WAAY Chief Meteorologist Jeff Castle orders evacuation of studio, stays on air as tornado passes by

No injures were reported in the storm as it passed through Huntsville and over Monte Sano.

[@w.ryanbutler8097]

This is what leadership looks like. He's concerned with the people in his immediate reach, and continues to deliver information to the community outside the station, only thinking about his own personal safety last...and never missing a beat, as if he rehearsed this reaction that very morning. Amazing job

[@Dr..Spyder]

Well Ryan sounds like you've been listening to some Leadership With Mike. 😂 but honestly the weather guy was not expressing Leadership skills he like most would lead themselves into shelter if idk a freaking tornado was going to hit the Weather Radar building. Anyways yes we do better Leadership in the world.

[@FerretKibble]

Any good boss has already practiced what to do in such a situation.

[@DanDrolett]

I would call it leadership. Leadership is, after all, doing the right thing and setting the example. We often tend to think of leadership in terms of extraordinary when in fact it can (and should) be ordinary.

[@kelleywyskiel3478]

He was so professional and calm through this. So impressive

[@zeekot4064]

Were you expecting him to scream for no reason ?

[@kelleywyskiel3478]

@@zeekot4064 no but it was a panic situation possibility that other meteorologists may have less calm about. Don’t be an ass

[@MollyisMean]

Professional. Good reporting. Glad to see local news meteorologist stepping it up.

[@JK-Handyman]

What a great example to set. No matter how important your job is, safety comes first.

[@aaronmueller1560]

“Coverage You Can Count On” is so accurate, they will continue to deliver crucial weather information and warnings through a tornado. He stayed calm, repeating information several times so people knew clearly what was happening where and what to do about it without risking panic, all the while making the call to ensure the safety of his team at the broadcasting station. Professionalism at its finest.

[@grayb7420]

Only thing worse than a tornado is a night tornado. Terrifying

[@loristephens3016]

He gets about as nervous as a bag of Portland concrete. Very professional. Good job sir!

[@MrChristopherHaas]

man i was watching this live on Ryan Hall y’all. couldnt find any evidence to back up what i saw until here

[@garylefevers]

Ryan Hall is my meteorologist. Has saved many lives. Plus the non profit that directly goes to disaster survivors, he does Kentucky proud.

[@garylefevers]

Meant to say he was my favorite meteorologist. Sorry. No edit button.

[@bennwardhaugh3013]

@@garylefevers Honestly your first statement sounds better!

[@geauxtigers3707]

Was our CM here in north Louisiana for years. Jeff is good as it gets. You are lucky to have him.

[@threeminuteshate]

It’s interesting to me for a top notch “news anchor” the most coveted jobs would be in big markets like New York or LA or Chicago. For top tier television meteorologists, it’s Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, etc.

[@Dee-nonamnamrson8718]

Okc meteorologists are considered heros

[@vickilindberg6336]

Set a good example. A couple of years ago a tornado went right over the top of the National Storm Prediction Center in OK. All they could do was sound a second alarm & dive under their desks.

[@slimj091]

There's no way I would have been this calm.

[@tobysirus4996]

Good call Jeff ! Thanks for your professionalism during an emergency.

[@Oi_there_mate]

We miss seeing you on KSLA. They’re lucky to have you in Alabama.

[@angelaf5040]

Wow! If he gets shook ya sure can't see or hear it! What an absolutely professional job!! Mr. Castle, I'm impressed!

[@HurrikanEagle]

You can briefly see the switch. When he goes from reporting on the green screen to verifying on the laptop. Stayed professional & calnm the entire time, but it was great seeing that little switch flip, like he saw something, and verified before taking charge in the studio as well.

[@grammaD1620]

His voice was so calming. Great job!

[@Embers.of.Esoterika]

Jeff Castle was the chief meteorologist in Shreveport at Channel 12, he is phenomenal in these situations. Y'all are lucky he landed in your area. 💗

[@Any-Okra]

Dude kept his cool and took care of his coworkers. I would've been like "RUUUUUUNNN" Which is why I'm not a weatherman 😂😂😂 I'd be having a breakdown on the air

[@FerretKibble]

And that's why emergency drills are important - you need to have practiced doing what you'll need to do *before* the emergency.

[@Livinthedronelife]

We miss Jeff Castle here in Louisiana 😢

[@MrChristopherHaas]

Huntsville Alabama 10:30 pm cst 5/8/2024

[@524FrmGrl]

What a Professional, keeping his calm.

[@KenTibbetts]

thats sooo wierd. i literally was watching a live chaser earlier and was remembering the twc coverage during joplin and thought to myself. i wonder if any of these forecasters have to shelter while forecasting a twister hitting them. well. that got answered didnt it…. hope u r all ok.

[@OGFreestylezSouthTexasSoljaz]

Dang right on the set as they was reporting

[@tadswar]

Nerves of steel!

[@lakesuperiorgirl17]

What a professional

[@ASMRSimpli]

Be safe Jeff!!

