After nearly 30 years at WSOC, this award-winning meteorologist delivers final broadcast
Longtime WSOC chief meteorologist Steve Udelson delivered his final broadcast before retiring Wednesday — his birthday — after decades with Charlotte’s No. 1-rated station.
Udelson joined WSOC as chief meteorologist in 1997, according to his station bio. In 2006, the Emmy Award winner became the first chief meteorologist in Charlotte to earn the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal from the American Meteorological Society.
“As a kid, I was always fascinated by the weather,” Udelson said in a station promo that aired Wednesday about his retirement. “I took a hobby and made it a career.”
“It’s been an honor and privilege to both be invited into people’s homes for the last 27 years as well as work with some of the best talent both in front of and behind the camera,” Udelson said Feb. 2, when he announced his retirement.
Besides his daily forecasts, Udelson “worked endless hours tracking record-breaking storms across the Carolinas, including Hurricane Floyd in 1999, the Charlotte ice storm of 2004, and many tornadoes throughout the viewing area and beyond,” WSOC management said in a story about his retirement announcement.
Udelson won two regional Emmys, was named North Carolina Weathercaster of the Year multiple times and “worked with local and federal leaders to improve lifesaving radar coverage across the region,” according to the Feb. 2 station announcement.
“Steve is always ready to go when there’s a chance of dangerous weather,” WSOC-TV News Director Mike Oliveira said in the announcement. “He’s an expert at taking complex weather information and seamlessly making it easy to understand. Simply put, he did the job the right way.”
A career in weather
He put his fascination with weather to work as a student at the University of Maryland, co-opping for two years with the National Weather Service in Washington. He obtained a bachelor’s of science degree in physical sciences and was hired by WCSH in Portland, Maine, after graduation.
In 1985, he joined WPEC-TV in West Palm Beach, Florida, and later became evening weather anchor at WLVI in his hometown of Boston according to his WSOC bio.
He joined WJLA in Washington before becoming the evening meteorologist for WFLA in Tampa, Florida, for five years. Then he began working for WSOC.
Udelson and his wife, Susan, have two daughters, Rachel and Dana. They have a granddaughter, Sophie, who calls Steve Udelson “Poppy.”
On the 6 p.m. broadcast Wednesday, Udelson said he and his family are staying put. “If you see me on the street, please say hello,” he said.
Final day
It was business as usual for Udelson on the 5 p.m. Wednesday broadcast.
“A sweeping cold front (is) moving into the metro area,” he reported. “I don’t see a tornado threat from this, but damaging winds cannot be ruled out.”
Later in the broadcast, anchors Erica Bryant and Scott Wickersham reminded viewers that Wednesday was Udelson’s final day. Udelson was right beside them.
The show then cut to a short feature about Udelson’s Steve’s Coats For Kids campaign, which he started at least 20 years ago. The campaign has donated at least 300,000 coats to children in need.
“Yeah, it’s about coats,” Wickersham said. “But Steve will tell you it’s really about people.”
“Thank you for your 27 years” at WSOC, Bryant said.
On the 5:30 p.m. broadcast Wednesday, Udelson announced his successor as chief meteorologist, longtime WSOC meteorologist John Ahrens.
“You’re in good hands my friends, trust me,” Udelson told viewers.
“I had the best teacher,” Ahrens replied. “Thank you, Steve, you’re still my chief.”
