Minnesota Meteorologist Defends Contacting Wife During Live Storm Coverage

ROCHESTER, MN — KTTC Rochester, Minnesota Chief Meteorologist Nick Jansen is defending himself after a viewer accused him of being "unprofessional" during severe weather coverage late last month.

In a Facebook post, Jansen said he received an email criticizing him for briefly contacting his wife during TV coverage to make sure she and their baby were safe while he was on air.

The viewer wrote: "That he has to call his wife to make sure she takes the baby to safety? Maybe some people think it’s noble or cute. I don’t."

Jansen posted a video of the moment, during which he told viewers: "Sorry, I just had to text my wife" because their "baby was sleeping the whole night. So that's going to be over with at this point in time."

Jansen told his Facebook following that "I take my job and your safety very seriously," but that "I’m also a husband and a father. In the middle of severe weather, I decided to take a brief moment to make sure my wife and child were safely in the basement. That’s not me being unprofessional, it’s me being human. I am a husband and a father FIRST."

The post drew hundreds of supportive comments from viewers praising Jansen for putting family first.

Days later, Jansen shared a follow-up post thanking people for the outpouring of encouragement.

"I never imagined that post would get the kind of response it did, not in a million years," he wrote.

"Every like, comment, share, and message has meant the world to me. Your kindness and encouragement have been a powerful reminder of why I do what I do. And oh, the little one says hello!"