Jim Cantore: Weathering Life

Summary

Off the Radar: Jim Cantore – Weathering Life

Episode Release Date: August 12, 2025

In this compelling episode of Off the Radar, hosted by National Weather Desk Meteorologist Emily Gracey, listeners embark on an in-depth exploration of the life and career of Jim Cantore—the iconic face of extreme weather broadcasting. Through candid conversations, Jim shares his professional journey, personal battles, and unwavering passion for meteorology, offering a rare glimpse into the man behind the legend.

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1. Introduction to Jim Cantore and His Meteorological Journey

Emily Gracey sets the stage by highlighting Jim Cantore’s nearly four-decade-long career as America's most trusted storm chaser. Jim reflects on the relentless nature of his work:

Jim Cantore [00:15]: "It's kind of the never-ending storm, you know, I mean, a lot of times we go to these big hurricanes and big winter storms and the sun comes out and you start the cleanup process."

The conversation outlines Jim’s rise to prominence, emphasizing his role in disseminating critical evacuation information during severe weather events.

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2. Early Life and Career Beginnings

Jim delves into his humble beginnings and the pivotal moment that launched his career:

Jim Cantore [00:28]: "My brother comes up and goes, hey, Jim, the Weather Channel called. They want you to come interview. I was like, oh, no kidding. We just got them on cable."

He recounts driving his first Weather Channel interview in a "white Mercury Capri" during a scorching heatwave—a testament to his dedication and early challenges in the field.

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3. Public Recognition and Viral Moments

As Jim’s presence on national television grew, so did his fame. He recounts viral moments that cemented his status:

Jim Cantore [09:13]: "Let's say maybe seven episodes of thundersnow on live television. Maybe a kid rushing you at Charleston at the College of Charleston."

Emily introduces stories like a memorable encounter with a college student, showcasing Jim’s ability to handle unexpected situations with professionalism.

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4. Personal Challenges and Family Life

Jim opens up about his personal life, revealing the profound impact of his family experiences:

Jim Cantore [14:07]: "My wife had Parkinson's disease and young onset Parkinson's like Michael J. Fox got. She was diagnosed at 39... We find out we have two kids with Fragile X syndrome."

He discusses the emotional toll of balancing a high-profile career with supporting his family through significant health challenges, highlighting his resilience and commitment.

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5. Passion for Weather and Evolution in Meteorology

Throughout the interview, Jim’s enduring passion for meteorology is evident. He speaks about his dedication to staying current in the ever-evolving field:

Jim Cantore [23:55]: "There's something about being an operational forecaster. There's something about like getting it right, especially when the game's on the line."

Jim emphasizes the importance of continuous education and adapting to new technologies, such as using drones for safer storm coverage, reflecting his commitment to both safety and accurate reporting.

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6. Navigating Fame and Community Connections

Jim discusses how his public persona has evolved and the responsibilities that come with fame:

Jim Cantore [09:55]: "I don't know how to say all these towns. Yeah. And there are different states that have the same name of their town, and they're all pronounced differently."

He highlights the balance between being a beloved public figure and maintaining his authenticity, ensuring he treats every interaction with respect and humility.

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7. Future Plans and Addressing Retirement Rumors

Addressing recent rumors about his retirement and health, Jim reassures listeners about his ongoing commitment:

Jim Cantore [38:54]: "I'm not retiring... Nothing, I'm still, I still have till the end of 2026 on my current contract."

He expresses his desire to continue his work while acknowledging the physical demands of his role, leaving the door open for his future endeavors beyond broadcasting.

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8. Memorable Stories and Lasting Impact

The episode culminates with heartfelt anecdotes that illustrate Jim’s profound impact on his audience:

Jim Cantore [31:50]: "If you're asked to leave, and if that's the decisive factor, then so be it... I'd much rather be wrong on that end than be wrong by not telling you to leave and get you in a bad situation."

A poignant voice memo from a listener underscores the life-saving influence of Jim’s timely weather warnings, demonstrating the real-world significance of his work.

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Conclusion

Jim Cantore’s interview on Off the Radar is a testament to his unwavering dedication, both professionally and personally. Through sharing his triumphs and tribulations, Jim offers listeners an inspiring narrative of resilience, passion, and the relentless pursuit of excellence in the field of meteorology. Emily Gracey skillfully navigates the conversation, ensuring that Jim’s story resonates deeply with both weather enthusiasts and casual listeners alike.

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Notable Quotes:

• Jim Cantore [01:26]: "That's the card you're dealt. That's the mission that God gave you. And I'm going to take it, and I'm going to do the best I can."

• Jim Cantore [17:26]: "Training files is very hard to watch someone literally deteriorate in front of your very eyes, but yet still wake up every day and try and eat and get their clothes on and brush their teeth."

• Jim Cantore [25:33]: "We owe it to ourselves as scientists to keep up with the latest information."

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Key Takeaways:

• Dedication to Meteorology: Jim’s lifelong commitment to weather forecasting exemplifies his role as a guardian during extreme weather events.

• Personal Resilience: Navigating family health challenges while maintaining a demanding career showcases Jim’s strength and perseverance.

• Community Impact: Through memorable broadcasts and personal interactions, Jim has profoundly influenced countless lives, reinforcing the critical role of accurate weather reporting.

• Future Endeavors: While addressing retirement rumors, Jim remains focused on continuing his impactful work, balancing professional aspirations with personal well-being.

