Bryan Norcross
Encyclopedia
Bryan Norcross is a former television meteorologist and hurricane specialist for WFOR-TV
(the CBS
owned-and-operated television station in Miami, Florida
) and the chief hurricane analyst for CBS News
in New York
. He is now a hurricane specialist for The Weather Channel
.
Norcross had been a regular fixture on CBS
's national newscasts over recent years due to the renewed frequency of hurricanes. In June 2008, Norcross opted not to renew his contract with WFOR in order to devote more time to America's Emergency Network, a private company he formed with Max Mayfield
, former director of the National Hurricane Center
. A resident of Miami Beach
, Norcross has lived in Florida
for most of his life.
. In addition Bryan received an Honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from Florida International University
.
Norcross' first broadcasting job was as a disk jockey on WTAI, an AM station in Melbourne, Florida
working there part-time in 1968 and 1969. During college in Tallahassee, Florida he worked on the air at WTAL-AM and WFSU-FM
.
Norcross started in television as an engineer at WFSU-TV in Tallahassee, Florida
while in college, moving to WXIA-TV
(then WQXI-TV) in Atlanta as a maintenance engineer/technical director after graduation in 1972. At that station he was promoted to acting Production Manager in 1974 before being transferred to KUSA-TV (then KBTV) in Denver in 1975 as the evening director of the station's newscasts. In 1976 Norcross was assigned to produce (and for over a year direct as well) the 10:00 pm news which became the market's highest rated news program. In 1977, Norcross was promoted and transferred to WLKY-TV
in Louisville as News Director. His first day on the job a massive snow storm hit the city. He was the only one able to get to the television station and went on the air with the help of two overnight engineers, providing the city the only TV coverage of the storm. In 1979 he returned to Florida State University for a masters program.
Upon receiving a Master's Degree in 1980, Norcross became the first weekend weathercaster on CNN
when it signed on in June of that year. Later that year he moved to KGO-TV
in San Francisco to do the weekend weather and science reports during the week. In 1981 he returned to Atlanta as Executive Producer for Documentaries and Magazines at WTBS, handling many of Ted Turner's pet projects. At the same time he was the weekend meteorologist on WXIA-TV
. In 1983, Norcross moved to Miami as weekend meteorologist for WPLG
the ABC affiliate. In 1984 he moved to the 5:30 news where he created a concept called Neighborhood Weather where the weather was done as part of a live feature every day. In 1990, he moved to WTVJ
, the NBC-owned station, as Chief Meteorologist where he became known for his coverage of Hurricane Andrew
. As Andrew passed just south of Miami
in the early morning hours of Monday, August 24, 1992, Norcross's 23-hour marathon broadcast became many viewers' (and radio listeners') only link to the outside world. His television station was fortunate enough to be the station able to broadcast through the entire hurricane event. During the worst part of the storm, some people actually called into the station to ask for life-saving advice. Throughout the entire ordeal, Norcross remained calm, steady, and knowledgeable. He joined WFOR
as Director of Meteorology in 1996. In 2006, he gave up day-to-day weathercasting responsibilities to concentrate on hurricanes and emergency communications issues.
, and a member of the Governor's Committee to evaluate state response and recommend changes to the state emergency system by Governor Lawton Chiles
.
In appreciation for his work before, during and after Hurricane Andrew, Bryan received the 1993 David Brinkley Award for Excellence in Communication. He was also publicly recognized with designations of Bryan Norcross Days in Miami, Miami Beach, and Ft. Lauderdale, among other cities. In addition, he's the recipient of an Emmy Award from the Suncoast Chapter of the National Association of Arts and Sciences, and lead the team that won DuPont and Peabody awards, the highest awards given in broadcasting.
Bryan was recently named Honorary Chairman of the Board of the South Florida Hurricane Warning museum project in Deerfield Beach. In addition he has recently served on the Board of Directors of the Wolfsonian Museum on Miami Beach, operated by Florida International University.
chapter of the American Meteorological Society
in April 2003 concerning the Emergency Communications System in the United States
, he toured their WeatherWatcher facility, which supplies media training for students within their meteorology program. He ultimately donated his speaker's fee to the WeatherWatcher program. His father attended the university previously in the 1950s.
