KCCI's Chris Gloninger exits after Friday's noon newscast, citing 'death threat' from viewer

KCCI chief meteorologist Chris Gloninger left the station Friday with an emotional goodbye.

During the noon newscast alongside anchor Alyx Sacks, Gloninger addressed his exit, which follows a June 21 statement on Twitter announcing his departure. Gloninger said he received a "viewer death threat and resulting PTSD" diagnosis.

In his on-air goodbye Friday, Gloninger said it felt like "we accomplished a lot" at the region's CBS affiliate.

"I loved my time here, and again, since my announcement last month, this is just a small sampling of the support that you have shown me at home," he said. "I know two years isn't much time and even with some struggles over the last year, I wanted to reinforce the fact that my wife and I are leaving the state with mostly happy memories and more friends than we came with."

More: KCCI chief meteorologist Chris Gloninger departing station citing PTSD, past death threat

Gloninger became emotional while saying goodbye to a career that has brought him from the heartland to Boston and back.

"In all of this, I found the importance of living life through love, kindness and compassion," he said. "I'm walking away from a career, an 18-year career in television that I dreamt of since second grade, so that's why I'm a little emotional."

More: What to know about KCCI meteorologist Chris Gloninger's exit after 'death threat,' PTSD

Last September, a Lenox man was fined $105 for harassing the meteorologist in a series of emails that included threatening language and swear words. The messages continued for several weeks.

Gloninger, 38, will leave broadcasting and join Woods Hole Group, a company based in Massachusetts that studies and analyzes climate change, as a senior scientist in climate and risk communication. Gloninger will also take care of family members who have battled health issues over the past year.

"I'm not giving up, I'm just reinventing myself, finding ways that I can make a bigger difference with climate change. More important than ever as the Earth recorded three of its warmest days, now four of its warmest days this week."

Jay Stahl is an entertainment reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow him on Instagram or reach out at jstahl@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Chris Gloninger leaves KCCI on Friday, citing a death threat, PTSD