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Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform to dive deeper into Jim Cantore’s extraordinary journey.

Transcript

[Emily Gracie]

For nearly 40 years, he's been the face of extreme weather.

[Jim Cantore]

Listen to that.

[Emily Gracie]

This week, I'm going off the radar with the legendary Jim Cantore to explore the remarkable journey of America's most trusted storm chaser.

[Jim Cantore]

It's kind of the never ending storm, you know, I mean, a lot of times we go to these big hurricanes and big winter storms and the sun comes out and you start the cleanup process.

[Emily Gracie]

We'll trace his career from the very beginning.

[Jim Cantore]

My brother comes up and goes, hey, Jim, the Weather Channel called. They want you to come interview. I was like, oh, no kidding. We just got them on cable.

[Emily Gracie]

To becoming the voice millions depend on when evacuation orders ring out across coastal communities.

[Jim Cantore]

If you're going to tell me that I have to tell these people to leave, at least I could do. Stand out there and show them why I asked them to leave.

[Emily Gracie]

You'll hear the untold stories behind those viral moments.

[Jim Cantore]

If you remember the shot, he started screaming as he was coming toward me.

[Emily Gracie]

And discover how he's managed to stay grounded while standing in the eye of public attention.

[Jim Cantore]

But when people meet you, it means something. And you better treat everybody with respect because they're taking their time. They want to meet you, they want to say hi. They want to tell you a story.

[Emily Gracie]

But Jim opens up about something deeper. The personal storms he's weathered away from the cameras, the lessons he's learned from hundreds of tropical systems and thousands of live broadcasts, and the quiet moments of reflection between the chaos.

[Jim Cantore]

That's the card you're dealt. That's the mission that God gave you. And I'm going to take it, and I'm going to do the best I can. I'm going to succeed. I'm going to fail. I'm going to succeed and I'm going to fail. And that's kind of the way life goes.

[Emily Gracie]

Join us as we explore not just the meteorologist, but the man behind the legend and what lies ahead for one of television's most enduring figures.

[Jim Cantore]

Two words, Em. Mission accomplished.

[Emily Gracie]

Meteorologist Emily Gracie. And you're listening to off the Radar, a production of the National Weather Desk. On the show, we dig deep into topics about weather, climate, the ocean, space, and much more. Our goal is to help you better understand the weather and to love it as much as we do. Jim Cantore.

[Jim Cantore]

Oh, my God.

[Emily Gracie]

So good to have you on finally. I feel like we've been talking about this forever.

[Jim Cantore]

We have, and we've been talking about it at conferences, over wine tasting. You name it, we've been talking about it.

[Emily Gracie]

Yeah, let's talk about you, because this is amazing. You're such, you know, a huge figure in the weather community, but you're also just like a really nice guy. So I. I want to get a lot of info from you today on your life and your career and weather in general. So can we go way back, way, way back to the very beginning, like.

[Jim Cantore]

When I had hair and stuff.

[Emily Gracie]

You had hair?

[Jim Cantore]

Do you know what my nickname was in high school?

[Emily Gracie]

What?

[Jim Cantore]

Are you ready for this?

[Emily Gracie]

Yes.

[Jim Cantore]

Comb your hair, Cantore.

[Emily Gracie]

Oh.

[Jim Cantore]

I mean, I had a go. Go Google Cantore High School.

[Emily Gracie]

Really? There's pictures out there.

[Jim Cantore]

Oh, my God. It's unbelievable.

[Emily Gracie]

All right, I'm doing that immediately after we're done here. Speaking of googling, you, I. I googled you today for the first time because I realized how little I know about, like, your earlier career. And I have talked a lot over the years, but I know a lot about, like, your interest now. So I want to go way back to, like, when you became a meteorologist in your childhood. You're a fellow New Englander, just like myself.

[Jim Cantore]

Yeah.

[Emily Gracie]

So tell me about your interest in weather. Like, how did it start? When did it begin?

[Jim Cantore]

I mean, it's all about the snow. Oh, lots and lots of snow. You know, grow. You know, born in Connecticut and I. I really call Vermont my home state because I really grew up there, you know, But I mean, The Blizzard of 78 was just like a dream because the snow was over my head, the piles were. I was like, you know, when you drove on the road, it was like being in a tunnel. I mean, I just. It was just kind of magical, you know, I can't really describe it, but what's really weird is during all that, I mean, I didn't know about studying the weather. I mean, I was just worried about sports and paying my insurance on my Jeep and things like that. So it was like, my dad is the guy. He goes, listen, you're. You're an absolute freak when it snows outside. You. You gotta go study the weather. And I'm like, really, dad? He goes, yeah. You leave the barn light on for the first flakes. You go shovel the walkway for your mom. He goes, look, you gotta wake up for the next 50 years of your life every morning. You better love what you do. I remember, I remember sitting at the edge of the dining room table and my dad walking through the dining room and literally saying that to me. It was just a stop by when he said that, but I never forgot that. And as they say, the rest is History.

[Emily Gracie]

You're from a big family, right? So where are you in the birth order?

[Jim Cantore]

I'm the first. But one of the things you wouldn't know about me is I was actually adopted. Actually, all of us were adopted at birth. My mother miscarried four times and every time she did, they would adopt a child. And I mean, there's no relation to me and my brothers and sisters biologically, but oh my God, I wouldn't trade anything for my brothers or sisters.

[Emily Gracie]

Oldest out of how many?

