After 17 years at News 13, Jeff Day is out as chief meteorologist.
Hal Boedeker of the Orlando Sentinel reports, Day was told his contract had been terminated on Friday.
“When we started I was the only the meteorologist,” Day said Sunday night. After a tornado outbreak in 1998, the channel decided he needed help.
AdvertisementDay said it was a little bit of a surprise that he was out at News 13.
“It’s the nature of the business,” he said. “You always have to be prepared. It’s just one of the things you find in the business. I’m dealing with it. It’s been 17 years of dedication and hard work. But now there’s relaxation and some excitement about finding a new path to take. I love Central Florida.”
He spoke with pride about his twin daughters, who are also 17. They will graduate from Olympia High School in May. “Looks like I have a Gator and a Knight in my future,” Day said.
He said News 13 told him early in the day Friday that he was out, and he didn’t go on the air.
“I always went in to do my best every day,” Day said. “I think it was just time for a change. I’ve learned so much.”
What would he say to viewers?
“My No. 1 goal was to keep people informed,” he said. “I didn’t want to scare. I wanted to keep people up to date and safe when severe weather was rolling through. When I was a kid in North Wisconsin, I went through a storm that got me interested in weather. Keeping people informed so they can keep themselves safe, that’s what it’s all about. When I get emails and people would thank me, that would make it worthwhile. People would come up and thank me for just staying calm and not trying to scare them.”