Eric Burke
Meteorologist
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Eric Burke joined the WAFF 48 First Alert weather team as the weekend meteorologist in September 2017 before moving to weekday mornings in 2022. He has over a decade of experience working in broadcast and covering severe weather. Eric is a member of the American Meteorological Society and earned the AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal of approval in 2015.
Eric comes to the Rocket City from WTVQ in Lexington, Kentucky and is excited to call North Alabama home. Prior to working in Lexington, Eric was the weekday morning meteorologist at KNBN in Rapid City, South Dakota. Growing up, he always had a fascination with severe weather and winter storms. That weather passion led Eric to attend Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. He earned his B.S. in meteorology and obtained a minor in broadcast journalism. While at NIU, Eric worked as a meteorologist and reporter for the student run TV station, NTC News Tonight. He also was an intern at WREX in Rockford, IL and at WFLD Fox Chicago before moving to the Black Hills of South Dakota.
When he isn’t forecasting the weather, Eric is an avid golfer and will likely be found on a local golf course. In his spare time he also enjoys traveling with his wife Heather, playing goalie in a recreational ice hockey league or trying new barbeque/smoker recipes in his backyard. Eric grew up in Homer Glen, Illinois and is a Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Cubs fan.
Updated: Mar. 28, 2023 at 3:59 AM CDT
|By Eric Burke
The cloud cover overhead will stay in place for the morning hours ahead of the approaching cold front, drier air will filter in from the northwest through the day and winds will be breezy during the afternoon gusting up to 20 miles per hour. Skies will be partly cloudy late in the day Tuesday with highs near average in the middle 60s.
Updated: Mar. 27, 2023 at 3:42 AM CDT
|By Eric Burke
Cloud cover will move out quickly today with mainly sunny skies into the afternoon, highs will reach the upper 60s to lower 70s. More clouds will move in overnight with cooler morning temperatures in the middle to upper 40s.
Updated: Mar. 26, 2023 at 4:36 AM CDT
|By Eric Burke
Despite the morning clouds, Sunday will be a mainly dry and sunny day for the morning and afternoon hours, highs will reach the middle to upper 70s. Isolated to widely scattered rain showers and storms will develop for Sunday evening and overnight, a few storms may be stronger in nature with some brief gusty winds.
Updated: Mar. 25, 2023 at 2:56 PM CDT
|By Eric Burke
Temps dip back to around 50 degrees and Sunday will be mostly sunny.
Updated: Mar. 25, 2023 at 8:41 AM CDT
|By Eric Burke
Friday is a First Alert Weather Day.
Updated: Mar. 23, 2023 at 3:46 AM CDT
|By Eric Burke
The tree pollen count will be very high for today and Friday.
Updated: Mar. 16, 2023 at 3:58 AM CDT
|By Eric Burke
We will remain dry through the evening commute before widespread rain showers will move in late tonight into the Friday morning commute
Updated: Mar. 15, 2023 at 3:51 AM CDT
|By Eric Burke
Today will be another sunny and cool winter day with highs reaching the middle to upper 50s, winds will be very light from the northeast. Mostly clear skies stay in place overnight, but a light southeast breeze will keep things a little warmer in the low to middle 30s.
Updated: Mar. 14, 2023 at 5:39 AM CDT
|By Eric Burke
Despite the very cold start, today will be another sunny and dry day across the Tennessee Valley with highs staying well below average topping out near 50 degrees
Updated: Mar. 13, 2023 at 5:37 AM CDT
|By Eric Burke
A Freeze Watch is in effect from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tuesday for overnight lows dropping into the upper 20s to lower 30s by daybreak
Updated: Mar. 10, 2023 at 5:46 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Cloud cover will start to clear out by mid-morning with some sunshine expected later today, things will be cool with highs reaching the middle to upper 50s with a breezy northwest wind. Skies remain clear overnight and this will allow our overnight temperatures to drop quickly into the middle 30s, areas of frost will be expected for Saturday morning!
Updated: Mar. 9, 2023 at 3:47 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Today will stay cloudy with periods of scattered to numerous rain showers from late morning through the afternoon
Updated: Mar. 8, 2023 at 3:47 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Today will be mostly cloudy and dry with highs staying near average around 60 degrees, winds will be breezy from the northeast. Scattered rain showers will start to develop into Wednesday afternoon and evening, rainfall totals should be fairly light and the best rainfall coverage will be west of I-65.
Updated: Mar. 7, 2023 at 6:19 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Today will be another beautiful March day across the Tennessee Valley with sunshine and highs reaching the low to middle 70s, the north wind will occasionally gust to 15 miles per hour. Enjoy today because things start to change for the rest of the week. Clouds will be partly cloudy overnight with lows dropping into the middle 40s.
