James D. "Jim" Cantore is an American meteorologist.
Education
A native of Beacon Falls, Connecticut, who was raised in White River Junction, Vermont, Cantore graduated from Lyndon State College in 1986. The Weather Channel gave him his first job out of college in July of that year, and he has worked with the channel ever since.
Career
He is best known as an on-air personality for The Weather Channel. Though not with the weather network since its beginning, Cantore has become one of the most well-known meteorologists on television Cantore has been lauded for his ability to "break down" complicated weather events into terms that the average viewer can understand.
Cantore is often selected to go to report on weather events.
Since the ratings for the Weather Channel increase during severe weather events, Cantore has, in turn, become a recognizable figure. Though he is best known for his live field coverage of major weather events (such as Hurricanes Ike, Gustav, Katrina, Isabel, Rita, Andrew, Floyd, Mitch, Bonnie, Irene and Sandy), his contributions span well beyond severe weather field reporting.
His early work at TWC included developing the audience favorite Fall Foliage Forecast. He has reported from events such as the Space Shuttle Discovery launch, the "Winter X Games," Professional Golf Association tournaments, NFL games, and more.
He holds the American Mathematical Society Television Seal of Approval.
Aside from live reporting for TWC, Cantore also serves as the narrator on the TWC series Storm Stories. He is also featured in the beginning of the ECHL"s Stockton Thunder entrance video saying "Hello, this is meteorologist Jim Cantore from the Weather Channel. A special weather advisory has been issued for the Central Valley—a 100% chance of thunder."
After National Broadcasting Company Universal"s acquisition of The Weather Channel in 2008, Cantore has occasionally filled in for First Rate (at Lloyd's) Roker on The Today Show.
He was also in London hosting weather segments for National Broadcasting Company during the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Algis Laukaitis of the Lincoln Journal Star has referred to Cantore as a "rock star of meteorologists."
On January 28, 2014, while doing a live on-location report at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina, Cantore was charged by a student named Colin Marcelli. Cantore noticed the charge, and kneed Marcelli in the stomach.
Marcelli immediately ran official Cantore never broke his train of thought nor appeared frazzled during the incident.
A recording of the shot has gained upwards of two million views on YouTube.
Jim was in a video ItsAmazingOutThere by The Weather Channel which went viral and currently has 4.1 million views. Jim married Tamra Cantore, whom he met while at TWC. He also contributes his time to Make-a-Wish Foundation events around the country and he has also served as a celebrity cabinet member with the American Red Cross. Cantore has been dating Andrea Butera, of Cable News Network, since 2010.
Personal Jim Cantore is of Italian decent.
Membership
Jim is a member of both the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society.