Latest news with #Ganahl
USA Today
12-02-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Jym Ganahl, longtime Ohio meteorologist, dies at 76
Hear this story Jym Ganahl, a longtime TV meteorologist at Ohio's ABC6 station WSYX, has died. He was 76 years old. Ganahl died Feb. 3 of natural causes, according to his family. His death was announced Tuesday. Known for his folksy weather forecasting, Ganahl retired from WSYX (ABC6) in May after nearly 60 years of providing weather forecasts to central Ohio. He began his career in Iowa but worked on-air at WCMH-TV (NBC4) from 1979 to 2016 where he served as chief meteorologist. At age 17, five years after he started studying weather, Ganahl marched into the KWWL-TV studio in Waterloo, Iowa, to tell the station manager that he could deliver a more accurate forecast than its weatherman was providing. He got the job and was later hired by NBC4. During his time at NBC4, he covered the infamous blizzard of 1978. He stayed at NBC4 for 37 years until briefly retiring in 2016. Growing quicky bored, he returned to broadcast, this time at WSYX (ABC6). Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Ganahl graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1970. After graduating, he served in the U.S. Army and won several awards, including the Spirit and Honor Medal and the No. 1 Marksman award. He worked in flight operations with a National Guard helicopter unit, according to his biography published on the university's website. A man of many interests, Ganahl also dabbled in local live theater and taught science to middle school students for three years, all while continuing his nighttime duties as a meteorologist. He also taught science for a gifted student program at Ohio Wesleyan University. "I would tell everyone, make sure you do something that you like. Every day will be fun," Ganahl told the UNI interviewer. "Money has to not matter at all. It's the only way you can (have a career like his" and have a happy life. You can't contradict or fight it. And make sure you're not one-dimensional."
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Former NBC4 meteorologist Jym Ganahl dies at age 76
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Beloved former NBC4 chief meteorologist Jym Ganahl has died, his family announced Tuesday. Ganahl, 76, died on Feb. 3 of natural causes, but family said they did not want to publicize the death until after a private funeral service. Ganahl spent nearly 60 years on air as a meteorologist covering Columbus. He started doing weather before he started college at just 17 years old after calling the news director at his hometown station in Waterloo, Iowa. He came to NBC4, then going by its call letters of WCMH, in 1979 and became part of the news team that dominated central Ohio airwaves in the 1980s: 'Doug, Mona, Jimmy and Jym' — Ganahl alongside married news anchors Doug Adair and Mona Scott and sports anchor Jimmy Crum. Ganahl helped to bring on the station's second meteorologist, Ben Gelber — the longtime Robin to his Batman — who remains with NBC4 after 40 years. Ganahl delivered his final on-air forecast for NBC4 on Sept. 1, 2016, but he stayed on staff until the following July 2017. After a brief retirement, he joined WSYX/WTTE in a part-time role, finally stepping down last March. Ganahl had an deep knowledge of weather, including lore such as knowing the temperature by counting cricket chirps in a certain amount of time and adding 40, and knowing how each year there would be three snows after the first forsythia blooms. He is survived by two daughters and seven grandchildren. You can post favorite memories of Ganahl and leave condolences on NBC4's Facebook page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
