Britta Merwin joins KPRC 2 as meteorologist

Britta Merwin joins KPRC 2 as weekend morning meteorologist after years away from KCRA Sacramento; Idolina Peralez exits

UPDATE MAY 2021
Britta Merwin to leave KPRC 2

UPDATE DECEMBER 29, 2014
Britta Merwin to replace Anthony Yanez on KPRC 2

Britta Merwin

UPDATE 5/24/2014
*Britta Merwin started today on KPRC Local 2's Saturday morning newscast.

According to internal KPRC memos obtained by mikemcguff.com, weekend morning meteorologist Idolina Peralez is leaving the Houston NBC affiliate this weekend after a year on the green screen.

The memo says Peralez, who previously went by Idolina Walker at KIFI, is taking her career in a different direction.

So who is replacing Peralez?

The answer, found in another memo, is Britta Merwin who formerly worked at KCRA Sacramento, CA. TVSpy reported in 2011 that Merwin, who was seven months pregnant at the time, was leaving California and moving to Florida to be with her husband, who was training to be a Coast Guard pilot.

Looks like she decided to make her TV return in Houston! And we are a perfect place to work if you are married to a member of the Coast Guard.

Merwin could be a familiar face to KPRC viewers because she used to work at NBC Weather Plus and CNBC. Other stops in her local TV news career include KNSD San Diego and News 12 New Jersey.

According to various bios I could fine for Merwin over the years, she was born in San Antonio. She graduated from Stony Brook University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Sciences-Meteorology with Cum Laude honors. While at the university, she was also captain of the cheerleading squad.

Merwin might be the first TV talent I've written about to have her own entry in the online urban dictionary.

I contacted Peralez for comment, but did not hear back. As for Merwin, I couldn't find a way to contact her. She has no social media accounts that I could find under her TV name.

No word on when Merwin starts at KPRC, but in the meantime, you can watch video of her work over the years embedded below:

UPDATE DECEMBER 29, 2014
Britta Merwin to replace Anthony Yanez on KPRC 2

Britta Merwin talks FOX Weather and KPRC memories

 

Britta Merwin is returning to the weather wall as a national meteorologist when FOX Weather debuts Monday, October 25th.

The free streaming service will be available on foxweather.com, its app, plus web connected TVs via FOX NOW, the FOX News app and Tubi.

RELATED
Stephen Morgan talks FOX Weather and FOX 26

Based on the reaction I received from Houston TV viewers when Merwin signed off from KPRC 2 mornings last May, I'm sure FOX Weather will have lots of Britta fans tuning in.

Now that Merwin is in New York City and ready to start the FOX Weather stream, she was gracious enough to talk with me about her new Big Apple gig and KPRC 2 Houston memories.

Mike McGuff: Forecasting weather on a national platform like FOX Weather is returning to your roots on cable news.  How is it going back to national from local TV after all of these years?

Britta Merwin: I always felt that national and local news are like apples and oranges, I love them both but they are different. I love how I can stretch my forecast muscles when I’m working on a national platform. I get to forecast every type of weather and there never is a quiet weather day. At the same time I also love local news. You get to really dive deep into every forecast and above all you get to be a part of a community. When I worked Tax Day, both Memorial Days, The Winter blast of 2021 and Harvey I was protecting my neighbors, my family, my community. It is a profound experience to work through a natural disaster with your community. I feel extremely blessed that I have had the opportunity to work both in local news and national news and I am very honored to have a second opportunity to work at the network level.

MM: What are you looking forward to most when FOX Weather premieres?

BM: I’m beyond excited to launch FOX Weather! We truly are changing how people get their forecast and weather news. It is incredible to work with a team built with the best of the best. I can’t wait for people to see our App and find themselves depending on our team every day. Speaking of our team, they truly are the best of the best. We come from different cities, combining our strengths. I’m proud to be a part of America’s weather team.

MM: What are a few of your favorite memories at channel 2?

BM: I will always cherish my time at KPRC2. My favorite memories are all the memorable moments with my friends. I remember getting through the hard times and celebrating life’s greatest moments like when Owen Conflenti and I welcomed babies days apart from one another at the same hospital! I will always remember working through Harvey with Khambrel Marshall. We started every 12 hour shift saying a prayer together. My favorite memories are my team mates. My favorite intern, Caroline Brown. My big brother Justin. And then there is Frank...the walking expert. I learned so much from Frank. I could go on forever. Andy, Lisa, Anavid, Haley, Sofia, Cathy, Brittany, Brandon, My dear friend Amy. They were my family and I’m thankful for each day I had and still have with them in my life.

