I wanted to let you all know that I am retiring from weather.”
NEWS10’s Chief Meteorologist Steve Caporizzo announced last week that he will be stepping down from his post at the end of June. “Cap” has been a beloved figure in the 518 since joining the station in December 1989.
Do you need that extra layer? Should you make sure to stay hydrated and put on some sunscreen? Is school closed? Are the road conditions going to be bad when you drive to your girlfriend’s house to ask her to marry you? For the last 30 years, Steve has been there to help us prepare for life’s big moments with a forecast, a sick map, and a smile. After someone is on your living room TV for three decades straight, they feel like a family member. He might even feel more like a part of your family than Uncle Bob, whom you haven’t spoken to in a while.
Some towns have a local weatherperson, and some towns have a Chief Meteorologist. If anyone deserves the title of Chief, it’s Steve Caporizzo. He has always prided himself on being the best and the most accurate. The WeatheRate Company is an organization that evaluates the weather forecast in the Capitol Region every day, and for the last 7 years, WTEN has been rated number 1.
Yes, he has done exemplary work in the weather space, but he might be more well-known for his philanthropy. In 1990, he started his nightly “Pet Connection” segment, where he spotlights a pet who needs a home on the 5 o’clock news. Since its inception, he has directly found homes for over 28,000 pets. What an absolute king. You can tell he is as passionate about animals as he is about the Doppler radar. When he comes on the broadcast, he usually sits with the pet on his lap as he warmly tells you the backstory of that night’s special pet. It could be a blind, three-legged dog named Sebastian, and he would make you want to run down to the station and bring that guy home. He works directly with 6 local rescue groups and 16 shelters and has raised over $1,000,000 for homeless animals. Steve has also mentioned in interviews that he has had over 30 pets in his life. Legend.
With more and more people cutting the cable cord, I fear that today’s younger generation will grow up without a local weatherman in their lives. That is very sad to me. That’s like kids in Gotham City growing up without Batman. Yeah, you can look up the forecast on your phone, but it’s so much more than that. It’s about the personal touch. It’s about the jokes and the calm demeanor when a tornado is heading straight for you. I don’t know what a cold front is. I need someone to speak to me like I’m 5. I need to be able to make small talk about the weather with co-workers I don’t like. Can an app do that? I think not. I am glad to have grown up in the era of Bob Kavachich and Steve Caporizzo (both great names, by the way).
Although he will be stepping away from the weather desk after June, we are pleased to confirm that he will still be dedicating his time to helping animals in need find loving homes. Thanks for everything, Steve. We will miss you.
