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Morning anchor Jennifer Antkowiak tears up as meteorologist Dennis Bowman goes through his last morning telecast on KDKA-TV Friday.
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That's a wrap for KDKA-TV weatherman Dennis Bowman

Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette

That's a wrap for KDKA-TV weatherman Dennis Bowman

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.

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“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.”

Maria Sciullo
KDKA hires Indiana meteorologist to replace retired Bowman

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.

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“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.

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Morning anchor Jennifer Antkowiak tears up as meteorologist Dennis Bowman goes through his last morning telecast on KDKA-TV Friday.  (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)
Dennis Bowman works in part of KDKA-TV's Weather Center Friday, his last last morning before retiring. In between his reports on weather conditions, he would tend to his computers while getting ready for his next report using graphics that were imposed over a blue screen.  (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)
Retiring meteorologist Dennis Bowman works from his desk during his last morning telecast in the KDKA-TV studio Friday.  (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)
Retiring meteorologist Dennis Bowman stands in front of the blue screen while the radar graphics are imposed on it during his last morning telecast Friday at KDKA-TV.  (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)
Retiring meteorologist Dennis Bowman's has a light moment with morning anchor Jennifer Antkowiak during his last morning telecast at KDKA-TV Friday.  (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)
Retiring meteorologist Dennis Bowman, left, shares a laugh with morning anchors Jennifer Antkowiak and Rick Dayton during his last morning telecast at KDKA-TV Friday.  (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)
Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette
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