In July 2006, a companion Website was built, HurricaneAlmanac.com, with Bryan's updates to the book, bonus material, a shopping section for hurricane supplies, and the ability for users to suggest their own updates.
WFOR-TV
WFOR-TV, virtual channel 4.1 , is the CBS owned-and-operated station in Miami, Florida. WFOR shares its TV studio facilities with sister station WBFS-TV in Doral, near Miami International Airport, and its transmitter is located in Miramar.WFOR-TV also previously had two translator stations in the...
(the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
owned-and-operated television station in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
) and the chief hurricane analyst for CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He is now a hurricane specialist for The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel is a US cable and satellite television network since May 2, 1982, that broadcasts weather forecasts and weather-related news, along with entertainment programming related to weather 24 hours a day...
.
Norcross had been a regular fixture on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
's national newscasts over recent years due to the renewed frequency of hurricanes. In June 2008, Norcross opted not to renew his contract with WFOR in order to devote more time to America's Emergency Network, a private company he formed with Max Mayfield
Max Mayfield
Britt Max Mayfield is a meteorologist who served as the director of the National Hurricane Center from 2000 to 2007...
, former director of the National Hurricane Center
National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
. A resident of Miami Beach
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
, Norcross has lived in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
for most of his life.
College background
Norcross has a Bachelor of Science degree in math and physics and a Master of Science degree in Communications and Meteorology from Florida State UniversityFlorida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
. In addition Bryan received an Honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
.
Job experience
Norcross now works for The Weather Channel as a Hurricane Specialist.Norcross' first broadcasting job was as a disk jockey on WTAI, an AM station in Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
working there part-time in 1968 and 1969. During college in Tallahassee, Florida he worked on the air at WTAL-AM and WFSU-FM
WFSU-FM
WFSU is the callsign for public radio stations operated by Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida.WFSU also operates 3 radio stations that serve northern Florida:...
.
Norcross started in television as an engineer at WFSU-TV in Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
while in college, moving to WXIA-TV
WXIA-TV
WXIA-TV, virtual channel 11.1 , is the NBC-affiliated television station in Atlanta, Georgia. Popularly known by its 11 Alive moniker, WXIA is owned by the Gannett Company in a duopoly with MyNetworkTV affiliate WATL...
(then WQXI-TV) in Atlanta as a maintenance engineer/technical director after graduation in 1972. At that station he was promoted to acting Production Manager in 1974 before being transferred to KUSA-TV (then KBTV) in Denver in 1975 as the evening director of the station's newscasts. In 1976 Norcross was assigned to produce (and for over a year direct as well) the 10:00 pm news which became the market's highest rated news program. In 1977, Norcross was promoted and transferred to WLKY-TV
WLKY-TV
WLKY-TV is a television station located in Louisville, Kentucky USA, and serves the Louisville area and southeastern Indiana. The station is owned by the Hearst Corporation, and is an affiliate of the CBS television network. WLKY's transmitter is located north of Louisville in Floyds Knobs,...
in Louisville as News Director. His first day on the job a massive snow storm hit the city. He was the only one able to get to the television station and went on the air with the help of two overnight engineers, providing the city the only TV coverage of the storm. In 1979 he returned to Florida State University for a masters program.
Upon receiving a Master's Degree in 1980, Norcross became the first weekend weathercaster on CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
when it signed on in June of that year. Later that year he moved to KGO-TV
KGO-TV
KGO-TV, channel 7, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, based in San Francisco, California...
in San Francisco to do the weekend weather and science reports during the week. In 1981 he returned to Atlanta as Executive Producer for Documentaries and Magazines at WTBS, handling many of Ted Turner's pet projects. At the same time he was the weekend meteorologist on WXIA-TV
WXIA-TV
WXIA-TV, virtual channel 11.1 , is the NBC-affiliated television station in Atlanta, Georgia. Popularly known by its 11 Alive moniker, WXIA is owned by the Gannett Company in a duopoly with MyNetworkTV affiliate WATL...
