A Florida Weatherman's Hurricane Plea Went Viral. Here's Why.
John Morales of WTVJ in Miami said the Trump administration's recent cuts to the National Weather Service could leave television forecasters like him 'flying blind' this hurricane season. 'We may not exactly know how strong a hurricane is before it reaches the coastline,' he warned.
Clips of Mr. Morales's comments have spread widely: one posted on MSNBC's TikTok account has nearly 4,500 comments, and news outlets around the world have written articles about what he said. (This isn't the first time Mr. Morales has been the subject of viral attention: In the fall, his emotional reaction to Hurricane Milton's rapid intensification also hit a nerve.)
Here's what Mr. Morales had to say and more about what is going on with the Weather Service.
He warned of less accurate forecasts.
Mr. Morales's presentation on Monday began with a clip of himself following the Category 5 Hurricane Dorian in 2019 as it moved over the Bahamas. He reassured his Florida viewers that the powerful storm would turn north before it reached their coastline. And it did, exactly when Mr. Morales assured anxious viewers it would.
The clip cuts to him in present day, slightly older and now wearing glasses. He recalled the confidence he used to have in delivering an accurate forecast to his viewers.
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