MPR News names Ben Cathey as new chief meteorologist

May 18, 2026

ST. PAUL, Minn., May 18, 2026 – MPR News has announced that following a national search, award-winning meteorologist Ben Cathey will serve as the next chief meteorologist. Cathey will take the helm from veteran meteorologist Paul Huttner, who retired earlier this spring.

Cathey holds meteorology certifications from the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association and is a nationally recognized science communicator. He comes to MPR News from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he's been a Ted Scripps Fellow in Environmental Journalism — the first meteorologist ever chosen in the program's 30-year history.

Most recently, Cathey has been reporting in Tierra del Fuego on behalf of the Pulitzer Center, studying climate impacts on wildfires for a multimedia special. He has extensive experience working in TV news, including at WVLT-TV in Knoxville, Tenn., and WTVG-TV in Toledo, Ohio, and has covered various climate issues, including endangered wildlife, heat waves, droughts, and extreme weather. Additionally, Cathey has reported from every type of natural disaster zone – including floods, tornadoes, derechos, and wildfires.

“Ben's forecasting is first-rate, plus his deep commitment to climate coverage brings depth to a beat that matters so much to Minnesotans,” said Stephanie Curtis, programming director at MPR News. “We’re thrilled to have Ben on our already stellar weather team.”

Cathey has won many awards and accolades for his reporting and coverage, including four Emmy Awards, seven Edward R. Murrow awards, and was named AP’s ‘Weather Anchor’ of the Year for Tennessee’s Large Markets in 2020. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami in meteorology and broadcast journalism.

As chief meteorologist, Cathey will lead daily meteorology coverage at MPR News, including Climate Cast and the Updraft weather blog. He will work closely with meteorology team Sven Sungaard and Mandy Thalhuber in this role.

“The chief meteorologist job at Minnesota Public Radio is truly a dream role. The legacy of MPR — at a hyperlocal and national level — is unmatched,” said Cathey. “I’m so excited to spread my love of science, climate, weird weather, and space with listeners across the state. Folks are so attuned to the changing weather, for ice fishing, farming, and just knowing whether to eat on the porch or have dinner inside. I’ve got big shoes to fill, and I’m thrilled to get to work.”

Cathey’s first day at MPR News is May 18. Listeners will hear him regularly on All Things Considered starting May 25. More about MPR News’ award-winning weather team is available at mprnews.org/weather.

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About Minnesota Public Radio

Minnesota Public Radio® (MPR®) operates a 45-station radio network serving almost all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states for more than 50 years. MPR reaches nearly 900,000 weekly listeners. MPR and its three regional services—MPR News, YourClassical MPR and The Current®—produce programming for radio, digital and live audiences. Programs produced by MPR’s national programming division, American Public Media® (APM), reaches over 15 million listeners across 1,000 public radio stations each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world. For more information on MPR, visit mpr.org.

Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio, PSA and PPM data, P12+, Mon- Sun 6a-12m, Fall ‘24 + Spring ‘25.

About MPR News

MPR News has long been recognized as one of the foremost journalistic organizations in the Upper Midwest, reaching news consumers across all platforms. Reaching over 500,000 weekly listeners, the MPR News radio signal can be heard by 95 percent of Minnesotans. MPR News has received numerous awards for its reporting, including George Foster Peabody Awards, the Alfred I. DuPont Award and the RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Award. Visit mprnews.org for the latest regional, national and international headlines.