A familiar face has made its way back to Cleveland and to WEWS Channel 5. Meteorologist Trent Magill, who left the station four years ago for another weather gig in Knoxville, Tennessee, made his return debut on Monday.
A now-bespectacled Magill is happy to be back giving morning viewers advice on weather -- and whether or not don a sweater or parka on their way out.
"Yes, when I turned 30 and started having problems seeing lines in the street, I knew it was time to put on the glasses," said Magill in a phone interview. "I really missed the people, and believe it or not, the snow. I'm originally from St. Louis Missouri. I think my fondness for this community comes from the fact that the two cities are alike."
His migration back to Northeast Ohio from Knoxville's WATE made him realize how much he didn't miss the lake effect. The issue with forecasting the weather in Cleveland is the lake. It's not a problem. It's more like a speed bump, said Magill.
This time around, Magill will be joining "Good Morning Cleveland" anchors Terrence Lee and Katie Ussin, as well as air-traffic reporter Jon Rudder from 4:30 to 7 a.m. He'll also do weather break-ins each half-hour during ABC's "Good Morning America."
According to Dan Coyle, creative services director for Channel 5, Mark Johnson is still chief meteorologist at the 4, 5, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts.
Magill is married, having met his wife in Texas and was actually married here in Cleveland. He earned his bachelor's degree in meteorology at the University of Missouri.
Magill calls himself a self-proclaimed weather nerd. But he does find time for hiking, CrossFit and camping. A new skill he brought back north with him is fly fishing.
"I can't wait for the chance to try it here," he said.