A Minnesota meteorologist is pushing back against criticism after being caught texting his wife on live television during a severe weather broadcast, a move he says was both human and necessary.
Nick Jansen, Chief Meteorologist for KTTC News in Rochester, was three hours into live storm coverage on July 28 when he briefly used his phone to check on his family’s safety. His actions sparked criticism from at least one viewer, who labeled the moment “unprofessional.”
“I received an email telling me how unprofessional I was during my coverage,” Jansen wrote in a Facebook post that included a now-viral clip of the incident. “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, 32, was in the studio at the time, standing in front of the radar screen while his colleague delivered an update on power outages.
Believing he was off-camera, he quickly sent a message to his wife, who was home with their six-month-old child.
“Sorry, just had to text my wife,” Jansen said as he resumed the broadcast. “Baby was sleeping well tonight, so that’s gonna be over with at this point in time.” He then continued reporting on the strong winds in the Rochester area, estimating gusts between 40 and 70 mph.
In response to the backlash, Jansen issued a statement defending the decision to take a few seconds to ensure his family had taken shelter.
“I take my job and your safety very seriously. But I’m also a husband and a father,” he said. “In the middle of severe weather, I decided to take a brief moment to make sure my wife and child were safely in the basement. That’s not me being unprofessional, it’s me being human.”
He continued: “I am a husband and a father FIRST. Let’s all try to show each other a little more understanding and respect in life.”
Speaking to TODAY, Jansen said he stood by his actions, noting that many viewers were likely doing the same thing.
“When I received this latest email, I was like, you know what? I don’t think it’s acceptable that I can’t take a second to make sure my loved ones are OK,” he said. “We always say on-air, ‘If you know someone in such-and-such a town, make sure to let them know this is coming.’ So I was kind of taking my own advice.”
Station leadership also backed Jansen’s decision. “The KTTC team is proud of Nick and the work he and the First Alert weather team did Monday night and the work they continue to do to keep our communities safe,” said KTTC Vice President and General Manager Stephanie Hedrick in a statement.
“Viewers saw that happen live, Nick being a good husband and dad by taking a moment and making sure they were safe," she added.
Many viewers voiced their support for Jansen online. “Texting your wife in the middle of a broadcast was my signal to take the storm seriously,” one commenter wrote. “I now have a new level of storm seriousness.”
“I support you! I thought it [was] chivalry at its best!” added another.
The July 28 storm system swept across Minnesota and neighboring states, producing wind gusts up to 75 mph and causing widespread power outages. The National Weather Service reported the strongest gust (92 mph) at the Spencer Municipal Airport in Iowa, approximately 200 miles from KTTC’s studios.