KSBW’s Vanderzwaan Retiring; Solomon To Succeed

NBC affiliate KSBW Monterey-Salinas, Calif. (DMA 125), announced today that Jim Vanderzwaan, its lead forecaster, plans to retire after 32 years at the station.

KSBW meteorologist Lee Solomon will succeed him. Solomon is currently the weekday morning meteorologist on KSBW Action News 8 Sunrise, but will become chief meteorologist for KSBW this summer.

“My decision to retire this summer was not made in haste or taken lightly, but one that my wife and I, along with KSBW, have been working on for some time now,” Vanderzwaan said. “I will miss the wonderful people I’ve worked with over the years here at KSBW 8, and I will miss telling our audience about the weather. I’m truly grateful to have served our viewers for so many years, but now it’s time for the next chapter for me and my family.”

Vanderzwaan has the longest running broadcast weather career in the station’s 61 year history, having provided what the station has estimated to be more than 25,000 weather forecasts. “From tropical depressions to regional micro-climates, he has guided area residents through every changing weather pattern on the Central Coast with a calm, friendly style to which viewers can relate to,” the station said.

“We, and our viewers have enjoyed and benefited greatly from the remarkable tenure of Jim Vanderzwaan,” said KSBW President-GM Joseph W. Heston. “For over three decades he has presented his forecasting expertise with reliability, and assurance, in a way that Central Coast residents appreciate. While there can only be one Jim Vanderzwaan, we are confident he has provided excellent stewardship and guidance to the next generation of KSBW 8 meteorologists.”