Meteorologist Breaks Down on Live TV Over Hurricane Milton’s Power: ‘I Apologize — This Is Just Horrific’

A Florida meteorologist visibly choked up during a recent broadcast as he reported on the potentially devastating impact of Hurricane Milton.

John Morales became emotional while providing updates on Milton during an NBC affiliate WTVJ telecast on Monday, Oct. 7.

“Incredible, incredible hurricane,” Morales began before pausing.

“It has dropped 50 millibars in 10 hours,” he added as tears appeared to well up in his eyes.

“I apologize — this is just horrific,” he said.

He continued the broadcast by updating residents off-camera as the weather map became the focal point. However, viewers could still hear the emotion in his voice throughout the segment.

“I debated whether to share this. I did apologize on the air,” Morales later posted on X, linking to his coverage of climate change and weather.

“I invite you to read my introspection on of how extreme weather … driven by global warming has changed me. Frankly, YOU should be shaken too,” he wrote.

On Monday, Hurricane Milton strengthened to a Category 3 and intensified to a Category 5 just a short time later. The weather phenomenon could potentially include a storm surge of at least 12 feet with winds as high as 160 mph, WTVJ reported.

Milton will likely weaken and then make landfall near Tampa, Fla. on Wednesday, Oct. 9, as a Category 3, according to the outlet.

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Due to the severity of the storm, multiple counties in Florida continue to be under a state of emergency and the Orlando International Airport will suspend operations on Wednesday, WTVJ reported.

Milton is the latest storm to ravage the state of Florida just two weeks after the devastation of Hurricane Helene.