[Jim Cantore]

Four. Four of us. So Jim, James, Paula, Vincent, Carol.

[Emily Gracie]

Okay, so then comes college. You go off to what, Linden State. Stay pretty close to home, right? What was that like?

[Jim Cantore]

Yeah, so what was great is like, hey, Jim, there just happens to be a college that, you know, has a meteorology program right up the road a piece. I'm like, oh my gosh, come home for a home cooked meal, laundry, I can't even imagine. Plus I was working at a radio station. I working radio. And to be able to come home and do that, I mean, come home on a Friday, do an all night radio shift, same thing on Saturday night, and then drive back Sunday to do homework and start the whole week again. So, you know, work was just something my dad was, was pretty adamant about. I mean, he wanted us to work and know the, you know, the benefits and, and you know, the hardness of working hard. He wanted to know like, life's not easy. I mean, he grew up in the depression. They didn't have much at all. Same thing with my mom. So it was, it was working hard and, and, you know, really understanding what it was like to work and, and get something out of it and achieve things. So I can't thank him enough for that. I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Emily Gracie]

So were you in high school or college when the Weather Channel started?

[Jim Cantore]

High school? Because it was 82. I mean, we just, I was just graduating, okay? And, and it wasn't until 84 when we got the Weather Channel in White River Junction, Vermont. I was done with college. I was painting a building. My brother comes up, he goes, hey, Jim, the, the Weather Channel called. They want you to come interview. I was like, oh, no kidding. We just got them on cable. So it was really weird when I went down there because I'm like all starstruck with like Bruce Edwards and Mark Mancuso and Gay Dawson and Bill Kinney. I was like, I see these guys on TV all the time. So it was kind of weird, but this guy named Ray Ban decided to give this, this Italian kid From, from Vermont. A chance. And so a week later, I drove down in my. Oh, my gosh, 1984 white Mercury Capri with a T top through a massive heat wave through South Carolina. It was 106 degrees. I mean, God forbid. M. I figured I would have figured out that I could have driven at night. Hello. No air conditioning. I kept that car for three years with no age. Because I work mornings. I don't need air conditioning in the morning. I'll just, and I live close to work. I'll just get in there. You know, dates didn't go that well. Dates, Dates without air condition, that, that didn't always go really well. So.

[Emily Gracie]

But whatever, we'll get into your, your, your love life in a little bit, but that'll be for later.

[Jim Cantore]

You have an hour? Do you have an hour and a half an hour?

[Emily Gracie]

Okay. So, yeah, that was one thing I learned about you last time I saw you was this was your first and only job. You've worked at the Weather Channel your entire career. Do you have any regrets about, like, you know, everybody always says to meteorologists that are kind of getting into the business, like, you have to start in a small market and you have to put in your dues. Like, do you feel like you missed out on some of that stuff?

[Jim Cantore]

No, not at all. I mean, I was so lucky, so fortunate. I mean, I think at the end of the day, I got as much out of the Weather Channel as the Weather Channel got out of me. I mean, it was a really nice, nice. You know, we kind of grew up together. You know, I started. It was cable. Cable's high heyday. I, we were in 28 million homes, and we went to 106 million. And of course, we're down now because, you know, cable's not, not a thing anymore. But people still watch us, people still keep us. You know, there's still people that are watching, and especially with small towns. Hey, Jim, you pronounce that town? Halton, Maine, or whatever. You know, whatever it is, whatever town it is, they always correct you on the towns. And I'm like, that's great. I, I, I, I don't know how to say all these towns. Yeah. And there are, there are different states that have the same name of their town, and they're all pronounced differently.

[Emily Gracie]

Yeah.

[Jim Cantore]

So it's just, it's crazy times.

[Emily Gracie]

What is the, like, evolution been like? Did you early on have to, like, explain to people what you do and where you work? And you've gone full circle to now you can't go anywhere without people yelling your name and knowing exactly what you.

[Jim Cantore]

Do, which I don't really understand, except for maybe a little luck. Let's say maybe seven episodes of thundersnow on live television. Maybe a kid rushing you at Charleston at the College of Charleston. That commercial that they did in Wilmington, North Carolina, about people running from me, which they played for, like, one year on TV and then brought it back on social media, like, years later, and it just went absolutely viral. I mean, I think those kind of things really kind of created this enigma. Other than that, I'm just an operational forecaster, which I love to be. I don't. I'm not a limelight guy. I don't. It's just not my thing.

[Emily Gracie]

The thing is, though, like, I've been with you in public, and you are. You make everybody feel like they're your friend. So I think it's the community involvement, too. I think you're not giving yourself enough credit. It's not just luck. It's. It's that communication you have with people.