MM: What will you miss most about Houston?

BM: The people, the food and every Winter I will dearly miss my flip flops and shorts!

MM: How cool is it that your former KPRC colleague Eric Braate practically works across the street from FOX Weather?

BM:  It is Amazing! Eric Braate (WNBC 4) is a close friend and an incredible Meteorologist. We have already had lunch a couple times and it is surreal walking down 6th Ave seeing his smiling face looking back at me.

MM: Anything else you want to add?

BM: The best part of launching FOX Weather is I can rejoin my community in Southeast Texas. Follow me on FB, Twitter and Instagram.

RELATED
Britta Merwin signs off KPRC 2 video
Britta Merwin on being a working mother
Britta Merwin joins KPRC 2 as meteorologist (2014)

(Photos provided to mikemcguff.com by FOX Weather)

Britta Merwin and Stephen Morgan join FOX Weather

Britta Merwin, morning KPRC 2 meteorologist and FOX 26 KRIV weekend morning weather meteorologist Stephen Morgan join FOX Weather.

FOX Weather, FOX News Media’s new AVOD streaming weather service, has signed six meteorologists to helm morning, daytime and evening programming across the platform, announced Sharri Berg, president of FOX Weather. Meteorologists Jason Frazer, Britta Merwin, Craig Herrera, Brigit Mahoney, Nick Kosir, and Stephen Morgan will lead the platform’s weather coverage once the streaming service launches later this year.

UPDATE
Britta Merwin and Stephen Morgan FOX Weather debut announced

In making the announcement, Berg said, “We are very excited to announce this first team of very talented meteorologists who will anchor our coverage from the FOX Weather studio headquarters in New York City. They each bring their own unique perspective and local experience from all regions across the country, as we begin to grow our national platform.”

Seasoned meteorologist and investigative reporter Jason Frazer will serve as the platform’s morning news co-host. Since 2019, Frazer has worked as a meteorologist for the NBC affiliated WKYC-TV in Cleveland, OH and previously, spent two years at FOX affiliate WTGS-TV in Savannah, GA where he covered several severe weather events, including Hurricanes Florence, Irma and Michael. He got his start in television news as a reporter, working for CBS affiliated stations in Rochester (WROC-TV), Columbus (WBNS-TV) and Hartford (WFSB-TV), where he was a part of the station’s investigative unit. He went on to work as an investigative reporter for WHDH-TV (NBC) in Boston and NECN, New England’s 24-hour cable network, where his reporting uncovered how landlords in Massachusetts were improperly placing young children on eviction notices, impacting their credit ratings. A graduate of Columbia University, Frazer completed the Broadcast Meteorology Program at Mississippi State University, earning his certificate in meteorology.

Britta Merwin joins FOX Weather

Emmy nominated meteorologist Britta Merwin joins FOX Weather from Houston’s KPRC-TV (NBC) and will serve as a morning co-host, alongside Frazer. A Texas native,  Merwin has spent the last seven years with KPRC-TV where she quickly rose through the ranks to become the station’s morning weather forecaster, covering major events, including 2017’s Hurricane Harvey and multiple devastating floods. A graduate of SUNY Stonybrook with a degree in atmospheric sciences and meteorology, Merwin began her career in meteorology at News 12 Long Island. She later moved to NBC Weather Plus where she covered Hurricane Gustav and the 2008 midwestern floods for NBC’s national cable news networks, including MSNBC and CNBC.

- Britta Merwin talks FOX Weather and KPRC memories
- Britta Merwin signs off KPRC 2 video

Five time local Emmy-award winning meteorologist Craig Herrera joins FOX Weather as a co-anchor of the platform’s key programming blocks. Most recently serving as Seattle’s KING-TV (NBC) meteorologist, Herrera is a Pacific Coast weather expert having covered every major weather event spanning San Diego to Seattle. An American Meteorology Society (AMS) sealed meteorologist, he was a part of the weekday morning news team at San Francisco’s KNTV-TV (NBC) on the weather reporting team at KCBS-TV, in Los Angeles and San Diego’s KGTV-TV (ABC). He received his certificate in Broadcast Meteorology from the University of Mississippi.