Updated: Mar. 6, 2023 at 5:37 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
We will start off our Monday with fair skies and temps ranging from the upper 30s to lower 50s, a light jacket should be all you need heading out the door. Skies will stay mainly sunny through the day with temperatures reaching the middle to upper 70s for highs, winds will be breezy from the southeast.
Updated: Mar. 3, 2023 at 7:51 PM CST
|By Eric Burke and Jeff Desnoyers
The DeKalb County EMA confirmed a tornado was seen in the area of Section, Alabama, around 12: 45 p.m.
Updated: Mar. 3, 2023 at 3:56 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Today is a First Alert Weather Day for the threat of strong to severe storms during the morning into the early afternoon. A line of strong to severe storms will move into NW Alabama as early as 8AM and track eastward through the morning. This line of storms can produce damaging straight-line wind gusts, hail and embedded tornadoes.
Updated: Mar. 2, 2023 at 3:44 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
The severe weather threat for the Tennessee Valley has ended for this morning and our main concern will be flash flooding and flooded roads for the morning commute. Today is also a First Alert Weather for a threat of strong to severe storms during the afternoon and early evening. However, unlike last night, this is a very “conditional threat” for severe weather.
Updated: Feb. 28, 2023 at 5:40 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Today will be an absolutely fantastic end to the month of February with plenty of sunshine, highs in the middle 70s and very little wind
Updated: Feb. 27, 2023 at 1:18 PM CST
|By Eric Burke
Secure any loose outdoor items that may blow away in the wind and also use caution when traveling
Updated: Feb. 23, 2023 at 5:41 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Mainly cloudy skies are overhead with isolated rain showers moving in from the west early in the day, showers will wrap up by late morning. Winds will stay breezy from the south gusting up to 20 miles per hour with near record high temperatures in the lower 80s, cloud cover will start to clear out by the afternoon.
Updated: Feb. 22, 2023 at 5:57 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Early cloud cover will thin out a bit leaving us with more sunshine than the past two days, record high temperatures are in the forecast for this afternoon topping out in the upper 70s to lower 80s.
Updated: Feb. 21, 2023 at 3:50 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Very isolated rain showers will be possible through the late morning and afternoon hours, highs today will reach the upper 60s to lower 70s with a light breeze becoming southeasterly. Some isolated rain showers can be expected overnight into Wednesday morning with lows staying warm in the lower 60s, the wind will increase overnight and should prevent any widespread fog from developing.
Updated: Feb. 20, 2023 at 3:58 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Highs today will reach the upper 60s with isolated showers expected into the afternoon
Updated: Feb. 17, 2023 at 4:01 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
The last of the rain showers will depart Northeast Alabama by mid-morning and clouds will gradually start to clear out. Even with the clearing skies and some sunshine, highs today will only reach the low to middle 40s with a breezy wind from the northwest gusting to 30 miles per hour.
Updated: Feb. 16, 2023 at 6:47 PM CST
|By Brad Travis and Eric Burke
All forms of severe weather will be possible today including, 60+ mph wind, large hail and tornadoes
Updated: Feb. 15, 2023 at 6:16 PM CST
|By Eric Burke
Any strong to severe storms that do develop have the potential of producing damaging straight-line winds, large hail, heavy rainfall and even isolated tornadoes
Updated: Feb. 14, 2023 at 5:44 PM CST
|By Eric Burke
Widespread rain showers are not expected today but a few isolated rain showers will be possible
Updated: Feb. 13, 2023 at 3:39 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Despite the cold start this morning, it will be a sunny and mild day across the Tennessee Valley with high temperatures climbing into the lower 60s
Updated: Feb. 10, 2023 at 3:52 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
A mix of sun and clouds is in the forecast for today with a north wind between 5 to 15 miles per hour, highs will be near average in the middle to upper 50s. Skies will stay mostly cloudy overnight with lows dipping into the 30s again by daybreak Friday. Saturday will be a cloudy day with colder temps in the upper 40s to lower 50s with a breezy wind from the northeast.
Updated: Feb. 9, 2023 at 3:53 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Showers will end by mid-morning followed by clearing skies into the afternoon
Updated: Feb. 8, 2023 at 3:50 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
The gradient winds will really start to pick up late this evening with wind gusts 30 to 40 miles per hour possible, a Wind Advisory may be issued for tonight. We will be tracking a weakening line of thunderstorms moving in from the west late this evening into early Thursday morning. The overall threat for severe weather does appear low at this time, but a few stronger storms can produce 45 mph wind gusts, frequent lightning and locally heavy rainfall.
Updated: Feb. 7, 2023 at 3:50 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Skies will be partly to mostly cloudy with a steady breeze from the south between 5 to 15 miles per hour, highs today will reach the middle to upper 60s. Cloud cover will thicken overnight and a few isolated showers will be possible by daybreak Wednesday, morning lows will be comfortable in the middle 40s to lower 50s.
