One of the most identifiable names in local television is leaving 13WHAM, the ABC affiliate out of Rochester.
But it doesn’t appear it was his decision.
13WHAM Chief Meteorologist Glenn Johnson announced on Twitter this week that he was leaving the station at the end of the month.
His last day on-air will be May 27.
“You may ask why I am leaving,” Johnson wrote in a statement posted to Twitter. “Like other businesses, television has had a difficult time during the pandemic. As a result, my position has been eliminated due to workforce reduction.
The station is owned by Sinclair, a company that operates hundreds of stations across the U.S.
Johnson started at the news station as an intern while still a full-time student at The College at Brockport in 1985, before becoming a part-time meteorologist, and moving through the ranks.
Goodbye to 13 WHAM… pic.twitter.com/OTgvB3AUD8
— WHEC_Glenn Johnson (@Roc_wx_leader) May 18, 2021
“I wish I could say this is easy, but after 36 years it is not,” he added. “I can truly say it has been a wonderful ride, a joy and a challenge to forecast the unique weather of western New York.”
Another meteorologist from 13WHAM shared his own thoughts on the situation. “Glenn shouldn’t have been shown the door, he should have been able to walk through it the last time on his terms,” Scott Hetkso said. “Cuts like these are happening in many industries around the country but that doesn’t make it any easier.”
Hetkso is another highly-identifiable meteorologist from the Rochester market.
It’s unclear at this point who will take over forecasting in the 5 o’clock slot that’s been held by Johnson for many years.
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