February 08, 2019

'Tell the weather girl to shut up:' Trolls barrage TV meteorologist with abuse after she interrupted popular show for storm warnings

By Amanda Schmidt, AccuWeather staff writer

February 08, 2019, 12:59:23 PM EST

FOX17 WZTV chief meteorologist Katy Morgan showing viewers some of the abuse she was subjected to after breaking into a broadcast of 'The Masked Singer' to give an extreme weather warning. (Twitter/@katymorganwx)

Four tornadoes touched down in Tennessee on Thursday, Feb. 7, prompting wall-to-wall storm coverage on local television stations in Nashville.

Following the severe weather warnings on Thursday, Chief Meteorologist at Nashville's Fox station WZTV Katy Morgan received harsh criticism due to the interruptions.

The meteorologist took to Twitter to share some of the negative remarks that she received following the severe weather interruption.

Viewers dropped negative comments, such as "tell the weather girl to shut up," "weather people are not important" and "inconsiderate camera hog."

Yesterday 2 people died due to flooding. 2 tornadoes caused damage. Unfortunately, I had to cover The Masked Singer to warn people about the dangerous conditions moving in. Here are some comments I received while on air. I will always put lives ahead of a TV show. pic.twitter.com/DmRf2cSZzq
— Katy Morgan (@katymorganwx) February 8, 2019

After Morgan tweeted about the negative viewer response, dozens of followers came to her defense and responded with messages of support.

Hats off to @katymorganwx! Took a lot of courage to share this. It's our job as broadcast meteorologists to protect lives when the weather is dangerous. Even when it means interrupting prime time programming. https://t.co/lp0R2CtvqM
— Meteorologist Vanessa Alonso KQ2 (@VAlonsoKQ2) February 8, 2019

Don't ever let the haters get you down. Keep up your amazing work bringing life saving information to all who need it. You are an inspiration!
— Travis (@CRManofSteel) February 8, 2019

Ignore those ignoramuses! Thank you for saving lives!
— Justin Logan WAVE 3 (@jloganwxguy) February 8, 2019

Sad and disgraceful. Thank you for your public service.
— Jerry Lee Scott (@jerryscottsings) February 8, 2019

Katy, ignore the sheer ignorance of the "few", you are valued by many AND you look awesome in blue. 💙 I'm sure your community thanks you for your hard work, just as we do @simpsonwhnt for all he and the entire WHNT team does for ours.
— Mandy (@mom2three92) February 8, 2019

During extreme weather events, it is not unusual for meteorologists to interrupt prescheduled television programs with severe weather warnings. Even news anchors interrupt programming when there's breaking news, although typically to a lesser degree.

As a result of the storms in Nashville, two people died due to flooding and two tornadoes caused damage.

During extreme weather, such as in this case, meteorologists aim to provide warnings ahead of disaster to keep people safe.

Unfortunately, Morgan writes on Twitter, she had to interrupt "The Masked Singer" to warn people about the dangerous conditions moving in.

Advances in weather science and technology and cooperation between government weather services and the American Weather Industry have resulted in increasingly accurate tornado warnings.

Improvements in this technology have led to greatly reduced risk for such tragedies when warnings provide enough time to move people to safety when severe weather threatens.

Report a Typo

Weather News

Comments

Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or manually removed by Facebook or AccuWeather. Profanity, personal attacks, and spam will not be tolerated.

More Weather News

Powerful storm to bring flooding, heavy mountain snow to northern India, Pakistan at midweek

Weather News - February 18, 2019, 12:03:39 PM EST

The recent period of stormy weather from India to Afghanistan will continue this week as a potent storm brings widespread impacts to the region.
'Firefall' to ignite in Yosemite National Park during Friday evening sunset

Weather News - February 18, 2019, 1:37:35 PM EST

Yosemite is one of the most beautiful and well-known national parks in the United States, and visitors in mid-February may be treated to a spectacle not seen during any other time of the year.
Ciudad en Rusia declara estado de emergencia por invasión de osos polares

Weather News - February 18, 2019, 11:46:48 AM EST
Serious flooding risk to extend from Louisiana to Carolinas, Virginia and West Virginia

Weather News - February 18, 2019, 11:09:35 AM EST

Through this weekend, the risk of flooding rainfall will extend from the lower Mississippi Valley to the Tennessee and Ohio valleys as well as the southern Appalachians.
Tropical Cyclone Oma to batter New Caledonia into midweek, New Zealand and Australia on alert

Weather News - February 18, 2019, 11:04:58 AM EST

After battering parts of Vanuatu with heavy rain and gusty winds last week, Tropical Cyclone Oma will unleash dangerous weather on New Caledonia into Wednesday.
First February typhoon since 2015 may threaten Guam, Northern Mariana Islands this week

Weather News - February 18, 2019, 8:39:53 AM EST

The tropics in the western Pacific Ocean may activate this week with potential impacts on Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands this weekend.
Cold storm to bring significant snowfall, difficult travel to southwestern US late this week

Weather News - February 18, 2019, 11:44:58 AM EST

A late-week storm with a reinforcing shot of cold air will bring snow to both the high and low elevations of the western United States, with the potential for a significant snowfall in the Southwest.
More than 200 million Americans will see snow, rain, ice or a wintry mix

Weather News - February 18, 2019, 12:50:47 PM EST

A major storm is poised to roll up the Eastern Seaboard, bringing snow, ice and difficult travel to the Midwest and Northeast at midweek.