After 43 years in the weather forecast biz, Dennis Bowman has one last prediction: possible showers Friday in the morning, with brightening in the afternoon. He might have added: chance of tears, 100 percent.

“It’s really hitting home,” he said Thursday. He has been with KDKA-TV since 2005, and with WPXI-TV 16 years before that.

During his final week at the station, there were little tributes to the affable meteorologist. On Tuesday, came a particularly moving photo montage that got the best of everyone, including morning co-anchor Jennifer Antkowiak.

“There were shots of me, from the time I was 3 years old, up through high school, my early career, my middle career. Stuff of my wife [Debbie] and me,” Mr. Bowman, 65, said. “It was all set to Kenny Rogers’ ‘Through the Years.’ My eyes were watery, and [Ms. Antkowiak’s] were, too.”

In the months leading up to his retirement day, Mr. Bowman joked to his wife that with his luck, some severe weather event would hit Pittsburgh on his retirement day.

“Thankfully, that won’t happen.”

For Mr.Bowman, who earlier this year estimated he has made more than 66,000 predictions and visited more than 2,000 schools, parting was literally such sweet sorrow. With goodbyes came cake — from Oakmont Bakery — and Oram’s Donut Shop doughnuts.

“Best on the planet,” Mr. Bowman said, contemplating baked goods before adding, “I need to get it into my head about what I need to say [at signoff] Friday. “How about ‘It’s been a great 43 years, and I appreciate the people of Pittsburgh welcoming me into their homes [for] all these years.’ ”

Maria Sciullo: msciullo@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1478 or @MariaSciulloPG.

First Published: April 18, 2015, 4:00 a.m.