“I’m very excited to start this next chapter of my life,” Vrydaghs said. “The Miami Valley is my home, and it means everything to me to keep families safe from severe weather by leading the very best weather team in Southwest Ohio.”
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She is a proven severe weather storm tracker, who alerted the public to dangerous weather during the Vandalia, Cedarville and Beavercreek tornadoes, the 100-year-flood on I-70 in 2014, and the tornado outbreak of 2016. Most recently, in April of this year, she tracked tornadoes live on the air in Greene and Clark counties, and in Troy in May. After the touchdowns, McCall performed site surveys of the damage.
Before joining the Storm Center 7 team in 2012, Meteorologist McCall Vrydaghs spent nearly 24 hours on TV tracking Hurricane Irene as it moved ashore in New York and New Jersey.
Chief Meteorologist Eric Elwell made a personal decision to move to be closer to family in Columbus. Eric will be leaving News Center 7 at the end of the year.
Meteorologist Eric Elwell is moving to WHIO-TV’s noon newscast beginning Nov. 19 as McCall Vrydaghs takes over his role as Chief Meteorologist in the 5-6:30pm and 11pm newscasts.
Elwell has served as Chief Meteorologist of WHIO-TV since late June of 2015 and served the viewers of Miami Valley well in warning them of severe and impactful weather. We wish Eric and his family the best in their next chapter.
“McCall Vrydaghs has been a leader on the Storm Center 7 team for years. Her expertise and experience at tracking Miami Valley storms is exactly what makes Storm Center 7 weather coverage you can count on,” said Cox Media Group Ohio Market Vice President Rob Rohr.
Joining Chief Meteorologist McCall Vrydaghs and Meteorologists Kirstie Zontini, Jesse Maag and Molly Coates, will be Meteorologist Dontae Jones, an Ohio State Buckeye and Ohio native who has been enjoying warmer weather in the Carolinas for the past 5 years. He most recently tracked Hurricane Michael as it came ashore and devastated coastal North Carolina where he’s been working as morning Meteorologist.
Jones is excited to return home to Ohio, its four seasons, and his family. He’ll be joining the Storm Center 7 team in late December.
WHIO-TV Channel 7 continues to invest in the resources that keep the Miami Valley safe from severe weather. WHIO-TV has made it a priority to have a team of expert Meteorologists and to invest in the tools they need. Channel 7 is the only local station with its own local radar, Live Doppler 7 Radar, and most recently, a Storm Tracker 7 mobile weather vehicle, to keep watch over Miami Valley weather 24-7.
“Weather affects how we plan our lives every single day, and it’s critical that we have trained scientists, professional meteorologists, who know Ohio, who know our weather patterns and topography in the Miami Valley,” said News Director Caryn Golden. “Our experts deliver the most accurate forecast, so you can plan your day, and most importantly, keep your family safe.”
McCall Vrydaghs will take on the Storm Center 7 Chief Meteorologist role beginning today at 5 p.m.
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