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Steve Weagle (US Meteorologist)
Steve Weagle’s age became a talking point when South Florida’s most trusted meteorologist quietly stepped away from the cameras after 27 years of guiding millions of viewers through some of the most dangerous storms in the region’s history. He was 59 when he signed off for the last time at WPTV NewsChannel 5 and FOX 29 News in West Palm Beach, Florida — and for many viewers, it felt like saying goodbye to a member of the family.
Born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Weagle built his career the hard way. He earned two university degrees, worked his way through the Canadian Weather Service and CTV, and then crossed the border in 1998 with a simple goal — to do the job he loved in the place he had dreamed about since childhood. He never left.
Over the next 27 years, he became the calm voice South Floridians turned to during Hurricane Frances, Hurricane Wilma, Hurricane Irma, and countless other storms that tested the region. His 2004 Hurricane Frances coverage — nearly 67 hours straight on air — remains one of the most remarkable performances in local television history.
This article covers everything people want to know about Steve Weagle. His age and background. His education and career timeline. His steve weagle salary and estimated net worth. His wife Karen, his son Tyler, his granddaughter, and the personal reasons that finally convinced him it was time to hang up the microphone. The facts here are verified and drawn from public records and his own on-air statements. No guesswork. Just the full story of a man who spent nearly three decades making sure his neighbors were never caught off guard by a storm.
| Full Name | Steve Weagle |
| Date of Birth | June 13 (birth year not officially confirmed) |
| Place of Birth | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian-American (U.S. citizen since 2014) |
| Profession | Broadcast Meteorologist (Retired) |
| Employer | WPTV NewsChannel 5 / FOX 29 News, West Palm Beach, Florida (Retired) |
| Education | B.Sc. in Math and Physics, University of New Brunswick; B.S. in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia |
| Career Start | Canadian Weather Service; CTV News, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Last Role | Chief Meteorologist — WPTV NewsChannel 5 and FOX 29 News, West Palm Beach, Florida |
| Notable Coverage | Hurricane Frances (67 hours on air), Hurricane Jeanne, Hurricane Wilma, Hurricane Irma, 2003 South Florida Tornado |
| Marital Status | Married to Karen Weagle (33+ years) |
| Children | Tyler Weagle (son); one granddaughter |
| Siblings | Lessa (sister) |
| Awards | Emmy Award; Edward R. Murrow Award; AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) Seal |
| Estimated Net Worth | $2 million – $3 million (estimated; not officially confirmed) |
| Salary | Estimated ~$250,000 annually (not officially confirmed) |
| Years at WPTV | 1998 – 2025 (27 years) |
| Retirement Date | December 12, 2025 |
| Residence | South Florida, USA / Nova Scotia, Canada |
Early Life and Education
Steve Weagle was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada — a coastal city where unpredictable Atlantic weather is simply part of everyday life. Growing up surrounded by storms, fog, and changing skies likely planted the seed for what would become a lifelong career in meteorology. As a child, he was quietly curious, describing himself later as the kid who sat in the back of the class and didn’t talk to anyone for years. But one family road trip to Walt Disney World in the 1970s changed something in him. The moment he saw the palm trees in Florida, he knew that was where he wanted to end up someday.
University Degrees and Academic Path
Weagle took his education seriously. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics from the University of New Brunswick, then went further and completed a second Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. Two degrees. Two disciplines. That combination gave him both the technical foundation and the scientific depth that serious broadcast meteorology demands.
Professional Certification
After establishing himself in the field, Weagle earned the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) Seal from the American Meteorological Society — the highest seal awarded to television meteorologists. It was not a participation award. It was a mark of genuine expertise, and it followed years of real work in the field before he ever became a household name in Florida.
