DeKALB – A typical morning on Yik Yak, (an anonymous university focused forum), may include numerous anonymous posts about rumors of partners cheating on each other, requests for advice and most importantly, the “weather person.”

An anonymous “weather person” posts every day on NIU’s side of Yik Yak, but no longer does he remain unnamed.

Nicholas Gomez, a junior mechanical engineering major, is the “weather person.” Gomez, who transferred to NIU Fall 2022, likes to go to the gym in his free time and work on his car. He eventually wants to enter the automotive industry.

When a previous weather person on Yik Yak stopped posting three months back, NIU Yik Yak users questioned where they were. Gomez saw this as an opportunity to become the new “weather person” and decided he would step up and fill the role.

“I already had the cloud emoji in my Yik Yak, so I’m like, sure, I’ll just start posting weather,” Gomez said. “I posted a couple times and kind of blew up.”

Profile pictures in Yik Yak are randomized so having the cloud emoji is rare, although you can randomize your profile picture as much as you want.

Gomez posted every day, giving Yik Yak users weather updates that not only provided the upcoming forecast but also a message of positivity to start off their day.

“THIRSTY THURSDAY NIU! We extended this warm weather today with a high of 80 degrees and a low of 60 degrees,” read Gomez’s Yik Yak on April 13. “It’ll be bright and sunny all day, go out and enjoy it! ☀️🍺”

Many Yik Yak users looked forward to Gomez’s posts; but unfortunately, he took a brief pause from giving updates due to his dislike of a major update to the app’s interface and mechanics.

A poll was made by NIU’s users of the app to figure out why he had stopped. The answer that received 38% of the votes, “they just didn’t like the update,” was right, and when Gomez saw the post his buddy Derek pushed him to give the weather another try.

Gomez’s debut post after his absence was very popular, receiving 108 upvotes and numerous comments from fans cheering on his re-emergence.

“The hero we needed ❤️,” one fan said.

Gomez says he works his “weather person” role for his fans, it’s now an important part of his day.

“I make it part of my routine,” Gomez said. “I just wake up, post. It takes two seconds, and people seem to enjoy it. I kind of just do it for the people, I don’t really do it for myself or for anyone else.”

“Weather person” Gomez said he doesn’t plan on going anywhere soon and will continue to give his daily weather updates around noon as long as people continue to enjoy them.

“I’m gonna keep posting until people stop asking for it,” Gomez said.

Gomez’s weather updates can be seen everyday around noon on the Yik Yak app.