Andy Johnson (1957–2026)
Andy Johnson, an AMS Fellow whose pioneering work in broadcast meteorology, professional mentoring, and forensic meteorological consulting spanned nearly five decades, passed away on April 2, 2026.
Born on April 19, 1957, Anthony “Andy” Johnson—an AMS Fellow, Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM), Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM), and AMS Television Sealholder—entered eternal life at his home in South Tampa on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at the age of 68.
Andy was a fifth-generation Tampa native whose passion for meteorology began in childhood. Growing up near sea level, he experienced several hurricanes and kept meticulous daily weather records from age six. By seven, he had already decided he would pursue meteorology and attend Florida State University. That vision came to life when he earned a B.S. in meteorology, cum laude, from Florida State University in 1979, with minors in mathematics and physics. He was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, Chi Epsilon Pi, and Pi Mu Epsilon. His motto, Philosophia Biou Kubernetes (“Love of learning is the guide to life”), reflected a lifelong commitment to scholarship and service.
Andy joined WTVT-TV, Channel 13 Tampa, in August 1979 and served the Tampa Bay area for 34 years as an on-air meteorologist, retiring in 2013. A protégé of legendary WTVT Chief Meteorologist Roy Leep, he became a staple of the station’s weekend newscasts. Over his tenure, Andy helped pioneer digitally driven weather presentations and served as WTVT’s liaison to the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Space Science and Engineering Center, helping to develop computerized television weather graphics and establishing a model public–private partnership.
Andy was deeply committed to providing up-to-the-minute warnings during hurricane emergencies, including Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which caused widespread devastation across Tampa Bay, Florida’s west coast, and inland regions of the eastern United States. In recognition of his forecasting during these storms, the Tampa City Council presented him with a proclamation commending his work and crediting him with potentially saving thousands of lives. He also mentored countless students and early-career professionals. In recognition of his community impact, outreach, and mentoring, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner proclaimed January 29, 2013, as “Andy Johnson Day.”
An avid supporter of the AMS and its West Central Florida Chapter (WCFLAMS), Andy began as a student member at Florida State University in 1975 and became a professional member in 1979, maintaining his affiliation through retirement and beyond. He served as chapter secretary in 1983, vice president in 1984, and then as president for approximately two decades, later returning as corresponding secretary in 2017–18. Under his leadership, WCFLAMS became one of the AMS’s most active chapters, known for its outreach, scholarship, and community engagement.
Andy was also a pioneer in diversity, equity, and inclusion within the enterprise. From 2005 to 2012, he was an annual speaker for the LGBTQ+ Pride Month Employee Resource Networking Group at JPMorgan Chase, delivering hurricane preparedness and forecasting briefings to major hubs across the hurricane-prone region. He also presented scholarly papers at AMS Annual Meetings and broadcast meteorology conferences in the United States and Europe.
Andy held the AMS Television Seal of Approval (awarded in 1982), the CCM designation, and the CBM certification—achieving and maintaining all three at a time when only a small group of professionals held both CCM and CBM status. In January 2023, he was elected an AMS Fellow, joining the rare group of only 10 individuals worldwide to hold all four AMS designations. His work extended into the legal and forensic arena through Johnson Forensic Meteorological Consulting, the firm he founded after retiring from WTVT.
Andy’s community service extended far beyond meteorology. He served as a Hillsborough County precinct captain (Precinct 135), advocating for pro-STEM and pro-science candidates, and participated in Walk America, the Great American Teach-In, and local media outreach events with the National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Weather Forecast Office.
A man of the highest integrity, Andy was known for his meticulous attention to detail, warmth, and genuine care for others. He especially treasured chapter annual meetings and banquets, and his joy was evident when the first in-person WCFLAMS banquet since the pandemic was announced. Andy also loved the arts, regularly attending plays, musicals, and concerts, and was a generous supporter of cultural organizations. An avid traveler, he explored Europe, Asia, and destinations such as French Polynesia with his husband, Bryan Farris, and their wide circle of friends and family.
Andy’s legacy within the AMS will endure through the students he mentored, the colleagues he inspired, and the thriving West Central Florida Chapter he helped build.—Jennifer Collins, Brian LaMarre, and Mark Mantz.