Joining FOX Weather from KTVI-TV, the FOX affiliated station in St. Louis, Missouri, Brigit Mahoney will serve as a co-anchor of lead programming dayparts for the service. Since 2016, she has been KTVI’s morning meteorologist where she tracked severe weather in mid-Missouri, keeping viewers up to date on impactful or dangerous weather. Based in the infamous Tornado Alley, she has covered a number of severe weather events throughout Missouri, often traveling into the devastation to provide firsthand reports of the aftermath.  Previously, she worked as a Stormtrack meteorologist at the ABC affiliate KMIZ-TV in Columbia, Missouri. Mahoney attended the University of Missouri, where she studied Soil, Environmental and Atmospheric Science.

Joining FOX Weather from FOX affiliate WJZY-TV in Charlotte, N.C., meteorologist Nick Kosir will serve as co-host for the platform’s evening programming. With more than 2 million followers across both TikTok and Instagram, Kosir, also known as “The Dancing Weatherman,” has gained notoriety beyond his weather reporting as his viral dancing videos have become a pop culture phenomenon — one of which was featured in Lil Nas X’s open at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards. A graduate of the University of Akron with a certificate in Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University, Kosir most recently served as the morning meteorologist for FOX46’s Good Day Charlotte newscast, where he delivered daily weather reports and covered major events such as Tropical Storm Isaias. Prior to his time in Charlotte, Kosir worked at KBTV-TV, the FOX affiliated station in Beaumont, Texas and KMVT-TV, the CBS/CW affiliate in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Stephen Morgan joins FOX Weather 

Stephen Morgan joins FOX Weather as a co-host of the service’s main programming blocks. Most recently, Morgan has served as a meteorologist and reporter at FOX owned-and-operated KRIV-TV in Houston where he served as the station’s weekend morning weather anchor since 2019. Previously, he was an anchor and reporter for KRBK-TV, the FOX affiliated television station in Springfield, Missouri where he also filled in as a meteorologist and news content manager. This past winter, Morgan was a part of KRIV’s coverage of the historic Texas freeze that led to catastrophic power issues. Morgan graduated from St. Louis University with a degree in meteorology.

UPDATE OCTOBER 2021
Stephen Morgan talks FOX Weather and FOX 26 

UPDATE JULY 2021

Steven Romo and Stephen Morgan are engaged

RELATED
Collin Myers appears on FOX 26 Houston weather

FOX News Media operates the FOX News Channel (FNC), FOX Business Network (FBN), FOX News Digital, FOX News Audio, FOX News Books, the direct-to-consumer digital streaming services FOX Nation and FOX News International and the AVOD platform FOX Weather. Currently the number one network in all of cable, FNC has also been the most watched television news channel for more than 19 consecutive years, while FBN currently ranks among the top business channels on cable. Owned by FOX Corporation, FOX News Media reaches 200 million people each month.

(This post was taken from a press release sent to me by FOX News Media)

Britta Merwin to replace Anthony Yanez on KPRC 2

As Anthony Yanez heads to KNBC LA, weekender Britta Merwin takes KPRC morning meteorologist job

Britta Merwin

Channel 2 viewers are emailing me that KPRC is running promos announcing a new morning meteorologist has been named and it is current weekend morning met Britta Merwin.

"I am honored and excited," Merwin told mikemcguff.com. "Anthony will be truly missed and we wish him good luck with his new adventure, although he will not need it. KNBC is lucky to have him."

As I blogged in October, current morning meteorologist Anthony Yanez is heading west to KNBC Los Angeles in 2015 so we knew there would be an opening.

When I recently blogged that KEZI 9 News chief meteorologist Justin Stapleton is joining KPRC from Eugene, Oregon, many readers thought he would be Yanez's replacement. I told them on Facebook, not so fast. A couple of station sources were pointing to Merwin for the main morning gig. So I guess we can assume Stapleton will replace Merwin on weekend mornings.

Let's face it, when Merwin was hired to do weekend mornings, I figured she would move up fast. She has a pretty impressive television resume. Merwin came to KPRC after working at KCRA Sacramento, CA. Before that she put in time at NBC Weather Plus and CNBC. Other stops in her local TV news career include KNSD San Diego and News 12 New Jersey.

As mentioned when Merwin was hired, I also believe she is the first TV talent I've written about to have her own entry in the online urban dictionary if that means anything to you.

Merwin will officially start the main morning gig January 16th.

As for Yanez, the man whose upcoming departure created this scenario, he's been busy too.

Leading up to his January 15th KPRC send off, Yanez has been busy plugging his new children's book A Wild Ride on the Water Cycle - a children's book that teaches weather science to younger readers.

He recently made an appearance at the Children's Museum of Houston to read from his book with help from Santa Claus! Click the title to find out more about Yanez's A Wild Ride on the Water Cycle.