Career Timeline and Major Milestones
Steve Weagle did not walk straight into a television studio. He started the way most serious meteorologists do — in the field. His first professional role was with the Canadian Weather Service, where he tracked weather systems across Canada and North America. It was unglamorous work, but it built the kind of forecasting instinct that no classroom can teach. From there, he moved into broadcast with CTV in Nova Scotia, spending four years as a weather anchor and reporter. He covered brutal Canadian winters, tornadoes cutting through Ottawa, and storm systems that tested both his skills and his composure on camera. By the time he saw a job listing for a weather personality in West Palm Beach, Florida, he had the experience to back up the application.
27 Years at WPTV NewsChannel 5
In 1998, Weagle crossed the border and joined WPTV NewsChannel 5 in West Palm Beach, Florida — first as a weekend weather anchor, eventually rising to Chief Meteorologist. What followed was one of the most respected careers in South Florida broadcast history.
The milestones speak for themselves. In 2003, he covered a powerful tornado that tore through South Florida. Then came 2004 — the year that truly defined him. Hurricane Frances made landfall and Weagle stayed on air for nearly 67 hours straight, talking viewers through every dangerous hour of it. That same month, Hurricane Jeanne followed. A year later, Hurricane Wilma delivered a direct hit to the region. Each storm, Weagle was there — steady, clear, and trusted.
In 2017, Hurricane Irma brought another defining moment. From Friday, September 8 through Monday, September 11, he and his team provided non-stop live coverage as the storm caused billions of dollars in damage across the state. That performance earned him an invitation to the 2018 Governor’s Hurricane Conference, where he spoke about storm coverage, mass evacuations, and the growing role of social media in emergency broadcasting.
Beyond the storms, Weagle spent nearly two decades biking 125 miles every June from Sebastian to Boca Raton for his annual Steve’s Ride for the Red Cross charity event. His 20th ride alone raised $162,000 for the American Red Cross, funding a Next Generation Emergency Response Vehicle. He also became a U.S. citizen in 2014, taking the oath during a break from his beloved ride.
Retirement and Final Broadcast
In November 2025, Weagle announced his retirement after 27 years at WPTV. The news landed hard for South Florida viewers who had grown up watching him. His final broadcast aired on December 12, 2025. Palm Beach County commissioners honored him with an official proclamation before he stepped away. At a community event held in Lantana in his honor, he reflected simply — “There’s a special bond with hurricane coverage because people still come and say, ‘You got me through the storm,’ and that’s a bond that can never be taken away.” Over his career he also earned an Emmy Award and Edward R. Murrow Awards — recognition from the industry that matched the loyalty he had built with viewers.
Salary and Net Worth
Steve Weagle salary is a topic many viewers have searched for over the years, curious about what a long-serving Chief Meteorologist at a major Florida news station actually earns. Based on figures reported across credible biography and media industry sources, Weagle’s annual salary at WPTV is estimated at approximately $250,000. Some sources place the range more broadly between $73,000 and $300,000, reflecting how compensation shifts across different contract periods and levels of seniority. It is important to be clear — neither Weagle nor WPTV has ever officially confirmed a specific salary figure publicly. These numbers are estimates based on industry standards and third-party reporting, not disclosed payroll records.
Across multiple biography sources, Weagle’s estimated net worth sits between $2 million and $3 million. His primary source of wealth was straightforward — nearly three decades of consistent, senior-level employment in broadcast television. There were no reported business ventures, investment scandals, or financial controversies of any kind attached to his name throughout his public career.
Personal Life and Family
Behind every long career in television, there is usually someone absorbing the pressure quietly at home. For Steve Weagle, that person was Karen — his wife of 33 years and, by her own description, the “hurricane widow.”
Their story is genuinely warm. The two met when they were both 23 years old. Steve was working part-time at a photo lab, and Karen would come in regularly to say hello. What started as small talk across a counter turned into a relationship that has lasted over three decades. They were married in a private ceremony in Florida and have built their life together in South Florida ever since.
