A Florida Weatherman's Hurricane Plea Went Viral. Here's Why.
A meteorologist who has spent his career warning South Florida about hurricanes had a new warning for viewers last week: He's not sure he can do it this year.
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.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
an hour ago
At least 2 people killed as storms push through South
Two people were killed by falling trees and tens of thousands were left without power as severe storms rolled through the South over the weekend. The storms downed trees and powerlines and brought heavy rainfall, hail and gusty winds as they pushed through the region. Nearly 150,000 people across southern states from Texas to South Carolina were without power Sunday morning, according to Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said one person was killed in Lafayette County when a tree fell on a vehicle. Multiple tornado warnings were issued across northern Mississippi on Saturday. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said one person was killed in Georgia on Saturday night. A spokesperson for the Georgia Emergency Management said the fatality occurred in Banks County when a tree fell on a vehicle. 'Join us in praying for the loved ones of a Georgian tragically lost tonight due to the severe storms,' Kemp wrote on social media. The National Weather Service said a confirmed EF-1 tornado damaged multiple homes and injured one person Friday in the city of Van Buren in western Arkansas. Another round of severe weather is expected to push through the southern Plains and the South on Sunday evening and Monday. The highest risk for severe weather is in southwest Oklahoma and northern Texas. The National Weather Service said destructive wind gusts of up to 100 miles per hour, giant hail up to five inches in diameter and a few tornadoes are likely.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Slight risk of severe weather forecast Monday east of I-65 in Kentucky. What to know
The National Weather Service in Louisville anticipates a slight risk for severe thunderstorms June 9 in central and eastern Kentucky. As a cold front moves into the commonwealth, the weather service isn't ruling out a chance for heavy rain, hail and damaging winds, particularly east of the Interstate 65 corridor. The slight risk area covers Frankfort, Lexington, Bowling Green, and other Kentucky cities to the south and east. Severe weather seems less likely in Louisville, which was placed under a marginal risk by the Storm Prediction Center. Some rain is possible in the metro area June 9, according to a National Weather Service forecast, though wind gusts could be below 10 mph most of the day. As for the rest of the week, Louisville is expected to see mostly clear skies Tuesday through Thursday, with high temperatures in the 80s. Rain could return by the weekend. Here's a look at the forecast. Monday: Showers and thunderstorms before 11 a.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. High near 77. Southwest wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Monday night: A 30% chance of showers before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southwest wind around 6 mph. Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 80. West wind 3 to 7 mph. Tuesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Wednesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. More: What's next for Louisville Cardinals, Kentucky Wildcats after House settlement approval? Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@ or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky could see severe storms Monday. Louisville under marginal risk
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
At least 2 people killed as storms push through South
Two people were killed by falling trees and tens of thousands were left without power as severe storms rolled through the South over the weekend. The storms downed trees and powerlines and brought heavy rainfall, hail and gusty winds as they pushed through the region. Nearly 150,000 people across southern states from Texas to South Carolina were without power Sunday morning, according to Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said one person was killed in Lafayette County when a tree fell on a vehicle. Multiple tornado warnings were issued across northern Mississippi on Saturday. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said one person was killed in Georgia on Saturday night. A spokesperson for the Georgia Emergency Management said the fatality occurred in Banks County when a tree fell on a vehicle. 'Join us in praying for the loved ones of a Georgian tragically lost tonight due to the severe storms,' Kemp wrote on social media. The National Weather Service said a confirmed EF-1 tornado damaged multiple homes and injured one person Friday in the city of Van Buren in western Arkansas. Another round of severe weather is expected to push through the southern Plains and the South on Sunday evening and Monday. The highest risk for severe weather is in southwest Oklahoma and northern Texas. The National Weather Service said destructive wind gusts of up to 100 miles per hour, giant hail up to five inches in diameter and a few tornadoes are likely.
