Robert Gauthreaux III

Born in New Orleans' 9th Ward, Robert is an Emmy-nominated certified broadcast meteorologist who began his career broadcasting the weather in 2013. Robert comes to us most recently from Lubbock, Texas where he served as a bilingual meteorologist for Fox34, Telemundo Nuevo Mexico and Telemundo Lubbock. Robert was also previously a broadcast meteorologist in Baton Rouge, La. and Alexandria, La. Robert is currently a doctoral candidate of Texas Tech University’s College of Media and Communication, where he is a Helen Devitt Jones Fellowship recipient. Robert is driven by his passion to connect with the everyday viewer. He strives to build a grounded, personal relationship with them, so they can hear the weather forecast from a friend rather than “some guy on TV.” Robert feels meteorological knowledge is a must for weather broadcasters, but so is a clear message which the viewer can understand. Robert avoids overly "sciencey" presentations and instead presents the weather in an easy-to-understand and relevant manner, so viewers can simply know what to expect and how to prepare for the day, especially during severe weather. This passion for clear communication is the reason why he helped facilitate the local Integrated Warning Team for the New Orleans/Baton Rouge area, a collaboration between the National Weather Service, emergency management, and local media. He was also present during Lubbock's own inaugural Integrated Warning Team meeting. Robert is also a certified broadcast meteorologist of the American Meteorological Society. Robert holds a highly uncommon, yet advantageous combination of degrees. He has a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from the University of South Alabama, as well as a Master of Science in Geography (Climatology) from LSU where he studied under Louisiana State Climatologist Barry Keim. This is in conjunction with his pursuit of a Ph.D. at Texas Tech. Robert’s doctoral research focuses on neuroscience. Specifically, he researches the cognitive and emotional processing of weather information, by utilizing psychophysiological measures to discover how the brain understands a weather broadcast. In addition, by capitalizing on the parasocial relationship between weathercaster and viewer, he hopes to find the best ways to create the most permeating, wide-reaching, and clearly understood weather messaging practices in the industry. Robert is a qualified expert witness in United States District Court, and was awarded “Best Breaking Weather” by the Louisiana Associated Press in 2014. For his social media presence in 2017, he was presented the “#PeoplesChoice” award from the Baton Rouge Social Media Society, its highest honor. While in Louisiana, he managed the first weather social media accounts in American Sign Language (ASL) affiliated with local news in the nation, and also the first and only in Spanish for the state. Robert is an Eagle Scout and a member of the Omicron Kappa Delta honor society. He is also a member of the American Meteorological Society, National Weather Association, and is also a Knight of Columbus where he was elected as his council's 2021 "Rookie of the Year." In his younger years, he competed in Washington State's high school water polo championship, and was also a Washington State champion in Destination Imagination. On a personal note, Robert speaks Spanish and knows some American Sign Language. He loves to play the baritone saxophone, as well as trivia. He loves to travel, including long road trips where he "collects" new counties and actually goes out of his way to visit new ones. He also is trying to visit the museum of every U.S. president. While he is from Louisiana, he did spend 12 years of his life outside Seattle in the city of Puyallup. Robert loves discovering all the exciting things in the Buckeye State and the Midwest with his girlfriend, especially food. But most importantly, being an LSU fan, he’s excited to cheer on Joey Burrow and the Bengals! Here's what he had to say about coming to Ohio and WHIO: "Every person I’ve talked to who has spent time in southwestern Ohio raves about it, so I’m eager for the opportunity to learn more about an area which so many are proud to call home, and work for a powerhouse like WHIO while doing it."