[Jim Cantore]

Well, I appreciate that, but you know what? There's actually a story behind that. You know, I'm a huge Yankees fan. Everybody knows that. And my hero was Reggie Jackson. I love Reggie. I mean, you know, three home runs. I was sitting there watching it with my dad during the World Series. I'm like, oh, my God. So in Atlanta, early on, they used to have this thing called the super show, which was everything to do with sports. And I mean, everything. Apparel, cards, autographs, everything to do with sports. So I would go to that every year because I was, you know, I'm like, oh, my gosh. I can meet some of my favorite baseball players. You know, Tony Gwynn. What a great. He's a huge. He was a huge Weather Channel fan. What an intelligent, awesome guy. Tony Gwyn was Magic Johnson, one of my favorite people ever meet. And. And they didn't. You know, Tony knew who I was because he watched the Weather Channel before he traveled for away games. But, okay, Reggie's sign in for Upper deck. I'm waiting in line 40 minutes, and I get there and, you know, listen, I don't know if people are having a bad day or what their day's been like. All I know is I get to get an autograph from Reggie Jackson. So it's my turn. I'm like, Mr. Jackson, what an honor is to meet you. I'd love for you to sign my baseball. So I handed my baseball, and he kind of slams down. He goes, hey, how much time we got left? All Right. He looks back at me, he goes, I suppose you want this signed? And I was like, yeah, that'd be great. Anyway, he signs it, and he kind of plunks it back in front of me, but. But I kind of never forgot that because I thought, oh, my gosh, that's my hero. And he was angry, and he was upset, and I don't want to remember that. I want to remember the three home runs. So I always remember that. And I'm like, dude, when you're not Reggie Jackson, not even close, but when people meet you, it means something. And, And. And you better treat everybody with respect, because they're taking their time. They want to meet you, they want to say hi, they want to tell you a story, and, and, you know, take time with them. Now, listen, I'm not perfect all the time. There are times when I'm eating dinner with my kids or I'm not with my family, and somebody wants to talk about, you know, the Saffir Simpson scale. I'm like, hey, guys, you know, give me a break here. I. I just sat down with my family, if you don't mind. A lot of people are mostly polite, you know, about it, but, yeah, what you witnessed with me, Emily, was. Was kind of a reaction from the whole Reggie Jackson ordeal. And, And, I mean, I still love Reggie. I. I would listen to anything he has to say. I'd go get another autograph from him. Like I said, everybody has a. A bad day. And I just may have caught him at one, but I just never forgot the impression it left on me. And I said, don't you ever leave that impression on anybody.

[Emily Gracie]

Yeah. You know, I think I've had, like, similar experiences to that, where I meet a celebrity, and I'm just so disappointed in how they acted that I, I. Now when people say, who would you meet if you could meet anyone famous? And I'm like, well, nobody, because I, you know, I. They're just people. Like, nobody deserves that kind of power over us like that. That's ridiculous.

[Jim Cantore]

No, but I mean, some people are really outgoing, and they want to talk to you, and it's like, oh, my God, this is so great. You know, I've met chefs, professional chefs up the road a piece from you in Greenville. Euphoric. Even in Charleston, the Food and Wine Festival, which is awesome every year, you know, all these kind of things, and, and people are just wonderful. I, I. For whatever reason that stuck with me, and I just never want anyone to feel that way. And I can't say that everybody has not feel felt that way, but I'm giving it my best shot.

[Emily Gracie]

Well, you're doing great. All right, let's go back to kind of like mid career here. And you know, I think every meteorologist. Yeah, the hair, it's starting to lose the hair. Yeah. 20 years ago also, this like whole, you know, having small kids, raising a family, getting married. This is a really difficult time in life, period. Throw that in with being on national TV and then you have like, added complications in your scenario as well. Can you tell me a little bit? Whatever you're willing to share about your children.

[Jim Cantore]

The never ending. The never ending storm. Okay. Yeah. So my wife had Parkinson's disease and young onset Parkinson's like Michael J. Fox got. She was diagnosed at 39, age 39. And of course, as that's going on, you know, we find out we have two kids with fragile X syndrome, full mutation. It's a little different in girls than it is boys because, you know, girls have two X chromosomes and it's really that chromosome that has a protein deficiency. And it comes out in physical ways, a lot of times it comes out in mental ways. It's really, you know, the learning disability part. So, you know, my son Ben will probably be a 7 to 11 year old boy for the rest of his life, which frankly, is fine by me. I, I love Mr. Ben. He, he makes life just about as awesome as it could be. And he grounds me, you know. You know, Christie is kind of caught in that 16 to 25 area. But she's, you know, she's hard working and she's smart. You know, she makes good decisions and, you know, she's proven that she can live life mostly on her own. You know, Ben won't be able to do that, but, you know, those kind of things and then traveling, you know, back then there was really no excuses. If you had to go out, you had to go out. I mean, it was for the team. Today things have changed a little bit. I think it would have been a lot different. It's, it's nice to see some of my colleagues with kids who have, you know, special needs, they get a chance to deal with that a little bit better. But it's all, it's all my ex wife. I mean, she deserves all the credit. I mean, she, she, as much as I traveled, she dealt with that. She dealt with the Parkinson's. I mean, it was extremely difficult. Did I come home to an occasional shitstorm from being on the road? Of course I did. I mean, that's just life. You know, everybody has those, those moments. But, you know, she was the rock, just like many, many women are. Frankly, it's kind of the never ending storm, you know, I mean, a lot of times we go to these big hurricanes and big winter storms and the sun comes out and, and you start the, the cleanup process. I mean, you know, there's only so much you could clean up here. Parkinson's does not get better. It's. It's very hard to watch someone literally deteriorate in front of your very eyes, but yet still wake up every day and try and eat and get their clothes on and brush their teeth. It's hard. Yeah, we, we talk every day. Tammy and I talk sometimes two or three times a day. You know, we still share the kids and their responsibility. I just had to do it at a place I could manage it. And, you know, I don't know if that's my biggest mistake that I ever made, but I'm doing the best I can. And I know Sheila knows I love her and, and I do anything for her.

