Chief meteorologist Joe Calhoun announces retirement after 36 years with WGAL

wgal chief meteorologist joe calhoun

After a 36-year career that defined him as the Susquehanna Valley’s most trusted weather forecaster, Chief Meteorologist Joe Calhoun is retiring.

His successful tenure at WGAL 8 will end on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024.

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For more than three decades, Calhoun has been the leader of the WGAL News 8 Storm Team, bringing his expertise and warmth to viewers across the Susquehanna Valley.

A Philadelphia native, Calhoun graduated from Penn State University in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in meteorology. He began his career with Freese-Notis Weather in Des Moines, Iowa, and later transitioned to broadcast meteorology as the morning meteorologist at Hearst Television’s KETV in Omaha, Nebraska.

In 1987, Calhoun’s talent led him back to his home state of Pennsylvania when he joined WGAL News 8 and started a tenure that has lasted nearly four decades.

Behind the scenes, Calhoun has been a leader in his field and a broadcast meteorology instructor at Millersville University. Calhoun’s mentorship has shaped the careers of many young meteorologists, including several members of the WGAL News 8 Storm Team.

“When I look back on my career, I’m most proud of the team I’ve built here at WGAL 8 and the students and young broadcasters whom I’ve impacted along the way. Seeing them blossom into stellar meteorologists has been a wonderful experience,” Calhoun said.

Calhoun’s dedication to service has been evident through initiatives like WGAL 8’s Coats for Kids Telethon, which he championed for nearly three decades. He was the co-creator and longtime face of this annual fundraiser that still generates tens of thousands of dollars every year for the Salvation Army.

You can watch Joe through the years at the link below.

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