The Forecast: Way Cool   

A cool front is sweeping across the Weather Channel, bringing more live coverage, a new set and funkier graphics.

A cool front is sweeping across the Weather Channel, bringing more live coverage, a new set, funkier graphics and, for the first time in its 17-year history, programming that breaks from the "wheel" approach of rotating information. In January, the Atlanta-based network introduced "Your Weather Today." The two-hour weekday program, beginning at 7 a.m. EST, goes up against the morning talk shows with co-anchors Heather Tesch and Marshall Seese, storm analyst John Scala and meteorologist Dennis Smith. On Groundhog's Day, the show opened with live coverage from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The channel is also launching "First Outlook" from 5 to 7 a.m. weekdays, with business-related features. And later this year, says Patrick Scott, executive vice president and general manager, the network hopes to start an hourlong, prime-time magazine with weather-related topics.