Beloved Meteorologist Jym Ganahl Passes Away at 76
Former NBC4 chief meteorologist Jym Ganahl, a staple of Columbus broadcasting for nearly six decades, has passed away at 76. His family announced Tuesday that Ganahl died of natural causes on February 3rd but is choosing to keep the news private until after a the private family funeral.
Ganahl’s meteorology career began at just 17 years old in Waterloo, Iowa, before he moved to Columbus in 1979 to join NBC4, then known as WCMH. Throughout the 1980s, he became a household name as part of the legendary news team “Doug, Mona, Jimmy, and Jym,” alongside anchors Doug Adair and Mona Scott and sports anchor Jimmy Crum.
RELATED: Columbus’ First Black Police Chief, James Jackson, Dies at 91
Ganahl mentored longtime colleague Ben Gelber, who remains at NBC4 today. After delivering his final on-air forecast in 2016, Ganahl retired but later took on a part-time role at WSYX/WTTE, officially stepping away in March 2023.
Known for his deep knowledge of weather and folklore, he could famously predict the temperature by “counting cricket chirps” or determine snowfall patterns based on forsythia blooms.
Ganahl is survived by two daughters and seven grandchildren. NBC4 has invited fans to share memories and condolences on its Facebook page.
Beloved Meteorologist Jym Ganahl Passes Away at 76 was originally published on ronemycolumbusmagic.staging.go.ione.nyc