[Emily Gracie]

So it sounds like you've come to, like, a good, peaceful spot when it comes to, like, personal life. Did you ever, like, it seems, and I'm kind of in the midst of young children right now, but I like, do you ever feel like when you got sent out to cover a hurricane, you were like, all right, that I can do, like that I can handle. That is manageable. It's this craziness at home that is much harder to control.

[Jim Cantore]

Well, it's funny you say that, because when you're around it every day, you kind of manage it daily. But when you come home to the pile after being out in the storm, it's like, oh, God. You know, like I said, the sun usually comes out and you kind of start the building back process, albeit slowly. And it's certainly not easy. And I'm not comparing that to what I'm going through in life, but sometimes you would come back to the pile, but honestly, you stop for a second, you say, listen, these guys are doing the best they can. Let's make it work. Let's get what we can taken care of before the next storm. We had a lot of friends with a lot of help, so that certainly was, was a good thing. But I mean, when you first get diagnosed with a disease like Parkinson's, it's like, oh, my God. And you're, and you're trying anything to get your life back, like, what can I take? And you, you know, sometimes you take the holistic route. Sometimes you, you know, get into these medications. But when, when Michael J. Fox came out and testified in front of Congress, you know, there was so much money put into research and things like that. I think it's probably the reason why Tammy's still alive today.

[Emily Gracie]

Wow.

[Jim Cantore]

Seriously. Because of his testimony with the Fragile.

[Emily Gracie]

X. I think a lot of people don't even know. I've never even heard of that. Can you explain, like, what it is, how it, how it happens genetically?

[Jim Cantore]

When you think of the autism spectrum, there's so many things, I mean, under it, I mean, a lot of similarities in behavior, you know, touching, you know, rigid, rigidity about got to have the schedule this way and that way, but, but underneath that, there's Asperger's, there's Fragile X, there's just kind of this broad area of autism. But there's a lot of similarities in some of the, you know, some of the symptoms and things like that. But, you know, there are, you know, like, like, you can't tell me that Elon Musk is not on the spectrum of some sort. Okay? But you can go that way or you can go the other way, which we know is associated with Fragile X. We know that's a learning disability. And frankly, I'm lucky. There are a lot of kids that are even so much worse that have it so much worse and parents that have it so much worse. So I never ever stop for a second and say, woe is me. Oh my God. I start, I stop and I go, okay, dude, rough day. But think about that mom and dad who, you know, I have a kid that's, that's not going to work, that's not verbal. You can't communicate the feelings and things. Like, I'm telling you, it's rough. And I feel for every parent out there with a special needs child, whether it be part, you know, whether it be Fragile X, whether it be cerebral palsy, down syndrome, any of those. I mean, it's just very, very difficult.

[Emily Gracie]

Do you think you're a more well rounded person now than you were 30, 40 years ago, though?

[Jim Cantore]

I think it, yeah, I think it absolutely mellowed me out a little bit for sure. You know, I mean, back when you're in your 20. I started the Weather Channel when I was 22, for God's sakes. You know, I was invincible. I played softball, you know, almost every night. It was, it was nuts. And, you know, then when I played softball, I'd go to the gym afterward. I mean, it was, it just, it was just crazy. If I wasn't playing softball, I'D be at the gym. So it was, it was just crazy times and I just had so much energy and I always see that then, which is kind of funny, but it's a little uncontrollable. But so is mine, you know, when you're that age. But it's, it's definitely grounded me for sure in, in a good way. And I, I think that it's made me a better dad at the end of the day because, you know, I just kind of like. I used to hide it. I used to. Didn't really want to talk about it. I didn't, you know, because everybody comes up to you when they find out you're pregnant. Oh my God. I want you to have a great healthy kid and everything goes well and then when it doesn't, I mean, what do you do? Right? But that's the card you're dealt. That's the mission that God gave you. And I'm going to take it and I'm going to do the best I can. I'm going to succeed, I'm going to fail. I'm going to succeed and I'm going to fail. And that's kind of the way life goes. Anyway, I thought we were talking about weather.

[Emily Gracie]

Yeah. Okay, so we'll get back to weather. I want. Well, I wanted to bring some awareness to it because I do think a lot of people don't know about it.

[Jim Cantore]

No, I, you know what, Emily, Emily, I, I have not talked about Fragile X in my family this much with anyone. So, you know, you're a friend. I don't mind talking to you about it. But Fragile X is, is learning disability. Like I said, you can be anything from non verbal and, and really even non mobile to, to actually not being what they call a fuel full mutation. FRAX is a big, you know what research organization based up in Boston, the National Fragile X Foundation. I mean there's outreach. This lady who started an outreach in India, you know, we, we follow each other on Instagram and I see how she's doing over there with it. So it's everywhere. It's, it's all over the world. This, and it's not too old a feature, you know, I mean autism is older than Fragile X and along camera Fragile X later than that when people realize, well, there's other things under this autism spectrum besides just plain autism. So you can start taking some of these things when you, especially when you can find the gene, you can actually find the Fragile X gene and then you can say, hey, this is Fragile X for sure. Yeah, it's nuts.

[Emily Gracie]

I couldn't help but notice like weather kept popping up in kind of every bit of your personal life that you talk about too, even just comparing it to weather. So clearly you like still you have this passion for all types of weather. No, one thing I've always been impressed with, with you too is, you know, and I've planned AMS conferences over the years and I've tried to talk you into speaking at them and you're like, no, no, no, no, I don't speak at conferences. I'm there to learn. I'm there to be part of the audience in the group and which, you know, people could definitely learn from you. But I, I love that you're always furthering your education, like your love of weather and you hold yourself accountable to staying up to date with wealth. What's going on when it comes to weather, you know, and it's ever changing. Like this field is crazy. So over your 30 years you've probably seen so much change in the field, but you're always staying up to date with what's going on, right?

