Meteorologist Jim Flowers will not have his contract renewed when it expires next week. WOWT, the NBC affiliate for Omaha, NE, announced the move on its facebook page saying,
“WOWT has informed Jim Flowers that it does not intend to enter into a new agreement for his services when his current agreement expires on December 31, 2012. WOWT appreciates Jim’s contributions to WOWT and thanks him for his many years of service.
Flowers’ whereabouts have been the subject of speculation around Omaha and as far South as Lincoln for the last few weeks. On Christmas Eve, the Omaha World-Herald joked,
“WOWT will be tracking Santa’s whereabouts. After WOWT finds Santa, perhaps it can find Jim Flowers.”
While the Lincoln Journal Star wrote,
Social media has been buzzing with reports of his contract expiring and of his being escorted from the building. His blog and Facebook accounts have been silent for more than two weeks. The station has answered viewers’ inquiries on Facebook and Twitter with “Jim Flowers is on vacation for the holidays,” but didn’t say when he will return.
Flowers has been a meteorologist in Omaha for nearly 30 years. He previously worked for Omaha ABC affiliate KETV.