Matt Laubhan and the WTVA Severe Weather Authority team will continue to operate in Tupelo, Mississippi, following a decision by Allen Media Group to largely reverse its previous plan to have meteorologists from The Weather Channel cover weather reports from Atlanta. The reversal, announced in a statement from WTVA on January 23, came after Allen Media Group initially decided to relocate operations to Atlanta to improve reporting in high-stakes weather situations.
However, after receiving feedback, WTVA said the decision was mostly reversed, allowing the local meteorologists that viewers rely on to stay in Tupelo. The initial plan faced significant backlash on social media, particularly from residents of North Mississippi.
On January 19, local resident Robert Thornton launched a petition on Change.org, titled “Urge Allen Media Group to Halt Layoffs of WTVA Meteorology Team,” which quickly garnered over 35,000 signatures. Thornton emphasized the importance of local meteorologists who are familiar with the area and can provide precise, timely warnings. He believes the petition played a role in the decision reversal but credits the community’s collective efforts.
Patsy Smith Griffin, a local from Belden, Mississippi, was another vocal critic, stressing that the region’s severe weather requires experienced local meteorologists to ensure public safety. She confirmed the reversal via Facebook and felt relieved upon hearing the news, believing that the people of North Mississippi had made a significant impact through their outreach to Allen Media and WTVA.