The official site is jakeandalice.com.

* Post updated with Merwin response

Britta Merwin to leave KPRC 2

Britta Merwin, is leaving KPRC 2 and Houston, to head back to the East Coast for a new job.

UPDATE 6/24/2021
Britta Merwin and Stephen Morgan join FOX Weather

UPDATE 6/4//2021
Britta Merwin signs off KPRC 2 video

SAME DAY
- Tom Koch officially signs off
- Blake Mathews leaving KHOU 11

Here is Merwin's announcement on Facebook on Friday morning:

"I have tried to write this post so many times and it has become very obvious that there is no easy way to break this news... After 7 wonderful years I will be leaving KPRC2 on June 4th.

It is bittersweet to say goodbye to Houston but I am accepting a job (stay tuned for details) that will allow us to move back east to be by our family. I am excited for my kids to have their aunts and uncles at their games, to be by their grandparents and for their great-grandparents to have the opportunity to hold them often.

Thank you to my amazing team! It has been an honor to work alongside my coworkers who are honestly dear friends. We have gotten through the darkest times like Harvey and celebrated the best of life welcoming our babies and raising our children. Thank you for being my family away from home.

To all of our viewers, thank you for allowing me into your home every morning. It has been my greatest honor and an opportunity that I have held close to my heart.  Houston, a piece of you will always be with  me!"

The morning meteorologist, who arrived at Houston's channel 2 back in 2014, previously worked in the New York area for NBC (more on that in a moment).

Merwin started as the KPRC weekend morning meteorologist in May of 2014.  By the end of the same year, she was announced as Anthony Yanez's successor because he was heading to KNBC Los Angeles.

The self-proclaimed weather nut even gave birth during a tropical disturbance. How is that for meteorological timing! That might be akin to a financial reporter giving birth during a Wall Street crash!

The Emmy Nominated Meteorologist came came home to Texas (she was born in San Antonio) after working for KCRA Sacramento, California. She also worked for News12 New Jersey and News12 Long Island.

As I mentioned earlier, Merwin was a big presence on NBC.  According to her bio, she worked for NBC Weather Plus, CNBC, CNBC World, Nightly News, MSNBC and NBC owned station KNSD San Diego. At the primary meteorologist for CNBC, Merwin worked as the morning meteorologist for "Squawk Box."

Merwin studied Meteorology at New York's Stony Brook University. She graduated with Cum Laude honors and a Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Sciences-Meteorology degree.

Through her time in Houston, Merwin has also been active in the community.  

After realizing she was interested in forecasting after a local meteorologist visited her elementary school, Merwin has been inspiring the next generation with school weather education visits.

After her son was diagnosed with autism, Merwin has also become an advocate for autistic children.

Top Houston and Texas TV stories 2021

Just because 2021 was a wild year, I'm giving you the top 15 Houston and Texas television stories! No radio stories had enough reader traffic to make the top of the list for 2021. 

But seriously, thanks for the 1.7 million pageviews for 2021! Who would ever think, a free blogger account could do that much traffic? Imagine what I could do for your business?

Here are the top 2021 mikemcguff.com blog posts by pageviews. That means the readers decided the stories and order of this list by their clicks. 

1. Did KPRC reporter meltdown on live TV?
In February 2021, comedian John Crist created a comedy bit using KPRC 2.

2. Britta Merwin to leave KPRC 2
In May 2021, KPRC 2 morning meteorologist Britta Merwin announced she was leaving Houston. I knew Merwin was popular...but even I didn't know just how popular she was with Houston TV viewers!

3. Sydney Benter leaving KXAN Austin
In May 2021, anchor Sydney Benter announced she was leaving KXAN Austin. Austin TV viewers reacted on my blog.

4. Jennifer Reyna breaks silence after leaving KPRC
This was an old post from October 2019. People were searching for info on Jennifer Reyna in between her time at KPRC 2 and her new job at KHOU 11.

5.  Britta Merwin and Stephen Morgan join FOX Weather
After Britta Merwin announced her KPRC 2 departure, we learned she and FOX 26 KRIV meteorologist Stephen Morgan were leaving for the new FOX Weather in June.
- Britta Merwin talks FOX Weather and KPRC memories
- Stephen Morgan talks FOX Weather and FOX 26

6.  Dominique Sachse updates us on husband's terrible accident
A post from 2019. As we know, Sachse announced she was leaving KPRC and signed off in October 2021.