. In 1983, Norcross moved to Miami as weekend meteorologist for WPLG
WPLG
WPLG, channel 10, is an ABC network affiliated television station located in Miami, Florida. WPLG is owned and operated by Post-Newsweek Stations, a subsidiary of the Washington Post Company. The station's studios are located in Pembroke Park, and its transmitter is located at the massive broadcast...
the ABC affiliate. In 1984 he moved to the 5:30 news where he created a concept called Neighborhood Weather where the weather was done as part of a live feature every day. In 1990, he moved to WTVJ
WTVJ
WTVJ, virtual channel 6 , is an owned-and-operated television station of the NBC television network, located in Broward County. WTVJ shares its TV studio and office facility with co-owned Telemundo station WSCV in Miramar, Florida, and its transmitter is located near Sun Life Stadium in north...
, the NBC-owned station, as Chief Meteorologist where he became known for his coverage of Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew was the third Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the United States, after the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 and Hurricane Camille in 1969. Andrew was the first named storm and only major hurricane of the otherwise inactive 1992 Atlantic hurricane season...
. As Andrew passed just south of Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
in the early morning hours of Monday, August 24, 1992, Norcross's 23-hour marathon broadcast became many viewers' (and radio listeners') only link to the outside world. His television station was fortunate enough to be the station able to broadcast through the entire hurricane event. During the worst part of the storm, some people actually called into the station to ask for life-saving advice. Throughout the entire ordeal, Norcross remained calm, steady, and knowledgeable. He joined WFOR
WFOR-TV
WFOR-TV, virtual channel 4.1 , is the CBS owned-and-operated station in Miami, Florida. WFOR shares its TV studio facilities with sister station WBFS-TV in Doral, near Miami International Airport, and its transmitter is located in Miramar.WFOR-TV also previously had two translator stations in the...
as Director of Meteorology in 1996. In 2006, he gave up day-to-day weathercasting responsibilities to concentrate on hurricanes and emergency communications issues.
Accolades
Bryan was named Expert Advisor to the Academic Task Force on Hurricane Catastrophe Insurance by Florida State Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner Bill NelsonBill Nelson
Clarence William "Bill" Nelson is the senior United States Senator from the state of Florida and a member of the Democratic Party. He is a former U.S. Representative and former Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner of Florida...
, and a member of the Governor's Committee to evaluate state response and recommend changes to the state emergency system by Governor Lawton Chiles
Lawton Chiles
Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. was an American politician from the US state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives , the Florida State Senate , the United States Senate , and as the 41st Governor of...
.
In appreciation for his work before, during and after Hurricane Andrew, Bryan received the 1993 David Brinkley Award for Excellence in Communication. He was also publicly recognized with designations of Bryan Norcross Days in Miami, Miami Beach, and Ft. Lauderdale, among other cities. In addition, he's the recipient of an Emmy Award from the Suncoast Chapter of the National Association of Arts and Sciences, and lead the team that won DuPont and Peabody awards, the highest awards given in broadcasting.
Bryan was recently named Honorary Chairman of the Board of the South Florida Hurricane Warning museum project in Deerfield Beach. In addition he has recently served on the Board of Directors of the Wolfsonian Museum on Miami Beach, operated by Florida International University.
Charity work/donations
After speaking to the Rutgers UniversityRutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
chapter of the American Meteorological Society
American Meteorological Society
The American Meteorological Society promotes the development and dissemination of information and education on the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences and the advancement of their professional applications. Founded in 1919, the American Meteorological Society has a membership...
in April 2003 concerning the Emergency Communications System in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he toured their WeatherWatcher facility, which supplies media training for students within their meteorology program. He ultimately donated his speaker's fee to the WeatherWatcher program. His father attended the university previously in the 1950s.
Books
Norcross is the author of "Hurricane Almanac 2006 - The Essential Guide to Storms Past, Present, and Future" and the follow-up edition published in 2007 simply named "Hurricane Almanac" with 80 pages of updates and additional material. The book covers hurricane history, science, and includes a large section on hurricane preparedness called "Living Successfully in the Hurricane Zone". In addition, a section called "How I'd Do It Better" is made up of Bryan's comments on and ideas for improving many aspects of the government's system for dealing with the hurricane threat.In July 2006, a companion Website was built, HurricaneAlmanac.com, with Bryan's updates to the book, bonus material, a shopping section for hurricane supplies, and the ability for users to suggest their own updates.
External links
- Bryan Norcross Television Biography
- OneStorm.org Family hurricane preparedness initiative, advised by Max MayfieldMax MayfieldBritt Max Mayfield is a meteorologist who served as the director of the National Hurricane Center from 2000 to 2007...
and Bryan Norcross