[Jim Cantore]

From, from presentation to modeling to dissemination, you know, to the phone. Yeah, we've seen a lot of changes for sure. And I just love, I don't know, there's something about being an operational forecaster. There's something about like getting it right, especially when the game's on the line. It's like, you know what this is? I need to tell these people this. I need to be able to tell them this is dangerous. This is like life threatening stuff. So you know what, I'm a servant. At the end of the day, I like being a servant. That's what it feels like. It doesn't feel like a job, it doesn't feel like it's laboring. But if you're going to be a true servant and true to yourself, you have to further your education because things change. Forecasting, things change. The way that information is, is presented is, it is changing. I mean there's so many things and, and we owe it to ourselves as scientists to, to keep up with the latest information. The science is always changing. You know, sometimes the wrongs become. What we find out eventually are, oh my gosh, if we, if that wasn't wrong, that hypothesis, then we wouldn't have come to this conclusion on things, you know, they found, how many drugs have they found? Like that wasn't penicillin one of those, it was a mistake. And then all of a sudden it's like, oh my gosh, this is actually a Great find. We just owe it to ourselves in, in the science to. To keep up with it. And so what if I'm on national television? It doesn't matter. I. I just think that that's a responsibility to being, you know, a meteorologist and, And. And a servant if you're. If you're true to yourself and true to your craft.

[Emily Gracie]

Okay, so. And, you know, social media, it's interesting too, because I. And, you know, no offense, but you're not. You're not a young guy, you're 60, but you're very good on social media. Like, compared to other people your age, perhaps.

[Jim Cantore]

I don't think so. I. I don't. I mean, I just.

[Emily Gracie]

I think you are.

[Jim Cantore]

My. My ex is my.

[Emily Gracie]

You know what Instagram is like, Instagram is.

[Jim Cantore]

I love. I love posting other people's stuff because it's so good. I mean, some of these, you know, videos, especially in the Dakotas, that is some of the. What we had in June. That was the best June I've ever seen for tornadoes ever in my life. And now, now these guys are chasing them with drones, which makes me happy. They don't have to get as close, number one. And you can get that drone right there. You can look right into the meat of that thing with the drone. I mean, I love it. I love it. So I'm not there. I'm not out in the field. I'm back here operationally as a broadcaster, but I'm right there with you. Oh, my God. I'm right there with you.

[Emily Gracie]

So you brought up the drones and not having to get as close. I'm. I'm curious about the future of, you know, hurricane coverage because this has been debated over the years, too, like, what's necessary and are we doing the right thing by getting in there and showing people stuff. But I have seen this transition in recent years where. And maybe you were never putting yourself in danger. It was just the illusion, but maybe you. You're pulling back a little bit and saying, listen, this is where we are right now, because it's not safe to be out there. And you shouldn't be out there either. Has there been that transition, like, in the past 20 years through.

[Jim Cantore]

Through my life? For me, being out in 115 of these things, and this is all tropical systems, depressions, wannabes, tropical storms and hurricanes. Some in Belize, five or six of them in Hawaii. I mean, I just been everywhere, but I always had in the back of my head, I'm like, look. And I had a big discussion with Craig Fugate about this, you know. You know, Craig was. That. Was. Was the former FEMA administrator and also the state emergency manager in Florida. He's like, jim, why do you have to stand out there? He hated me for that. I'm like, craig, listen. All right, listen, if you're going to tell me that I have to tell these people to leave, at least I could do, stand out there and show them why I asked them to leave. I said, let me worry about the location. Let me make sure I'm not in the storm surge. Let me make sure that, you know, I'm wearing body armor under my jacket and then wearing a helmet. Let me worry about that. But I. I've always thought, listen, I'm asking these guys to leave. I want to show them why I asked them to leave. And he kind of. We kind of came to it to. To a. A happy ground on that.

[Emily Gracie]

And, I mean, every year, people may or may not watch the other channel the rest of the year, but if something's happening, like, everyone has their TV turned on, and it's kind of. You have this reputation now of, like, you show up in a town and everyone's like, that's like, the number one thing I hear from people is. Is that. And so, like, that's a. That's a big weight to bear, though.

[Jim Cantore]

It's nice to be loved. I do love having the ball when the game's on the line. I won't lie. That's still a love of mine. I can still do it. I think. It's not as easy, and it's certainly a little rougher on you in the end of the day, but, you know, I. I don't go out in everything anymore. It used to be everything from depression to storm. Now it's really the big stuff.

[Emily Gracie]

So the reputation is even more so there.

[Jim Cantore]

Yeah, well, one of the things, too, is we're gonna tell everybody how we're being safe. Okay, so. So it's interesting how much your. Your bosses now follow social media. Why are you? Because, okay, great example. Last year, Milton, Punta Gorda, actually, Port Charlotte, I was standing in this parking garage, and it looked like I was in the middle of the water up to my. Up to my waist, but I wasn't. I was in a parking garage protected from the wind and debris. I was on an incline. So, you know, every time the water came in, I would just step back. And, I mean, maybe my feet were in the water in my boots, but. But my boss would say, jim, you got to show everybody that you got to stop and show everybody that, that you're not standing in the middle of the water because it looks like you're in the middle of the ocean right now. Look, at the end of the day, there's still a competition. Everybody wants to be in the best shot. Right?

