Why do TV weather presenters have to point at the map when they're doing their forecasts

[BeLoudRubyPanda]

Is it so the viewers know if they're in North or South. Or another reason?

I remember doing some soft skills training in the late 90s and part of it covered how little information from a weather forecast is recalled, even immediately afterwards. It was fascinating.

Anyway, I guess if they point as well as talk, there's a chance to remember the visual and the verbal.

And, it's all green screened so they're using their hard won skills.

I have no insider insight, btw!

Why does it even exist as a job? Fair enough when someone was needed to move the sticky cloud symbols around, but not now and not after every single national and local news bulletin.

I think it would look weird if they stood still. Even in normal conversation people gesticulate and gesture when speaking.

Also when people are presenting something like at an art gallery people gesture towards the piece. And everyone woumd know what a painting is. So weather presenting is in the same vain.