7.  Jennifer Reyna update 2020
See number 4 above.

8.  Casey Curry appears on KPRC 2
In August of 2021, Casey Curry, the former abc13 KTRK meteorologist did some fill-in time on KPRC 2.  The Houston internet blew up!

9.  Blake Mathews leaving KHOU 11
On May 28, 20211, Tom Koch signed off abc13 KTRK, Britta Merwin said she was leaving KPRC 2 and Blake Mathews announced he was exiting KHOU 11.  Mathews later joined CBS 11 KTVT in Dallas - Fort Worth.

10.  Yes, Justin Stapleton and Brandi Smith are a couple
In February 2021, KPRC 2 meteorologist Justin Stapleton and now KHOU 11 digital anchor Brandi Smith talked to me about their dating life.

11.  Collin Myers exits abc13 KTRK
Back in September 2020, I blogged that meteorologist Collin Myers had left the abc13 KTRK weather department. That post still was looked at a lot this year. In the summer of 2021, Myers did a fill-in stint on FOX 26 KRIV.  Late in 2021, he announced he was moving to Dallas.

12.  Mike Rush exits KVUE Austin
KVUE Austin morning anchor Mike Rush left the TEGNA station around March 2021. I'm still getting emails about Rush's departure, who by the way, has a Houston connection.

13. Delaine Mathieu exits News 4 San Antonio WOAI
In March 2021, News 4 San Antonio WOAI anchor Delaine Mathieu announced via a video that she was leaving the station. This was a day after Randy Beamer retired and signed off from WOAI after more than 30 years.

14.  Steven Romo leaves abc13 KTRK
In September 2021, abc13 KTRK weekend morning anchor left for New York to be with his fiance, former FOX 26 KRIV meteorologist Stephen Morgan who is now with FOX Weather.  Romo then landed a job with NBC News.

15.  Chelsey Hernandez leaves abc13 KTRK
Around March of 2021, Chelsey Hernandez left abc13 KTRK.  Later, with her married name of Chelsey Khan, started hosting "The Hampton Roads Show" on WAVY Norfolk, Virginia.

Britta Merwin and Stephen Morgan FOX Weather debut announced

 

Britta Merwin and Stephen Morgan are are making their FOX Weather debut Monday, October 25, 2021 as the service signs on.

- Britta Merwin talks FOX Weather and KPRC memories
- Britta Merwin to leave KPRC 2
- Britta Merwin signs off KPRC 2 video
- Stephen Morgan talks FOX Weather and FOX 26 

Speaking of Merwin, she and fellow former KPRC 2 meteorologist Eric Braate, work right across the street from each other in Manhattan. Braate is now a Meteorologist and Weather Executive Producer for WNBC 4 New York.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Britta Merwin (@brittamerwinwx)

RELATED
- Steven Romo joins NBC News

Also just announced for FOX Weather is the hiring of WABC ABC7 New York's Amy Freeze who has been with the Disney owned television station since 2011.  

FOX Weather is a free service that will be available at foxweather.com and through the FOX Weather app for iOS and Android. 

The streamer will also available be on internet-connected TVs via FOX NOW, the FOX News app, and Tubi.

Britta Merwin is pregnant

KPRC 2 morning meteorologist Britta Merwin announced on Facebook her pregnancy with baby number three!

"We are officially a party of 5," she posted.

In a clever photo collage with a nod to "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," Merwin shows her two sons are too large to fit in the baby crib. But baby #3 will fit just fine. According to her sign in the photo, baby #3 will arrive in fall of 2019.

Merwin can talk her pregnancy over with another expecting mom at KPRC...anchor Lauren Freeman. She can also talk the upcoming baby with other expecting moms at the other stations like abc13 KTRK morning anchor Samica Knight, KHOU 11 freelance meteorologist Lisa Vaughn, abc 13 KTRK morning traffic anchor Katherine Whaley and FOX 26 KRIV anchor Kaitlin Monte. KTRK abc13 weekend morning anchor Erica Simon just had her bundle of joy in February.

Merwin came to Houston and KPRC in 2014 after working at KCRA Sacramento, CA.

Back in 2011, TVSpy reported Merwin, who was seven months pregnant at the time, was leaving California and moving to Florida to be with her husband, who was training to be a Coast Guard pilot.

Before that Merwin worked at NBC Weather Plus, CNBC, KNSD San Diego and News 12 New Jersey.

