Meteorologist Steve MacLaughlin is joining WTAE, Hearst’s ABC affiliate in Pittsburgh. He begins October 1 as the station’s morning and noon meteorologist.
MacLaughlin comes from WTNH in Hartford-New Haven, where he has worked since 2011. He has also worked at WPIX in New York City, KXAS in Dallas and WPHL in Philadelphia, as well as at The Weather Channel.
“From tropical storms to full-blown Nor’easters, Steve has tracked a wide variety of weather events,” WTAE president and general manager Charles W. Wolfertz III said in a statement. “His impressive experience forecasting storms will serve Pittsburghers well during severe weather.”
More from WTAE after the jump.
PITTSBURGH, PA —WTAE today announced the hire of Meteorologist Steve MacLaughlin, a severe-weather expert with extensive forecasting experience in some of the largest and most weather-intensive markets in the country. MacLaughlin joins news anchors Kelly Frey and Michelle Wright, traffic and breaking news anchor Janelle Hall, and sports anchor Ryan Recker weekdays from 4:30am-6:00am and on WTAEChannel 4 Action News at Noon.
“From tropical storms to full-blown Nor’easters, Steve has tracked a wide variety of weather events,” said WTAE President & General Manager, Charles W. Wolfertz III. “His impressive experience forecasting storms will serve Pittsburghers well during severe weather.”
Before joining WTAE, MacLaughlin worked at WTNH in Hartford, Connecticut. He covered the Autumn Nor’easter in 2011, the biggest October snowstorm ever recorded in the region. Hurricane Sandy followed; MacLaughlin worked 12-hour shifts over three consecutive days tracking the super-storm from coastal waters. This past winter, MacLaughlin predicted the February Blizzard credited as the biggest single-day snow event for parts of the state. He has also worked as a meteorologist at television stations in New York City, Dallas and Philadelphia, as well as at the Weather Channel.
“I had the pleasure of freelancing at WTAE a couple years ago and fell in love with the city,” said MacLaughlin. “The weather here is similar to what I have been forecasting my entire career. Pittsburgh has the same three weather extremes as most of the Northeast – winter storms, severe weather and parts of tropical systems. I just feel comfortable talking about these types of weather in this part of the world.”
MacLaughlin graduated with honors from Rutgers University in 1998 and received the American Meteorological Society Television Seal of Approval in 1999. Steve has been nominated for six Emmy Awards including “Best Weathercaster” four times. He has won two Emmys and a “Best Weathercast” award from the Associated Press.
MacLaughlin begins on WTAE Channel 4 Action News This Morning on Tuesday, October 1.