areas a little more intimately than just one person.