CURRENT KPRC PREGNANCIES
- Sophia Beausoleil is pregnant
- Brittany Jeffers is pregnant
- Jacob Rascon is adding to his family
- Haley Hernandez is expecting
- Owen Conflenti announces second child
- Britta Merwin is pregnant
- Lauren Freeman is pregnant with 5th baby

OTHER PREGNANT HOUSTON NEWSCASTERS
- Chita Craft announces second pregnancy
- Lisa Hernandez shocks KHOU 11 crew with gender reveal
- Katherine Whaley is expecting
- Kaitlin Monte announced baby #2
- Lisa Vaughn is pregnant

RELATED
- Erica Rico has baby girl
- Samica Knight has her second baby

Merwin's click2houston.com bio image

(Thanks Doug!)

Britta Merwin and Stephen Morgan return to Houston

 

Britta Merwin and Stephen Morgan are returning to Houston for FOX Weather's coverage of the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey.

RELATED
- Britta Merwin talks FOX Weather and KPRC memories
- Stephen Morgan talks FOX Weather and FOX 26

Merwin and Morgan left KPRC 2 and FOX 26 KRIV Houston respectively in 2021 to join the the new weather streaming network. 

The two meteorologists will report live from Houston on Thursday, August 25th and Friday, August 26th. 

Who better to send than two mets who lived through Harvey covering it for Houston TV.

The former Houston TV talents will re-visit the neighborhoods and people that were severely impacted and highlight how the community has rebuilt since. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Frank Billingsley (@kprc2frankbillingsley)

Speaking of FOX Weather and Texas, this clip of one of its reporters rescuing a Dallas woman during the recent floods has been making its way around the web.

Anthony Yanez returns to KPRC 2

 

HOUSTON – July 19, 2021 – KPRC 2 is pleased to announce the return of Emmy Award-winning Meteorologist Anthony Yanez to its morning newscast KPRC 2 News Today, following more than six years at KNBC, part of the NBC Universal network in Los Angeles.

UPDATE
Anthony Yanez KPRC return promo video

RELATED

- PHOTOS: KPRC staff's big Anthony Yanez KNBC send off party
- Britta Merwin to leave KPRC 2
- Britta Merwin signs off KPRC 2 video
- Britta Merwin and Stephen Morgan join FOX Weather

“I have always loved KPRC 2 and Houston,” says Yanez, a married father of five. “The people in this community are one of a kind, and I can’t wait to get home.”

Prior to his departure in 2015, Anthony Yanez served as part of the KPRC 2 Weather team for more than 11 years and was a popular member of the KPRC 2 News morning team, alongside morning anchor Owen Conflenti.

“The ‘bromance’ of Anthony Yanez & Owen Conflenti has become something of a legend in Houston morning TV,” said KPRC 2 Vice President/General Manager Jerry Martin. “We are excited to have Anthony back on KPRC 2 News Today, where he belongs!”

Houston viewers got their first taste of Yanez in the Summer of 2003, during KPRC 2’s team coverage of Hurricane Claudette; it was his first day on the air!

    With over 25 years of broadcast news experience, Yanez found his passion in weather, and holds seals of approval with prominent weather organizations including the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and the National Weather Association (NWA).

He was awarded the 2020 best weathercast by the Radio & Television News Association of Southern California.

  Anthony came to KPRC 2 in 2003 from KRQE in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He returns to Texas with his wife Rebecca and their four Houston-born children. Their eldest child graduated from Lamar High School and Texas Tech and now lives in Washington, D.C. The Yanez family will be making the move with their two Houston-area adopted dogs named Harvey and Hurricane as well as their 4 cats.

Anthony’s first day at KPRC 2 will be September 1, 2021. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anthony Yanez (@anthonynbcla)

(This post was taken from a release sent to me by KPRC 2)

Britta Merwin has her baby during a tropical disturbance!

The universe has a funny sense of humor when KPRC 2 morning meteorologist Britta Merwin has her baby during a tropical storm/depression Imelda hitting Houston.

As I am writing this post, it's already starting to pick up here again! In fact, I am trying to post this quickly before we take a power hit. Lots of lighting and thunder right now.

"It's a GIRL!!! Of course I would have a baby during a tropical storm," wrote Merwin on Instagram. "We are thrilled to announce the birth of our 3rd child Lila Rose!"

Merwin let us know back in April that this makes baby three for her family and the first girl.

And since we have a baby boom over at KPRC, in case you missed it, morning anchor Owen Conflenti's baby was born this week too!

Basically my blog has become the KPRC 2019 baby boom blog I guess.

If my calculations are correct, any day you might see a post about reporter Sophia Beausoleil having her baby.

