SYRACUSE -- Three weeks since we first reported Dave Eichorn will return to NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV) in 2014, the ABC affiliate has finally announced when viewers will be able to see him. The former chief meteorologist will be splitting the station's evening newscasts with current chief meteorologist Dave Longley.
According to an article posted today on LocalSYR.com, Eichorn will handle forecasting duties weeknights at 5:30 and 11:00pm, starting in January. Chief Meteorologist Dave Longley will slide his schedule to cover the noon, 5:00pm and 6:00pm newscasts. Jim Teske, who had been handling the noon show, will be moving to "The Morning News" (4:30-7:00am, plus local cut-ins during "Good Morning America") when Chris Brandolino leaves at the end of this month.
Channel 9 has produced a video promo touting Eichorn's return:
Eichorn also appeared this morning on "Bridge Street," channel 9's mid-morning local talk show:
When WSYR-TV news director Robert Cartwright first told CNYTVNews.com about Eichorn's impending return, he said one of the most common questions he had fielded from viewers was, "When is Dave Eichorn going to come back?"
Eichorn was channel 9's chief meteorologist from 1990 to 2008. Since leaving channel 9, he has been providing weather forecasts for radio station Y94 (WYYY) and for nearly a year, he has been working for the Syracuse Media Group, where he handles weather coverage for the Post-Standard and syracuse.com. Eichorn also teaches meteorology classes at SUNY Oswego, SUNY ESF and Onondaga Community College.
No word yet on who will be covering weekends -- Julia Weiden, who currently appears on all of the station's weekend newscasts (at 7am, 6pm and 11pm) will soon be leaving to take a new job doing weekday mornings for a station outside of New York State. Her last newscasts in Syracuse will be Sunday, December 29.
You guys are the best! I will miss Chris but he left once and came back...maybe he will do it again...and this may not be politically correct but oh well, get Wayne Mahar to join all of you all and you all will be the best of the best on the east coast! I've not been further than the east coast but I am sure you can out do the whole country any time. GO Channel 9 Weather Team!!!!
I think Dave Eichorn is one of the best meteorologists int he country. He and Dave Longely have made watching weather more enjoyable and understandable because they have always taken the time to break down the weather and explain it in simple terms for the average person to understand the complicated world of weather. No hype, no yelling or screaming, and never afraid to modify or update a forecast if the situation warrants. We all know that no one person, or, computer can predict weather 100% more than 3-days out, and, Dave and Dave have never tried to do that just to get attention.
Keep up the great work.