Award-winning meteorologist is leaving Lexington news station
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Jim Caldwell will leave WKYT Dec. 5 after more than a decade as morning meteorologist.
- He will join Kentucky Educational Development Corporation as PR and marketing director.
- Caldwell brings AP awards, AMS/NWA credentials and broadcast meteorology certification.
WKYT morning meteorologist Jim Caldwell will leave the news station after working more than 10 years in Lexington, he announced this week.
Caldwell will become the public relations and marketing director for the Kentucky Educational Development Corporation, according to the news station. His last day at WKYT is Dec. 5.
“From the mountains of Eastern Kentucky to the heart of the Bluegrass, you’ve welcomed me into your homes, your classrooms, and your lives,” Caldwell said in a Facebook post. “I’ve had the privilege of helping you prepare for everything from sunshine to snowstorms, and through it all, your kindness and trust have meant more than words could ever express.”
When he was 15, Caldwell began recording promos for WRLV-AM/FM in his hometown of Salyersville. He later got the opportunity to do color commentary alongside his high school electricity teacher for the Magoffin County High School Hornets.
Caldwell was offered a job at the station and started out recording the evening weather and commercials. He held many roles at the radio station until he started working as the chief weathercaster for WYMT in 2001.
While with WYMT, Caldwell became a member of the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association, and received his broadcast meteorology certificate from Mississippi State University.
In 2013, Caldwell joined WKYT’s First Alert Weather team. He is a three-time AP Best Weather Anchor award winner.
“When I first walked into WYMT all those years ago, I was a kid from Eastern Kentucky who dreamed of doing weather for the state I love. That dream carried me to WKYT, where I’ve spent countless early mornings, long storm nights, and unforgettable moments in Kentucky’s most iconic newsroom,” Caldwell said on Facebook.
The KEDC is Kentucky’s largest educational cooperative and has more than 80 school districts across the state. The corporation provides many services to its members and is focused on improving the education community.
“Though my time on these airwaves is coming to an end, my passion for weather and my love for Kentucky will never fade,” Caldwell said in the Facebook post. “I look forward to the next chapter and the new ways I’ll continue sharing the new passion with you.”
