Harvey Leonard to retire, but he won’t walk away from the weather
As far back as Harvey Leonard can remember, he was fascinated by the weather.
When he was supposed to be listening in school, his mind invariably wandered off to the windows if it was snowing. And he was enthralled by the intensity of some storms.
“I used to drive my parents crazy, switching channels to see all the weather reports while they were trying to watch TV,” Leonard remembered with a chuckle. “All these years later, I still have that same affliction.”
This week, after 20 years as WCVB Channel 5’s longtime, chief meteorologist, Leonard announced his plan to retire from the helm of StormTeam 5 effective on May 25.
However, viewers will continue to benefit from Leonard’s expertise as he’ll transition from his daily role to the position of chief meteorologist emeritus, contributing to severe weather and climate coverage important to Boston and surrounding communities.
He will begin his new role in the fall.
Leonard’s career spans 50 years, 45 of which he spent forecasting weather in New England.
“After five wonderful decades doing a job that I love, and after having received so many distinguished honors from dear colleagues and professional organizations, I’ve decided it’s time to step back from my day-to-day role at WCVB and transition to contributing in a new way,” Leonard, 73, said in his announcement.
“My new role will allow me the best of both worlds,” he said: “I will still contribute to StormTeam 5 coverage serving our community with important information as well as remain an active member of the Channel 5 family, and I will get to spend more time enjoying activities with my personal family.”
“There is nobody who is more revered and beloved by the community and colleagues than Harvey Leonard,” Kyle Grimes, WCVB Channel 5 President and General Manager, said in a statement. “Over the course of his extraordinary career, and his two decades as chief meteorologist at WCVB, Harvey has had an indelible influence on all of those he has mentored, on the community organizations with which he is involved, and all of us here at Channel 5. We sincerely thank him for all he has done and what he’ll continue to contribute in his emeritus role.”