Minnesota Meteorologist Faces Criticism for Texting Wife During Severe Weather Broadcast

After he was caught texting his wife during a live broadcast of severe weather in the Rochester region, a Minnesota meteorologist has come under fire from some viewers.

Three hours into his coverage of strong storms on July 28, Nick Jansen, the lead meteorologist for KTTC News, took out his phone to check on his wife and their six-month-old child.

Jansen was waiting for news director Zach Fuller to complete a power outage update in the studio when the moment, which has since gone viral, happened in front of the radar screen.

He appeared to be unaware that he was still live on TV as cameras captured him staring down at his phone.

With haste, he sent his message and went back to the broadcast.

When the camera switched back to Jansen, he apologized, saying, “I just had to text my wife.”

“That will be resolved at this time because the baby slept well tonight.”

After that, he kept the public informed, predicting that winds in the area may reach 40 to 70 miles per hour.

The brief disruption was not viewed as innocuous by all viewers.

According to Jansen, he was accused of being unprofessional in an email he received. The sender allegedly stated, “That he has to phone his wife to make sure she takes the kid to safety? Perhaps some find it admirable or adorable. I don’t.

On Facebook, Jansen responded by defending his behavior and said that he used a brief off-camera opportunity to make sure his family was secure.

“I take your safety and my work extremely seriously. However, I’m also a father and a spouse,” he stated.

I made the quick decision to check on my wife and child in the basement during a period of extreme weather.

That’s just me being human, not that I’m not being professional.

First and foremost, I am a father and a husband.

Let’s all make an effort to treat one another with a little more respect and understanding throughout our lives.

Jansen defended his choice in an interview with TODAY, claiming he was only following his own counsel.

Many spectators were probably texting their relatives.

“If you know someone in such-and-such a town, make sure to let them know this is coming,” is what we constantly say on radio.

He went on to say that he didn’t think it was fair to expect him to not pause for a moment to make sure his loved ones were safe.

Executives from KTTC openly backed Jansen, complimenting him on his efforts throughout the disaster and his care for his family.

Stephanie Hedrick, general manager and vice president of the station, issued a statement supporting his choice.

“The work that Nick and the First Alert weather team did Monday night and the work they continue to do to keep our communities safe are things that the KTTC team is proud of,” she added.

“KTTC is aware that as our reporters, anchors, and meteorologists are providing the news, they are also communicating with their own families, educating and assisting them in staying safe.

In this instance, viewers witnessed it live—Nick being a wonderful father and husband by pausing to ensure their safety.

Many viewers applauded Jansen for putting his family first, while others questioned his professionalism.

They now had “a new level of storm seriousness,” one commenter said, adding that seeing him text his wife “was my signal to take the storm seriously.”

The act was characterized as “chivalry at its best” by another.

Particularly in high-pressure scenarios like severe weather coverage, the incident has spurred a discussion on how to strike a balance between personal and professional obligations during live broadcasts.