Yesterday's weather forecast: unsettled.

Dark clouds hung over KDKA as the station dropped morning and noon meteorologist Valerie Abati, while the sun shined on WPXI as the station rehired popular former meteorologist Julie Bologna.

Bologna will offer forecasts at 5 p.m. on WPXI and at 10 p.m. on WPGH. Mike LaPoint will continue as chief meteorologist, forecasting at 6 and 11 p.m. on WPXI and at 7 p.m. on PCNC.

"I wanted to get back to be nearby my mom and my dad and have my family see my children grow up," Bologna said by phone from Dallas. She has two children, ages 2 and 4 months.

To replace Abati, KDKA has hired former WPXI meteorologist Dennis Bowman to work full time, offering forecasts in the morning and at noon. Bowman, who is expected to start work Wednesday, has been doing freelance fill-in work at KDKA for a few years.

Abati, who has been at KDKA less than a year, did not return a call seeking comment.

KDKA's morning ratings continue to lag those of the other stations even as the station shows dominance in most other news time periods. In addition, Abati was criticized by some viewers last month for her breaking news coverage of thunderstorms on the 11 p.m. news June 29.

Abati joined KDKA from the Fox affiliate in Cincinnati and previously worked at WJET in Erie and stations in Clarksburg, W.Va., and Chattanooga, Tenn. She grew up in Conneaut Lake in Crawford County and received a bachelor of science in meteorology from Penn State.

Bologna, a Center, Beaver County, native, worked the morning and noon shift at Channel 11 from 1999 to 2004 before taking a position with KTVT in Dallas.

"We will have by far the largest weather staff," said WPXI general manager Ray Carter. "It gives us some depth that is remarkable in today's environment. It brings back somebody who is remarkably popular and a real professional. She brings great energy and poise."

As for Bologna's new contract, Carter would only say that she signed a "multiyear deal" with WPXI.

Currently, WTAE and KDKA each have three meteorologists. With a fourth weather position open at WTAE and Bologna's contract up at KTVT next month, there was some expectation that Bologna might land there. She said she did speak to WTAE and KDKA as well as WPXI.

"When I contacted them to let them know I was interested in moving back home for family reasons, each of them was wonderful with me," Bologna said. "Any person would be lucky to work at any of these three stations, and in the end I chose to go back to WPXI."