[@beberost2054]

🙏🏽🙏🏽 praying for everybody safety

[@alex0589]

i wanted the camera to pan to him and the crew, hiding under the tiniest school desks right off-screen. This kind of info can save lives in real time. Nicely done.

[@ILoveOldTWC]

This is scary.

[@chriswhiteman9231]

Be safe guys!!

[@hearmeout9138]

Man, Huntsville is cursed. My cousin’s wife’s family barely survived the 1989 tornado and it seems like Tanner, Harvest, Hazel Green, or the rest of north Huntsville is always getting hit.

[@colin-nekritz]

It gets a lot or close to it. I lived in the very hilly area just south of Birmingham where at least normally tornados have a harder time being severe but from the city proper all the way north to the Tennessee boarder if you look at historic data it’s a wide area of a lot of tornados including Huntsville.

[@jme36053]

Those of us who’ve been here awhile know where the local tornado alleys are. Right where the rental properties are being built!

[@hearmeout9138]

@JPDrums1990 Well, Huntsville may not get that much severe weather often but when it does, Mother Nature has “Saved Up”. I grew up just SW of Cullman, so I know about being cursed.

[@fishingwithhouse]

Great coverage ! Thank you for what you do !

[@ginnychichester2171]

What state ? I am watching in California. Also which way is the storm traveling?

[@jdwrink]

Alabama

[@masonmacomber]

This was in northern Alabama going East

[@brian402]

Thumbs up👍. Am watching this video from New Zealand.

[@phillyboylive159]

I think this is Alabama

[@SteveWilliams-zp1vg]

😂😂😂😂 God hates Alabama

[@kerrbear1980]

most meteorologist's are unsung heroes

[@nancykathryntieger8893]

I’m so curious about what their “taking shelter” looks like.

[@harrybaulz666]

New normal

[@thisravenhasflown010]

Bravo, great job keeping your viewers up to date and safe! Kudos!

[@lauraray-dennis1156]

Where is this?

[@MrChristopherHaas]

Huntsville Alabama 10:30 pm cst 5/8/2024

[@AdamGbl95]

All you would've had to do is grab a camera and head outside. Cameraman never dies right? 🤷

[@jamesanderson5268]

WOW!

[@dougcallaghan6075]

No WAAY!

[@tysonrowangta]

It's like Joplin all over again 😮

[@DAVEPROVOLONE]

Evan fryberger was there

[@missg3283]

Why don’t the news and weather crews in tornado hotspots just have their studios permanently set up inside a safe shelter/bunker 🤷‍♀️

[@The_Fat_Controller.]

There is no such thing as a tornado hotspot. A given address in Tornado Alley may go decades or even centuries without a strong tornado passing directly over it. Believe it or not, there are homes and buildings and even massive trees in the heart of Tornado Alley that are still standing because they have never taken a direct hit by even a weak tornado.

[@wareagle_4629]

Monte sano Mountain where they are located definitely is not a hotspot

[@vindictivetiger]

Is that in his contract?

[@LorraineRarich]

what state

[@JoshuaGalka]

Amazing!

[@OrganikJewelz]

😮

[@GoAskAlice23]

What state?

[@davidgendron6955]

Huntsville, Alabama.

[@robertnewberry7799]

No wayyyyy.

[@vintagelady1]

Golly, wish I knew what state this was in---it IS the U.S., right? Whatever happened to who what when where how reporting---not criticizing the team on the video but whoever posted it.

[@AceHuman]

The towns of Hunstville and Moontown are in Alabama

[@aubieal0878]

You need to remove the stations banner as it blocks view of the map at the top.

[@SteveWilliams-zp1vg]

It's must be sweep's week

[@ddduva4440]

and…..the end result….did anything happen besides the power flickering?

[@lolmetswhathappeneduhhh2029]

Ah you're one of those tough guy folks. 🖕 you

[@The_Defiant_One]

Drama queen...🙄

[@bbmcrae]

Let's leave your dad out of it.

[@lolmetswhathappeneduhhh2029]

Shut up b!tch! That could have dropped a tornado at any given time. It had already done so previously southwest of Athens. And then it produced the Henagar EF3. Another internet badass.

[@jackiekelso7752]

Who gave him the power to ORDER the evacuation????

[@blake7871]

I guess WAAY Channel 31.

[@InformalGreeting]

Logical people listen to experts. His knowledge, training, and experience gave him the POWER. His co-workers weren't dumb enough to decide to risk their life to flex that they won't be told what to do.

[@noobguy57]

Logical people and experts, unlike you. Imagine watching this video and your first concern is this guy's authority to get his coworkers to safety.

[@TheMetaSD]

Really? That’s your concern? If a meteorologist tells me to seek shelter, I am seeking shelter!

[@JJGeneral1]

The same authority as the person who’s trying to disarm a bomb and tells you to RUN…

[@LawrenceDerekAwassis]

Run!!!