Updated: Feb. 6, 2023 at 3:39 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Today will be a great start to the week with highs climbing into the low to middle 60s under abundant sunshine, winds will be light from the southeast between 3 to 7 miles per hour. A few more clouds will push in overnight and this will keep our temperatures a bit more comfortable in the low to middle 40s.
Updated: Feb. 3, 2023 at 3:52 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Skies remain clear tonight allowing our lows to drop into the 20s
Updated: Feb. 2, 2023 at 3:48 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Today will be overcast and wet with widespread light to moderate rain showers moving in from the west and staying with us through most of the day, rainfall totals will likely be in the ½ to 1 inch range by the time the rain ends later tonight. Cloud cover will start to thin out overnight into Friday morning with increasing winds from the north, the wind chill will be in the teens and 20s as you head out the door so please dress warm!
Updated: Feb. 1, 2023 at 5:43 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Temps are chilly in the 30s to start the day with overcast skies and a north wind limiting our warming potential
Updated: Jan. 31, 2023 at 3:34 PM CST
|By Eric Burke
A second wave of rain showers will come through starting during the evening commute and staying with us through the overnight hours
Updated: Jan. 30, 2023 at 3:51 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Rain showers will quickly depart to the east this morning and we will hang on to the mostly cloudy to overcast skies, highs today will reach the upper 50s to lower 60s. Despite the clouds and some occasional drizzle, today will likely be the best day of the work and school week! Rain showers will move in late tonight into the Tuesday morning commute, rainfall totals with this overnight wave should be fairly light.
Updated: Jan. 29, 2023 at 7:17 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Expect some pockets of light rain showers across the Tennessee Valley, which is just the start of a soggy January day ahead.
Updated: Jan. 29, 2023 at 4:10 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Rain showers will become more scattered to numerous as we head through the morning into the afternoon, rainfall can be heavy at times. Clouds will stay with us through the day and the wind will be from the southeast, highs will reach the lower 50s.
Updated: Jan. 28, 2023 at 8:25 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Fair skies and cold temperatures will kick off our weekend, with many of us waking up in the upper 20s to lower 30s.
Updated: Jan. 28, 2023 at 4:17 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Today will be a very pleasant day in late January with highs reaching the middle to upper 50s, more clouds will push in through the late afternoon into the evening. Winds can be breezy at times gusting up to 15 miles per hour from the southeast. Isolated to scattered rain showers will develop late this evening and stay overnight into Sunday, lows will be cool in the low to middle 40s.
Updated: Jan. 27, 2023 at 3:39 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
We will see plenty of sunshine through the morning into the afternoon with the wind picking up from the southwest, wind gusts can reach 20 miles per hour through the afternoon. Highs today will be near average in the upper 40s to lower 50s. Skies will stay clear overnight into Saturday morning, areas of frost can be expected for the morning hours as lows will drip into the upper 20s to lower 30s again.
Updated: Jan. 20, 2023 at 3:49 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Today will be mostly sunny and cooler with afternoon highs in the low to middle 50s
Updated: Jan. 19, 2023 at 12:29 PM CST
|By Eric Burke and Jeff Desnoyers
Cloud cover will move out to the east by mid-morning leaving us generally sunny with highs climbing near 70 degrees this afternoon. Winds will be breezy through the day out of the southwest with occasional gusts over 25 miles per hour. The colder air will begin to push in late tonight with the wind becoming more northwesterly, morning lows will be chilly in the middle 30s under fair skies.
Updated: Jan. 18, 2023 at 3:47 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
High temperatures will reach the middle 60s to lower 70s with isolated rain showers possible through the afternoon. A cold front will approach from the west late tonight and will bring a line of thunderstorms with it. This line of storms will enter NW Alabama around 8-9 PM and will move east through the overnight hours.
Updated: Jan. 17, 2023 at 5:32 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Rain showers will end by mid-morning and skies will slowly clear into the afternoon
Updated: Jan. 16, 2023 at 3:45 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Clouds will stay with us for most of the day today with highs warming into the middle to upper 50s, winds will start to increase through the afternoon with gusts over 20 miles per hour expected. While most of the day will be dry, a few isolated rain showers will be possible. Showers will pick up in coverage and intensity late tonight through the overnight hours, lows will stay warm near 50 degrees.
Updated: Jan. 13, 2023 at 5:40 AM CST
|By Eric Burke
Some periods of drizzle or a wintry mix will be expected starting during the morning commute and continuing through the late morning into the afternoon. There is a chance of even seeing some light snow showers in parts of Middle Tennessee and NE Alabama, a trace to dusting of snow may be possible in these areas on grassy or elevated surfaces.
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