Jim Cantore, The Weather Channel, Age, Meme, Viral, Britley, and Net Worth
Jim Cantore is a legendary American meteorologist and The Weather Channel’s resident storm-chaser-in-chief. Since July 1986, he’s been the face you see when the weather gets weird — and the guy everyone secretly hopes doesn’t show up in their town (because, let’s be honest, if Jim’s there, something dramatic is about to go down). He currently co-hosts America’s Morning Headquarters (AMHQ), dishing out the latest forecasts and storm updates from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. — basically, your morning cup of coffee with a side of thunder.
Jim Cantore is not just a meteorologist at the Weather station— he’s the Beyoncé of Barometers, the Thor of Thunderstorms, and possibly the only man alive whose mere presence can clear out an entire coastal town. If Jim shows up in your city holding a microphone and wearing a windbreaker, congratulations — you’re about to be a national headline. Duck.
Since July 1986 (yes, before some of you were born or before the internet was even a sparkle in Al Gore’s eye), Cantore has been the on-air face of The Weather Channel, heroically reporting live from inside everything from hurricanes to blizzards to apocalyptic thundersnow. He’s essentially the weather’s hype man — if it’s catastrophic, he’s in it.
Early Life: The Calm Before the Storm
Born on February 16, 1964, in Waterbury, Connecticut, and raised in the frosty halls of White River Junction, Vermont, young Jim didn’t play with toys — he probably stared at clouds and named cumulonimbus formations for fun. He graduated from Lyndon State College in 1986, right into the arms of The Weather Channel, where he would become their storm-chasing sweetheart for decades.
How old is Jim Cantore?
As of 2025, Jim Cantore is 61 years old — though age is just a number when you regularly outrun hurricanes and take tree branches to the chest like a meteorological superhero. Born on February 16, 1964, in Waterbury, Connecticut, and raised in the frosty wonderland of White River Junction, Vermont, Jim celebrates his birthday every year on February 16.
Career
Jim’s career started modestly, but quickly turned into a full-on weather legend. Algis Laukaitis of the Lincoln Journal Star once called him the “rock star of meteorologists,” which makes sense because Jim’s basically doing arena tours with hurricanes.
He co-hosts America’s Morning Headquarters (AMHQ) — aka the breakfast buffet of weather updates — from 6 to 9 a.m., where he helps America decide whether it’s going to be sandals or snow boots today.
He’s covered pretty much every terrifying weather event in the last 40 years. Hurricanes? Yep. Blizzards? Of course. Thundersnow? Cue maniacal screaming and hopping in excitement. When Jim is on scene, even Mother Nature gets nervous.
Some of his greatest hits:
Hurricane Katrina (2005) – soaked.
Hurricane Irma (2017) – dodged debris like a weather ninja.
Hurricane Ian (2022) – took a tree branch to the face and did not flinch.
Blizzard? He’s covered 800 of them. Possibly invented a few.
He also once narrated Storm Stories and Local on the 8s, proving his voice is both informative and oddly soothing. Jim’s dulcet tones can simultaneously inform you of a tornado warning and put your toddler to sleep.
Viral Fame: The Storm and the Glory
Jim Cantore is also an internet icon. Here are just a few of his most legendary viral moments:
2014 Groin Defense Incident: While reporting live in Charleston, a college student charged at him. Jim delivered a flawless knee-to-the-nuts mid-sentence without blinking or missing a weather update. A true meteorological martial artist.
2015 Thundersnow Ecstasy: While covering Winter Storm Neptune, he lost his mind in glorious glee over the rare thundersnow. Viewers were unsure if it was a weather event or an emotional breakdown. Either way, it got over 5 million views.
2018 Flying Lumber Dodge: In Florida, Hurricane Michael sent a wooden beam flying at Jim’s head. Did he scream? Nope. He matrix-dodged it like he was in a disaster movie.
2022 Hurricane Ian Branch Strike: A tree branch smacked into him while he was inside the eyewall. What did Jim do? Said “Whoa” and kept going. The internet exploded.
If Chuck Norris had a weather doppelgänger, it would be Jim Cantore in a rain jacket.
Personal Life: Love, Kids, and Gardening (Yes, Really)
Jim was previously married to Tamra Cantore, a fellow weather journalist. They married in 1990 and divorced in 2009, but they share two wonderful children: Christina and Ben, both of whom live with Fragile X Syndrome. Their strength and resilience are a core part of Jim’s life, and he’s actively involved with charities like FRAXA and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
He also started TEAM Cantore, raising funds for Parkinson’s research, inspired by his ex-wife’s diagnosis. When he’s not chasing weather chaos, Jim enjoys skiing, gardening (yes, the same hands that hold down hurricane tents plant petunias), golfing, and chilling at the lake with his kids.
Britley Ritz and Jim Cantore; Love Forecast: 100% Chance of Britley
In recent years, Cantore’s romantic weather radar has zeroed in on fellow meteorologist and girlfriend Britley Ritz. The couple has been spotted smooching in sunny spots and stormy scenes alike, traveling together and posting sweet captions like “my other half.” Basically, if you’re watching weather coverage and see two people staring lovingly at each other through goggles while being pelted by sleet, that’s probably Jim and Britley.
It’s safe to say, the barometric pressure is rising in this romance.
Jim Cantore Net Worth
With a salary estimated between $70,000 and $95,000, and a net worth in the ballpark of $1 to $5 million, Jim’s earned every penny standing upright in 120 mph winds. His money doesn’t just come from TV — there’s merchandise, endorsements, and probably some lucrative weather-themed cameos we don’t know about.
Jim Cantore Height
He stands at a solid 5’8″ — but let’s be real, his weather aura is at least 6’5″. When a man can casually shrug off flying debris and lightning strikes, we stop measuring in inches and start measuring in awe.
Jim Cantore Meme
Jim has become a walking meme. Entire towns now joke that if he shows up, you should cancel your plans and run for the hills. In fact, The Weather Channel once aired a spoof ad in 2011, showing people panicking just because he appeared on their beach vacation. It was funny because… it’s actually true.
Twitter, Reddit, YouTube — all worship at the altar of Cantore. He’s been memed into everything from Avengers scenes to disaster movie posters. And no one deserves it more.
So… Where Is Jim Cantore Right Now?
Honestly? Probably in the eye of the storm, holding onto a lamp post while yelling “BACK TO YOU, STUDIO!” And if he’s not, he’s either golfing with Britley, gardening in suspiciously calm weather, or petting a golden retriever by the lake.
But if he shows up in your town — don’t ask for a selfie. Run.
Final Thought:
Jim Cantore doesn’t predict the storm. He is the storm. A man so dedicated, he once got body-checked by a hurricane and still delivered a flawless weather report with perfect hair. Whether he’s battling the elements or cuddling with his girlfriend on Instagram, Jim reminds us: weather is wild, but meteorologists are wilder.
Stay tuned — because as long as Earth has weather, Jim Cantore will be there, windbreaker zipped, mic in hand, and ready to go viral.