CURRENT KPRC PREGNANCIES
- Sophia Beausoleil is pregnant
- Brittany Jeffers is pregnant
- Jacob Rascon is adding to his family
- Haley Hernandez is expecting
- Cathy Hernandez baby gender reveal

Top mikemcguff blog posts for 2014

The 2014 number one post, in a matter of months, is now my most read post of all time!

Happy New Year! Here are the top Houston media stories of 2014 by page views on mikemcguff.com (although in years past, a Dallas story has been tops). So that means you decided this list by reading these posts the most throughout the year. And the number one story this year is even bigger than just 2014!

10. Courtney Zavala to leave KPRC 2 and TV
In November, popular weekend morning KPRC 2 anchor Courtney Zavala told me she was giving up TV to spend time with her family after juggling a crazy broadcast schedule.

9. Britta Merwin joins KPRC 2 as meteorologist
Last May, Britta Merwin came out of TV retirement to join KPRC 2. She had last worked at KCRA Sacramento. Merwin replaced Idolina Peralez. This week we found out Merwin is replacing the KNBC Los Angeles bound morning meteorologist Anthony Yanez.

8. KPRC 2 hires fmr. beauty queen, Sharron Melton vs Lily Jang and more
This old post from 2012 popped up because of one of the names in the title. Can you guess who? If not, scroll down to the top post for the details.

7. Casey Curry is pregnant
Once again, not a post from 2014, but when abc 13 KTRK morning meteorologist Casey Curry is mentioned, this number one 2013 entry still pops up at number 7 for this year. Curry's baby girl was born in January 2014.

6. Adela Uchida gone from abc13 KTRK with expanded weekend news on the way?
As KTRK abc13 added a half hour to its 10pm weekend newscast in January, anchor Adela Uchida left the station. She quickly joined News 92 KROI. When that station flipped to Boom 92.1 classic hip hop, Uchida announced she will join KEYE Austin.

5. KHOU 11 anchor Ron Trevino arrested; charged with DWI
In March, KHOU 11 reported, its own morning anchor, Ron Trevino, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. In June, Trevino's DWI case was dismissed.

4. Corey Foley leaves The Bull 100.3 KILT; plus other changes
Angry The New Bull @ 100.3 KILT listeners started emailing me in April about the fact Corey Foley left the CBS country morning show. Partner Greg Thunder remained and Cowboy Dave moved to nights. By November, Greg Thunder had left the station too. Will the morning duo reunite somewhere?

3. Katherine Whaley leaving KHOU 11
In June, KHOU announced it was re-hiring Darby Douglas for morning traffic. That meant his replacement, Katherine Whaley, was going to report. The call of the commute was clearly too much, so Whaley bolted for the comfort of KTRK abc13's chroma key traffic wall. She debuted on the Disney/ABC Television Group doing evening traffic, but many of my readers suspect she will eventually replace longtime morning man Don Nelson. One of many changes that could be possible in 2015 for channel 13.

2. 93.7 The Beat Houston replaces 93.7 The Arrow KKRW
Exactly a year ago, I was attached to my computer for hours (much to my wife's New Year's Eve chagrin) blogging about the death of classic rocker 93.7 The Arrow KKRW. The station that emerged from its low rated ashes was urban formatted 93.7 The Beat KQBT. Houston radio ratings were never the same afterwards. Clear Channel IHeart Media knew how to shake things up with this move. I think this event eventually killed News 92 KROI. In my top 2013 post, I predicted this one would make 2014's top 10...nailed that one!

1. Why is Sharron Melton a KTRK abc13 'field anchor' now?

Sharron Melton

And the number one 2014 mikemcguff.com blog post is...[insert drum roll here]...the re-assignment of KTRK abc13 morning anchor Sharron Melton to field anchor.

 I got flack from readers for asking what a field anchor is in my original post. Yes, I get it is something from years ago where an anchor was in the field, you know, anchoring the news. This is not what Melton is doing. She is doing the job as a morning reporter. Sounds like a contractual thing.

And she is getting rave reviews as a reporter too.

 But not only is this late August post my number one item for the year, it is also the number one post of all time on my blog. And I have been publishing since 2005! So in a matter of months, Melton's post has shot up to my most read post...EVER. I have NEVER received so much angry email about a Houston media figure (Please don't blame me, I had nothing to do with her move!). I can just imagine what the station must be getting from her very devoted fans. So far, Melton's presumed morning anchor replacement is weekender Samica Knight.