During hurricane season, Karen often spent long stretches alone while Steve remained on air for days at a time. She never complained publicly about it. Instead, she spoke about understanding how much the community depended on him. “I knew how important your job was, and everyone depended on you. I didn’t want to interfere with that,” she said in an interview around the time of his retirement. That kind of quiet support over 27 years is its own story worth telling.
Son Tyler and Family Life
Steve and Karen have a son named Tyler Weagle. Details about Tyler’s personal life and profession are not publicly available, as the family has always kept that side of things private. What is known is that Steve genuinely valued family time away from the cameras — whether that meant playing baseball, going snowboarding, or taking vacations together. For a man whose professional life was very public, his home life was deliberately protected.
Steve also became a grandfather, and it clearly meant everything to him. His granddaughter — Tyler’s child — was still young at the time of his retirement. In fact, she was one of the most personal reasons he gave for stepping away from television when he did. “Spending more time with family, spending more time in Nova Scotia. Our granddaughter has dance recitals and all this stuff we want to be able to attend,” he said. Simple reasons. Real ones.
Siblings, Parents and Roots
Steve was not an only child. He was raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia alongside his sister Lessa. The two grew up together in Canada before Steve eventually made his way to the United States to pursue his broadcasting career.
His mother has appeared on his social media accounts over the years, and by all appearances they share a close and affectionate relationship. His father’s name and further details about his parents have never been made public — a reflection of Steve’s consistent approach to keeping family matters away from public scrutiny.
At present, Steve and Karen split their time between South Florida, where they built their life together over nearly three decades, and Nova Scotia, the place where it all began. They have owned a home in Nova Scotia for over 20 years and spent their first Christmas there together following his retirement — a small but meaningful detail that says a great deal about where his heart has always been.
FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Steve Weagle
Key questions answered about the retired WPTV Chief Meteorologist and his public life
His exact birth year has never been officially confirmed in any public record or statement. Based on his own on-air comments at the time of retirement, he was 59 when he signed off from WPTV NewsChannel 5 on December 12, 2025, after 27 years as the station's Chief Meteorologist.
Some industry sources place the range more broadly between $73,000 and $300,000 depending on contract terms and seniority level at the time. Neither Weagle nor WPTV has ever officially confirmed a specific salary figure. These numbers are third-party estimates based on industry standards for senior broadcast meteorologists at major market network-affiliated stations.
In his own words at the time of retirement, he said he wanted to attend his granddaughter's dance recitals and spend their first Christmas together at their Nova Scotia home — a home the couple had owned for over 20 years but never spent Christmas in. He announced his retirement in November 2025 and his final broadcast aired on December 12, 2025.
They met when both were 23 years old — Steve was working part-time at a photo lab and Karen would come in regularly. Karen famously described herself as the "hurricane widow" during Steve's marathon storm broadcasts, including his nearly 67-hour continuous coverage of Hurricane Frances in 2004. She has been publicly described as a deeply supportive partner throughout his entire broadcasting career.
This estimate is based on his nearly three decades as Chief Meteorologist at WPTV NewsChannel 5 — one of the top broadcast roles in South Florida television. His primary income source was his broadcasting career. He was also involved in community work including his annual Steve's Ride for the Red Cross charity event. No official net worth figure has been confirmed by Weagle himself.
Before joining WPTV, he worked for the Canadian Weather Service and CTV News in Nova Scotia, Canada. He is now retired. During his time at WPTV he became one of the most recognized and trusted faces in South Florida broadcast history, leading coverage of over a decade of major hurricane events.
After establishing himself professionally, he also earned the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) Seal from the American Meteorological Society — the highest professional certification awarded to television meteorologists in the United States.
The Emmy Award was earned for his exceptional storm coverage over the years. The Edward R. Murrow Award is one of the most prestigious honors in American broadcast journalism. Upon his retirement, he also received an official proclamation from Palm Beach County commissioners — a recognition of his 27 years of public service to the South Florida community through his weather reporting.
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