Young Meteorologist Becomes a Lifeline for North Carolinians and Meets His Childhood Hero – FREE READ

By: Jessica DeWeese | jessica@newsblues.com

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In a small bedroom in Raleigh, North Carolina, Ethan Clark operates North Carolina’s Weather Authority, a trusted Facebook page with over 600,000 followers.

At just 22 years old, Clark has become a go-to source for detailed, live weather updates during severe storms.

Clark’s fascination with weather dates back to his middle school years, reports CBS News. A snapshot of him dressed as Weather Channel icon Jim Cantore for Halloween at age 10 hinted at a future in meteorology.

Clark’s dedication has made a real difference for his community. Greenville resident Leslie Dean began following his page during Hurricane Matthew in 2016. “Ethan’s forecast is very accurate,” Dean said. “He doesn’t exaggerate possible systems coming through.”

For Stacy Huff, Clark’s updates brought much-needed reassurance during a tornado threat. “My husband, me, and the dog all crammed in the closet and listened to his livestream the whole time,” Huff recalled. “It was so comforting to have that voice say, ‘Okay, now you’re out of danger, you can come out.’”

Emily Brewer credited Clark’s meticulous forecasts with saving her parents’ lives during Hurricane Helene. “In this crisis, the helper was a college student in his dorm room, sitting at his desk, making these forecasts and sharing them with all of us,” Brewer said.

In November, CBS News correspondent David Begnaud organized a surprise celebration at a Raleigh restaurant. Surrounded by supporters, Clark received heartfelt praise. “I’m so proud of the work you do and the lives you have affected,” Dean told him.

The surprises didn’t stop there. Begnaud revealed that Clark would soon meet his childhood idol, Jim Cantore.

In Atlanta, Clark fulfilled his dream of meeting Cantore, impressing the veteran meteorologist with his skills while delivering a mock forecast at The Weather Channel. “We have a brief warm-up and another clipper system with highs in the 40s on Friday and lows in the 20s,” he reported.

Cantore quipped, “Dude, if I had done it that good my first time, I wouldn’t have had to finish college.”