Weatherman stops mid-report to text wife live on-air about approaching thunderstorm

Nick Jansen, the chief meteorologist for NBC affiliate KTTC, texted his wife while covering an extreme weather outbreak during a live broadcast, only to receive an email complaining about his so-called "unprofessional" behavior. Knowing the severity, Jansen texted his wife to ensure she and their baby were safe in the basement, not knowing it would lead to an unnecessary stir. On July 31, 2025, the meteorologist took to Facebook to share the incident and clarify his actions online. 

Jansen was reporting live about a severe storm when he quickly took a moment to text his wife amidst the coverage. He didn't let it affect his job; in fact, after he was done texting, he even talked openly about it, letting the reporter on the ground and the audience know about the intensity of the situation. "Sorry I just had to text my wife," he said. Jansen knew his duties as a husband, father, and meteorologist, but a viewer thought it was unprofessional to text during a live broadcast. "The quote that really struck me: 'That he has to call his wife to make sure she takes the baby to safety? Maybe some people think it's noble or cute. I don't,'" Jansen shared. "I take my job and your safety very seriously. That's not me being unprofessional; it's me being human. I am a husband and a father FIRST," he added. The Minnesota meteorologist knew how to balance his professional commitments along with his personal life. However, unlike him, many report overlooking their families because of extreme work pressure. 

A report by Marlee confirms that 51% of people say they have missed important life events because of inadequate work-life balance. Ironically, in Jansen's case, while his workplace didn't seem to have any objection to him prioritizing his family, an anonymous viewer's complaint not only shocked him but also almost everyone on the Internet. Jansen's video received overwhelming love, with almost everyone supporting him for prioritizing his family over anything.

For example, meteorologist Kyle Kiel commented, "Family first. Good for you! You’re a good man. I’ve done the same thing. And good on you for calling it out; people have got to understand that saying this stuff isn’t appropriate. You’re a human being with a family." Similarly, Kori Petersson said, "Any meteorologist should feel comfortable doing this in extreme situations. I very much appreciate that you do this during storms. It makes you even more valuable and professional. You have a new baby, and your family needs reassurance. You did the right thing."

A user, April Herndon, shared, "I was watching the livestream when you texted your family. I actually thought that was totally reasonable and appreciated that you shared you’d done that. The comments on the livestream were full of people asking if they needed to go to their basements because of the sirens. Clearly, a lot of people needed to know what to do, including your wife, so I don’t see any harm in you texting her while you were telling viewers to also seek shelter." Another user, Erin Brewster, commented, "Why in the world would anyone be bothered that you wanted to make sure your family was protected as well as the community? You are a husband and father first! Well said!"

You can follow Nick Jansen KTTC on Facebook for weather-related content.