[Emily Gracie]

Yeah.

[Jim Cantore]

Okay, so there's, there's that, but you have to figure that out now with, with much more safety in mind and being able to tell the viewers how you're being safe. And does it take a little bit of the machismo part about it out of it? Maybe a little bit. But you know what, like you said, I, I got some big numbers in front of my, my age now, so that's okay. That's okay. I've realized that I'm not invincible anymore. So that's a, that's a big deal.

[Emily Gracie]

I've heard, I've heard stories over and over again about you over the years. When anybody hears your name, they kind of say the same thing, which is like, oh, this hurricane was coming. And then like Jim showed up in town and I was like, oh, I gotta leave, so. And so a friend of mine, actually I had him do a voice memo because he was saying this story as well. Can I play this for you real quick?

[Jim Cantore]

Okay.

[C]

Hi, my name is Steve Brzezinski. In September 2008, I live in a little area called Bayou Vista, Texas, which is right outside of Galveston. When Hurricane Ike hit, we were up in the air as to whether we were going to leave or not. And my 70 some odd year old neighbor across the street was adamant that he was not leaving, leaving. So the next morning I woke up and I turned on the Weather Channel and lo and behold, Jim Cantore is standing in front of the Galveston Convention center on the seawall. And I looked at my wife and I was like, pack the car, we're out of here. Went to my neighbor across the street, just walked into his house, turned on his tv, pointed at Jim Cantore and said, pat, they don't send the man close to the hurricane. They send him into the hurricane. It's time for us to go. And magically he packed a bag and we were all out of there. So always wanted to meet the guy because, not saying he saved my life, but his impact on me and my perspective on hurricanes changed dramatically over the years as I watched him. So appreciate you, Jim, and all you do.

[Jim Cantore]

Thanks, man. Tell, make sure you tell Steve I said thank you. You don't want mission accomplished. Two words, mission accomplished. You know, I don't want to scare everybody. That's not what I'm doing. I mean, I'm doing my job. But if you're asked to leave, and if that's the decisive factor, then so be it. Be. Be mad at me. I don't get. And if it doesn't work out, be mad at me again, too, because I'd much rather be wrong on that end than be wrong by not telling you to leave and get you in a bad situation. All right, that. That's the worst for any of us. We know that is to not have a warning for something and not be able to alert people. So that's a great story. I appreciate you sharing that with me.

[Emily Gracie]

You hinted at this earlier viral moments that you think you're famous for, but I think they're just kind of blips in your history. One of them took place here in Charleston, South Carolina, at the College of Charleston. And this one I love because, like, you didn't flinch, and this college student ran up at you, and you just, like, without even thinking or stopping your live shot or stopping talking, you turn and just, like, meet him and pushed him away. Is there any background information on that story at all? Because what we saw was pretty badass, and we. Did it play out the way that it appeared to?

[Jim Cantore]

Well, it didn't play out the way I wanted it to. I mean, and I'll tell you why in a second. But I mean, I mean, I, I before the shot, you know, there's people around, they're out to watch and stuff like that. And he was kind of yakking off in the side. So, you know, your radar is always up. You're always kind of like, okay, somebody going to do something weird. So my radar was up, and I was lucky. He start. If you remember the shot, he started screaming as he was coming toward me. So I thought to my sec, to myself, do the shot, hit the target, drop the target, help the target up, and then finish your live shot as he's gasping for air. So the target is, you know, man parts. But I would say I was just north of those parts, which is why he ran off. Because if you've ever hit anyone in the target, they're not going anywhere.

[Emily Gracie]

I'll take your word on it.

[Jim Cantore]

So I missed the target, and I just kept going. But my whole, my whole dream was target, drop target, say a couple of words and then help the guy up and then finish your live shot and throw back the studio. That would have been awesome. So the next morning, he's on all the local stations, and I'm like, okay, you just gave this kid exactly what he was asking for. You gave him the 15 minutes of fame that he wanted. So I'm like, now you have encouraged other people, by the way, to put anchors that are in the field in harm's way. So I don't think people realize when they do that. I don't. I wish it would just have gone away personally, but no, they gave the kid his 15. Oh, I would do it again. If Cantore comes back, I'm gonna get him again. I'm like, whatever, that's fine.

[Emily Gracie]

Well, I don't mean to give him undue attention, but I, I thought you might find this funny that he's now, he's a grownup now and he's a renowned chef in Charleston.

[Jim Cantore]

Oh my God. So you found him? You found this guy?

[Emily Gracie]

Yes, I found him. He's very googleable. His name is Colin Marcelli and he's the chef at Renzo, which is a restaurant here in Charleston. And just so you know, he's gonna be, he's gonna be a featured chef at the 2026 Charleston Wine and Food Festival.

[Jim Cantore]

Oh my God. So we have to go see him. We have to do the reunion.

[Emily Gracie]

So.

[Jim Cantore]

Yeah, so I'll, you have to set this up.

[Emily Gracie]

I'll see you there. And we're gonna go to this kid's booth.

[Jim Cantore]

No. Okay, listen, if you don't think I made stupid mistakes as a kid, if you don't think I made stupid mistakes as a kid, you're crazy.

[Emily Gracie]

But, but it isn't that funny though.

