Joe Puma joins KVII Amarillo

Good Morning Illinois on WEEK 25 morning meteorologist Joe Puma heads to ABC7 KVII Amarillo as chief


Joe Puma is wrapping up his time this week for Good Morning Illinois on WEEK 25 (Peoria and Bloomington areas of Central Illinois) to take the chief meteorologist position at ABC7 KVII Amarillo, TX.

"I am beyond excited for this next opportunity in Amarillo, and hope you will stick around to follow me on my journey," Puma posted on Facebook. "It's an area with a wide array of weather from dust storms to wildfires to tornadoes. I can't wait for this new challenge and adventure."

Puma has been with the WEEK weather team since August 2017. He became an American Meteorological Society (AMS) Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) in 2019.

The Illinois native started in TV at KTEN Denison as a meteorologist. He also interned with the Texas station.

He earned his BS in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma.

Puma takes the slot vacated in May 2020 by KVII chief met Steve Kersh. That same month, KVII midday meteorologist Alyssa Pawlak and Investigative Reporter/Anchor Niccole Caan left the station too.

No word on Kersh's whereabouts. (UPDATE SEPTEMBER 15, 2020) Thanks to Brad, an Amarillo television viewer, who updated us that Kersh announced his last night on channel 7 that he was going to work for Pantex Amarillo. I contacted Pantex and they confirmed that Kersh does indeed work there now.

Just days ago, Pawlak posted to her Facebook page for the first time since she left channel 7 to say that she was supposed to get married this month, but was not able to, presumably because of COVID-19.

Caan left for KENS 5 San Antonio as the TEGNA station's consumer investigative reporter.