Federal Alliance for Safe Homes Names Matthew Cappucci 2023 National Weatherperson of the Year

The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Inc. (FLASH) has recognised MyRadar, Capital Weather Gang, and FOX5 DC meteorologist Matthew Cappucci as National Weatherperson of the Year for 2023.

Matthew is a meteorologist and storm chaser for MyRadar, a meteorologist on-air for FOX5DC, and a daily contributor to The Washington Post. Moreover, he appears frequently on NPR, BBC News, DW News, and SkyNews Arabia. 2019 marks the graduation of Matthew from Harvard with a degree in atmospheric sciences.

The award jury praised Matthew’s superior forecasting and creative and inventive use of social media to teach others about catastrophe safety. His devoted admirers also commended his abilities to clearly and concisely explain the weather to the public in order to help them grasp what is happening while simultaneously gaining new knowledge.

Leslie Chapman-Henderson, president and CEO of FLASH, stated, “It is with great pride that we award Matthew for his commitment to bringing a new generation into the disaster safety and resilience movement through his unique and multi-platform approach to weather awareness and education.” “He is imaginative, considerate, and dedicated to educating his viewers, followers, and pupils about the weather in order to keep them safe. Matthew and the other 2023 National Weatherperson of the Year contenders who serve the public with distinction every day, especially during hurricane season, deserve our congratulations.”

“Matthew is a one-of-a-kind meteorologist,” MyRadar’s Director of Video and Social Media Content Mike Linden stated. “His zeal for assisting people rivals probably only his affection for the weather (and maybe waffles). His zeal for expressing the complexities of Mother Nature to people of all walks of life, whether on the ground or in the air, is simply unparalleled in our industry.”

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Below is a sampling of voter comments:

• Matthew is a huge advocate for preparedness in the DC area and beyond through his work. He educates the audience on the science and what to look out for when it comes to various types of severe weather.
• Matthew Cappucci communicates all of his weather knowledge in a very clear and understandable way, contributing to citizens’ safety and resilience.
• Matthew’s weather forecasts are fun, informative, and ever-present on social media. He represents a new generation of science communication through an indomitable passion for weather that shines through each of his many projects. His emphasis on education is vital to disaster safety.

Amy Freeze, FOX Weather; Paul Goodloe, The Weather Channel; John Patrick, ABC7 – Fort Myers; and Erik Salna, Extreme Events Institute – FIU were the 2023 finalists.

The nominators praised the candidates’ exemplary leadership, citing their exceptional local forecasting, education, real-time updates, and life-saving information during extreme weather events. All received high marks for their contributions to catastrophe safety and resilience from the award voters.

Past National Weatherperson of the Year award winners include:

• 2014 – Jim Cantore, On-Camera Meteorologist, and Co-Host, “AMHQ” – The Weather Channel
• 2015 – Max Mayfield, former National Hurricane Center Director
• 2016 – Alex Garcia, Chief Meteorologist – KABB-TV, San Antonio, TX
• 2017 – Dr. Richard Knabb, Hurricane Expert & Tropical Program Manager – The Weather Channel
• 2018 – Ada Monzón, Chief Meteorologist, AMS Fellow – CBM-WIPR-TV, Puerto Rico
• 2019 – James Spann, Chief Meteorologist – ABC 33/40, Birmingham, AL
• 2020 – Joe Snedeker, Morning Meteorologist – WNEP Newswatch 16, Scranton, PA
• 2021 – Ginger Zee, Chief Meteorologist – ABC News
• 2022 – Ken Graham, Director – National Weather Service

The National Weatherperson of the Year award coincides with the observance of National Weatherperson’s Day on February 5, which is also the birthdate of John Jeffries, the pioneering weather observer. In the 1780s, Jeffries laid the groundwork for many parts of modern meteorology.

The selection of finalists and winners is based on qualitative analysis and public voting.