KMPH chief meteorologist signs off after decade-plus in Fresno. ‘A wonderful ride’

Timing wise, there’s some irony in Kevan Ramer leaving his television spot as chief meteorologist at KMPH last week, the weather in Fresno being what it’s been (storms on storms, with another one coming).

Ramer signed off last Tuesday after 16 years with the station.

In a segment posted on KMPH’s website, Ramer said he’s moving to Montgomery, Alabama, to be closer to his family, including his sister and elderly mother.

“I’m making the move back across the country for family,” he said.

“It’s been a wonderful ride.”

Ramer said he will be taking another TV job, but didn’t specify the position or say with which media outlet he’d be working.

Ramer was hired at KMPH in 2006 to help fill the space of Kopi Sotiropulos, who had been doing double duty as host of “Great Day” each morning. Ramer came in with a background in meteorology that gave “another level of credibility to the evening news,” according to the station’s general manager at the time.

He had already done weather in his hometown of Montgomery, in Pensacola, Fla., and Myrtle Beach, S.C., and had been chief meteorologist at the CBS station in Louisville, Ky. He also worked as an on-air personality at The Weather Channel from 1986-1991.

Several of his segments can still be viewed on the website, twcclassics.com, for hardcore fans of the channel.

Ramer said he plans to make it back to the Central Valley to visit occasionally.

“I don’t know what else to say except, ‘thank you very much for watching.’”

KMPH looks to be hiring for a new chief meteorologist.

According to a listing on its website, the person must have a Seal of Approval for TV broadcasting from the American Meteorological Society. They “will be responsible for the content of the weather cast on-air and on our digital platforms,” issuing warnings and alerts, producing graphics and maps, and reporting live during weather events.

They will also help provide content for Sinclair Broadcast Group’s national weather desk.

The job’s base pay is $95,000 to $120,000.