Ed Bloodsworth is the chief meteorologist for the News 5 First Alert Storm Team. Be sure to catch his forecast weekdays at 5:00 pm, 6:00 pm, 6:30 pm, and 10:00 pm on WKRG and at 9:00 pm on the Gulf Coast CW.
Ed comes to the Gulf Coast via WKRG’s sister station WFLA in Tampa, FL. Tampa also happens to be Ed’s hometown.
Ed’s passion for weather began at age seven when he watched a waterspout form during an evening of little league baseball. Rather than spending his summers sleeping in and watching Saturday morning cartoons, Ed was busy tracking tropical storms and hurricanes.
After obtaining a degree in meteorology from Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL, Ed moved on to KTKA Topeka, KS, one of the most dynamic weather markets in the country. While in Kansas, Ed honed his forecasting skills covering heat waves, blizzards and severe weather outbreaks. Ed was tasked with leading storm chasing operations for KTKA, which involved organizing and navigation several chase teams in Northeast Kansas. From there, Ed headed south to WJBF in Augusta, GA. While there, Ed covered the historic 2014 Georgia/South Carolina Ice Storm and the historic rains from Hurricane Joaquin in 2015.
Ed’s most recent stint in Tampa, FL included aiding in coverage of several major weather events, including Hurricane Matthew in 2016, Hurricane Irma in 2017, and Hurricane Michael in 2018.
Ed Bloodsworth is an active member of the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. He holds the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) designation from the AMS.
When not forecasting for the Gulf Coast, you will find Ed exploring local museums, hiking and nature trails, and the best eateries around. Ed is also an avid bowler. You’ll find him coaching youth bowlers in the area and rolling in local tournaments.
Ed is excited to call the Gulf Coast home.
