Doug Hill, Former WJLA And WUSA Meteorologist, Dies At 71

WASHINGTON, DC — Longtime TV meteorologist Doug Hill, who worked for 33 years in D.C., died Monday, according to ABC7.

Hill arrived in Washington in 1984, worked with CBS affiliate WUSA for 16 years, and then joined ABC7 (WJLA) and remained there until he retired in 2017.

“His calm voice and easy demeanor brought comfort during the strongest storms, and a laugh or two on the brighter days,” ABC7 wrote in a tribute.

Hill died in North Carolina, where he had moved with his wife Mary-Ann after his retirement from ABC7. He was 71.

Sue Palka, who started forecasting the weather at WTTG in 1985, remembered Hill in a Twitter post.

"I’m devastated to learn of the passing of my long-time friend Doug Hill. Sending my deepest condolences to his family in North Carolina where he retired and to his many friends & colleagues here in DC," Palka said.

When Hill and Palka came to D.C. in the mid-1980s, WRC-TV's Bob Ryan was the king of local TV weather forecasters. Both Hill and Palka quickly became popular with their own fun and easygoing personalities.

From 2010 to 2013, Hill teamed with Ryan, who had left WRC after 30 years at the station.

“Doug was a tremendous broadcaster and communicator,” Ryan said in a statement to the Washington Post. “Doug was passionate about getting people prepared for even average weather, but especially when any weather was dangerous, he was at the top of his game. And he was also passionate and loving and a great family man ... and also a man of great faith.”

Hill grew up in Baltimore and attended Towson University. After serving in the Air Force, Hill became a patrol and public information officer in the Prince George’s County Police Department for six years. His first TV weather forecasting job was at WWBT-TV in Richmond, followed by four years in Detroit.

Hill died on Monday after a short illness, according to WTOP.

"Our deepest sympathy to his wife, Mary Ann, sons and daughter Brian, Andrew, Peter and Maggie," ABC7 wrote in its remembrance of Hill.