Here is to a great 2015 for the Houston TV, radio, newspaper and digital crowd! It makes a decade for this little free media blog plugging along on blogger.com. This year it hit a high of 130,000 monthly unique readers in July! (more than a million readers overall for the year) Thank you.

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Britta Merwin signs off KPRC 2 video

Britta Merwin signed off the KPRC 2 AM newscast this morning and the station showed some special moments the popular meteorologist experienced over the years in Houston.

As I blogged last Friday, Merwin announced she is leaving KPRC for a job on the East Coast.

Yes, 7 KPRC babies are coming in 2019!

Channel 2 is leading the way in getting new viewers...they are literally delivering them!

Lucky number 7! That’s how many of us @KPRC2 are expecting! #BabyBoom #2 @KPRC2Lauren @KPRC2Britta @kprc2owen @KPRC2SophiaB @KPRC2Haley @KPRC2Jacob @KPRC2BrittanyJ pic.twitter.com/t8qtSk9zeH

— Sophia Beausoleil (@KPRC2SophiaB) June 12, 2019

Overall, most of my readers love the Houston TV pregnancy posts, but I get a few complaints.

However, let it be pointed out that at this moment, seven KPRC 2 anchor and/or reporters are expecting new additions to their families.

That is kinda wild.

So the question is, when will I have to add to this list?

We had the great Houston TV baby boom a few years ago, but this one probably tops it. And of course, in addition to channel 2, we have babies on the way at other stations too!

Congrats to all!


CURRENT KPRC PREGNANCIES
- Cathy Hernandez is pregnant
- Sophia Beausoleil is pregnant
- Brittany Jeffers is pregnant
- Jacob Rascon is adding to his family
- Haley Hernandez is expecting
- Owen Conflenti announces second child
- Britta Merwin is pregnant
- Lauren Freeman is pregnant with 5th baby

OTHER PREGNANT HOUSTON NEWSCASTERS
- Maria Salazar is pregnant
- Brhe Berry is pregnant
- Rachel Briers is expecting
- Shelley Childers annouces baby 2
- Chita Craft announces second pregnancy
- Lisa Hernandez shocks KHOU 11 crew with gender reveal
- Katherine Whaley is expecting
- Kaitlin Monte announced baby #2
- Lisa Vaughn is pregnant

THE BABY IS HERE
- Cathy Hernandez has baby!
- Shelley Childers has baby #2
- Chita Craft has baby #2
- Brittany Jeffers has baby
- Jacob Rascon has a new baby son
- Lisa Hernandez has her baby!
- Haley Hernandez and Sophia Beausoleil have babies same day!
- Britta Merwin has her baby during a tropical disturbance!
- Owen Conflenti adds a boy to the family
- Lisa Vaughn has her baby
- Katherine Whaley has her baby
- Lauren Freeman has baby 5
- Kaitlin Monte's baby is here
- Top Baby Names for 2018
- Erica Rico has baby girl
- Samica Knight has her second baby

Top Houston media stories 2019

Top mikemcguff blog posts for 2019 by your clicks

2019 was good for the old mikemcguff.com blog with nearly 1 million readers stopping by this year! Not bad for a free blogger.com blog.

I guess blogs aren't totally dead like they say.

Here are the top 2019 mikemcguff.com blog posts by pageviews. That means the readers decided the stories and order of this list by their clicks.


1. Jennifer Reyna breaks silence after leaving KPRC
Former channel 2 traffic anchor Jennifer Reyna posts a message of love to Instagram

2. Jennifer Reyna is leaving KPRC 2
Jennifer Reyna left KPRC 2 after more than 13 years.

3. Lauren Freeman is pregnant with 5th baby
UPDATE: Lauren Freeman has baby 5

4. Lainie Fritz to leave KPRC 2
After three years, KPRC 2 sports reporter Lainie Fritz announced departure from the station.

5. Erica Rico has baby girl
Erica Rico posted photos of her new baby.

6. Houston anchor desk replacements in 2019?
I kicked 2019 off with questions about all of the open TV jobs at the time.

7. Britta Merwin is pregnant
UPDATE: Britta Merwin has her baby during a tropical disturbance!

8. Ryan Korsgard is leaving KPRC 2
After nearly 16 years in Houston, reporter Ryan Korsgard left KPRC 2.
UPDATE: Ryan Korsgard joins Million Air Austin

9. Brooks Garner gone from KHOU 11
UPDATE: Brooks Garner joins FOX 31 Denver

10. Dominique Sachse updates us on husband's terrible accident
Dominique Sachse and husband Nick Florescu shared an update concerning his accident earlier in 2019.

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