Longtime Meteorologist Harvey Leonard Retires At WCVB Boston

Harvey Leonard

Longtime WCVB Boston chief meteorologist Harvey Leonard announced Wednesday that he will retire later this month, capping a full-time career that spanned five decades, including more than 45 years forecasting weather in fickle New England, reports The Boston Globe.

In a statement, WCVB said the 73-year-old Leonard will step away from his daily role on May 25 but will continue as chief meteorologist emeritus beginning in the fall where he will contribute to “severe weather and climate coverage important to our community.”

“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, who has been with Channel 5 for 20 years, said in the statement.

Leonard - back in the day

Leonard’s legendary career included many highlights, starting with the infamous Blizzard of ‘78, when Leonard made his name by delivering an accurate and detailed forecast of the storm’s intensity and impact a few days before it hit. Decades and many snowstorms later, Leonard and his team of meteorologists guided viewers through the relentless snow of 2015, when four storms each dropped more than a foot of the white stuff on Boston in short succession.

Leonard served as chief meteorologist at WHDH in Boston and WPRI in Providence before joining WCVB in 2002 as StormTeam 5′s co-chief meteorologist with Dick Albert, his longtime friend who retired in 2009, the statement said.

A four-time New England Emmy winner for outstanding achievement in weather forecasting, Leonard was named Broadcaster of the Year in 2019 by the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association and was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2018, the statement said.