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#10: Mic Check
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CNN’s John Berman appears to have things well in control, for the most part, during his coverage of Hurricane Florence back in 2018. Berman is being whipped around by tremendous wind and pelted by rain the entire time, but his delivery remains calm and measured throughout most of his reporting. However, things eventually do ramp up, to the point where Berman’s microphone cord gets split, and he’s momentarily unable to make contact with the CNN newsroom. He eventually gets things back up and running, but Berman was definitely suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous weather on this day.
#9: A Hurricane Rips the Roof Off
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Why do we watch wild weather on the news? Is it just because we’re concerned about the level of devastation at hand, or are we morbidly curious to watch newscasters report from the frontlines? It’s a question that’s asked more often these days, but perhaps less so back in 2008, when Hurricane Ike entered the U.S. via the Gulf of Mexico and battered Texas. Reporter Mark Boyle was on assignment in the Galveston County area with Cory Reppenhagen when they captured this impressive display of destruction. The roof from a building can be seen behind Boyle, being torn completely free and blowing away in the wind. It’s scary stuff.
#8: Wading in Water
Sometimes, your average, everyday reporter can become a lifeline for a person in need. This was the case with WESH 2’s Tony Atkins in Orlando, who became a hero for a local nurse who became stranded by riding flood waters. While attempting to make it into work, she became stuck. Atkins carried her from her car to safety. He and McCullough later reunited so that she could thank him. He also received thank you cards from McCullough’s family, as well as praise for his brave and selfless behavior.
#7: Stating the Obvious
The Weather Channel’s Jeff Morrow made a metrological understatement while he was covering the impact of Hurricane Wilma back in 2005. Wilma, which battered Florida to the tune of over twenty billion in damages and fifty-two deaths, meant business. However, Morrow’s reactions to the storm’s severity have often made the rounds in humor circles thanks to his matter-of-fact delivery of the line, “it’s very hard to stand.” Morrow gets absolutely belted by ridiculous winds, and has to lean against a pillar in order to report live from the scene.
#6: Blown Away
2008’s Hurricane Ike was responsible for numerous examples of reporters working within all kinds of harrowing weather. This reporter from The Weather Channel got more than he bargained for when he went out during Ike’s rage to cover the storm. He’s completely blasted off his feet by the raging winds, eventually coming to land atop a nearby bush. Thankfully, only the reporter’s pride seems to be hurt, as he quickly gets back to his feet and continues as if nothing happened. Well, that’s dedication.
#5: Al Roker Holds It Down
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Al Roker is one of the definitive personalities of T.V. weather, someone that Americans have come to rely on. Al has seen himself in the thick of some fairly dangerous storm situations, as well, such as the time Roker was in Naples, Florida covering Hurricane Wilma. The storm surge and wind gusts are so strong that it requires one of Al’s coworkers, holding fast to the reporter’s legs, in order to get the shot. This doesn’t last long, however, as Wilma’s wrath eventually knocks both Al and his helper to the ground.
#4: Duck!
Flying debris is no joke. Local and national newscasters take their lives in their hands covering all of this wild weather, oftentimes as hurricane-force winds blow around everything in sight. WFOR-TV’s Brian Andrews made the ill-advised decision to run straight into the brunt of Hurricane Katrina as it was assaulting New Orleans in 2005. He has to take cover almost immediately, crouching down and actually catching debris as it flies down the street. Then, perhaps feeling as though he'd had enough, Andrews attempts to make it back to the comparative safety of an alleyway, before being knocked to the ground by Katrina’s wrath. Ouch.
#3: Accidental Tebow
Ok, so we know that Tebow-ing isn’t a thing anymore, but this wasn’t the case back in 2012. This was where many sports fans felt it was fun to mimic the NFL quarterback’s penchant for kneeling in prayer prior to a game. Jim Cantore from The Weather Channel demonstrated an “accidental Tebow” during his coverage of Hurricane Ian, as the storm’s winds demolished the area around Cantore. The reporter is almost knocked completely off his feet by an errant tree branch, before trying to make it back to his crew. He staggers, stops, kneels…and waits. Eventually, Cantore makes it up and out of harm’s way, but this was some impressively dangerous weather.
#2: Educating on Climate Change
As the reality of climate change becomes accepted across the board, the modern meteorologist often serves a dual role as an educator. While it’s difficult to attribute individual weather events to climate change, a warmer climate does result in more intense and destructive hurricanes. After Hurricane Ida’s destruction in New York City in 2021, ABC News Chief Meteorologist Ginger Zee spoke to the “Good Morning America” audience about how warmer waters make such storms that much stronger. She shows how meteorologists often need to wear multiple hats as newscasters, scientists, and teachers.
#1: A Weather Tragedy
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Newscasters will often do just about anything to capture live weather. Unfortunately, some of those professionals have paid for this dedication with their lives. Two such professionals were news anchor Mike McCormick and photojournalist Aaron Smelter, who worked for WYFF Channel 4 News. The pair were covering heavy rains in Polk County, North Carolina, when a tree was uprooted and fell onto their SUV. Their loss caused a massive outpouring of grief and support by all of those who tuned in to their reporting. However, it also opens up questions as to the need for on-site reporting of dangerous weather.