[Jim Cantore]

Yeah, it would be great to kind of go do the reunion.

[Emily Gracie]

Okay. Okay. So also, you know, people don't realize what a, like a big food fan you are. You mentioned euphoria, but you know, when you're hitting all these hurricane stops on the road, what have you had food wise, in some of these small communities that you've loved?

[Jim Cantore]

Yeah. So, okay, so here, here's what I have that nobody else has on the road. It's called a Petrack. Do you know what a Petak is? Okay, a petak is my producer, Steve Petak. I mean, we're like brothers out there, okay? And Steve and I have done this for 10 years now and we kind of lift each other up. I mean, it's hard on the road. I'm not going to lie. There's a lot of long hours. You're schlepping from here to there and you know, they want you to come back in the morning, come back in the evening, come back. And I mean, it's It's. It's not easy anyway. But Steve is like, look it, if we're going to be out here suffering, we're going to eat really well. So I'm like, peter, your assignment is to find us great places to eat. You know what I like? And I think he's like 70 and 1 or 70 and 2 in terms of great places to eat.

[Emily Gracie]

Nice.

[Jim Cantore]

The other thing, too is he's like, okay, wait a minute. Do I want to go to Hillhead or would I rather go to Charleston to cover the storm? I mean, if I have my choice, it's like, I'm going to Charleston.

[Emily Gracie]

Are you saying food determines where you're headed for hurricanes?

[Jim Cantore]

I mean, sometimes when it's that close, would I rather go to New Orleans or would I rather go to Mobile Element? I think I'm going to go to New Orleans. I mean, sometimes, you know, if that does come into play, I just. I have a pedarak. I have a pedarak.

[Emily Gracie]

So where's the best food in the country?

[Jim Cantore]

Oh, my God. I mean, it's. I mean, New Orleans is New Orleans. Charleston is Charleston. I love the food scene in Greenville. You know, it's. It's kind of an extension of Charleston into the upstate, which is just awesome. I go to this festival called Euphoria every year, and, I mean, I sample some of the greatest food and the way they pair it with the wine, and now you pair stuff with bourbon and vodka and all these fancy. I mean, I just love food, you know, Wilson. Wilson's another one. So. Alex Wilson, she's another one. She's always there. It's like, hey, Alex, what are we eating this year? Yeah, it's. It's. We're. We're total foodies. We love great food.

[Emily Gracie]

I saw you at the Charleston Wine and Food Festival last year, and I don't remember eating any food.

[Jim Cantore]

As a matter of fact, you did. I mean, now, as to how much you remember of that.

[Emily Gracie]

Oh, cut this part out, too. Before I let you go, I want you to address these articles and rumors that recently came out about retirement and health. Because I saw this and my first reaction was like, oh, no, what's going on with Jim? And then I. I called you and you were like, no, this is not a thing. So can you. Can you tell everybody, like, as much as you're willing to, about kind of where you are now and what the future holds for you?

[Jim Cantore]

Yes, I'm not retiring. You know, I. I get checkups just like everybody else, and everything's Working fine. The thing I didn't like about those articles is, is there was some attack. I mean, like I said, like Tammy was faking her Parkinson's. I'm, I mean that. It's just the guy doubled down. He. He got so much traction on the first one that he just went out and started doing a slew of another five or ten of them. I don't even know what. But my company stood behind me. They help get them taken down and rightly so. So, no, there's no. Nothing. I'm still, I still have till the end of 2026 on my current contract. Okay. Do I stay at the Weather Channel after that? I don't, I don't know. We'll see. Right. And, and, and I'd like to work a few more years at the very least going out and covering some of the storms. I don't know if I want to get up at 3 o' clock in the morning after that because I'm going to be honest with you, I've been doing this for a long time and it's hard. It's hard on the, it wears the body down. And your whole day is just built around that morning shift.

[Emily Gracie]

I, I don't know how you. So like I say I retired at 40 because like, I couldn't do it beyond that. Like I, I could not there reached a point where I could not do the morning hours anymore. So I don't know how you're still.

[Jim Cantore]

Doing it, but it's, it's discipline. It's. Look at Roker. How old is Roker? He does it.

[Emily Gracie]

Yeah.

[Jim Cantore]

You know, and then he goes and works at his production company after that. It's like, al, I got to go to bed. I mean, I got to go home, take a nap. I need the beauty sleep. But you know, you do. They do the Energizer Bunny. It's absolutely unbelievable. Some people can handle it, but a lot of people I know, once you get into that 30, 40 year range of working mornings, you're done.

[Emily Gracie]

Yeah. Well, you're not slowing down anytime soon, that's for sure. Jim, thank you so much for your time today. Like, this was amazing and I wish we were doing this in person, but still. Always good to see you, my forever Conference. Conference buddy. I appreciate you all the time for.

[Jim Cantore]

Oh my God, everything, like, likewise. There's more wine to drink and there's more meteorology to learn and broadcast and, and we're going to do it together. We're going to do it together.

[Emily Gracie]

You're the best, Jim. Off the Radar is a production of the National Weather Desk. Make sure you're following the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes publish every Tuesday. Thank you to Jim can for Tori for the fun and candid conversation today. Also, thank you to the Weather Channel for giving me the go ahead to interview Jim. Thanks to the National Weather Desk and Sinclair Broadcast Group for their ongoing support of the podcast. And as always, to my associate producer, Brian Petrus. I'm meteorologist Emily Gracie. Make it a great day.