Meteorologist Jeriann Ritter reveals heartbreaking ALS diagnosis

WHO 13 meteorologist Jeriann Ritter has shared an emotional health update after doctors told her she is likely facing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS.

In a candid interview that aired February 24, Ritter said the progressive neurological disease could end her long broadcasting career. Doctors have warned there is currently no cure.

“I didn’t forecast this storm hitting. It’s raining right now, and I’m just trying to find the sunshine,” Ritter said through tears. “But I’m gonna do what I’ve always been doing for almost 50 years of my life. I’m gonna live, and I’m gonna love.”

Ritter, who has been a meteorologist at WHO since 2004, first noticed something was wrong in October when her speech began to sound different.

She initially visited her dentist, believing something was wrong with her teeth. The concern triggered a series of medical referrals that eventually led to a neurologist, who identified signs consistent with bulbar ALS.

The possible diagnosis came as a shock.

Ritter said she was in denial at first and had not been prepared for the news.

As her speech difficulties became more noticeable, viewers began reaching out with concern. One message in particular stayed with her.

“Someone asked me, ‘Are you drunk?’” Ritter recalled, explaining how hard she had been trying to mask her symptoms. “It is killing me that something that came so easy is so hard.”

She first addressed her health publicly in a January 12 social media post, telling viewers she was experiencing voice issues but was receiving medical care.

ALS, the same neurodegenerative disease that has affected several public figures including actor Eric Dane, gradually impacts nerve cells that control muscle movement and speech.

Despite the devastating outlook, Ritter said she is determined to focus on living fully and spending time with her family. She also hopes her decades on air could help researchers better understand how ALS progresses, particularly in speech patterns.

“I’m probably done telling you about the weather, but I still have a lot to say,” she said. “I want it to be about spreading love.”

Her colleagues and viewers have since flooded social media with messages of support.