Matt Laubhan, former chief meteorologist at local ABC affiliate WTVA in northeast Mississippi, became a social media phenom in March 2023 after he prayed on-air for those in the path of a dangerous EF-3 tornado in Amory, Mississippi, a town of about 6,000 residents.
Laubhan paused his live broadcast, looked down, and quietly prayed: “Dear Jesus, please help them. Amen.” Laubhan then continued his report, pausing briefly to ask staff to check on a colleague’s family in the area.
WTVA‘s parent company, Allen Media Group, announced a restructuring move last May that impacted about 2,500 employees. In October, AMG laid off several WTVA employees.
Laubhan, along with his weather team, is set to be replaced by a regional weather service operated by The Weather Channel, AMG‘s parent company. The restructuring announced by AMG, which affects over 100 meteorologists across 20 stations nationwide, will soon replace local weather forecasting with pre-recorded segments from The Weather Channel.
Laubhan has yet to publicly comment on his layoff but is remembered by many as a beacon of hope and guidance during some of the region’s most trying weather events.
Laubhan‘s supporters are voicing their outrage at the decision. One viewer called Laubhan an invaluable local presence whose connection to the region went beyond weather reporting.