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Gary England, Tornado Forecast Pioneer, Dies at 85

His use of commercial Doppler radar transformed severe weather warnings into a trusted lifeline for Oklahomans.

KWTV meteorologist Gary England on June 20, 2007, describes being in the storm cellar in his grandmother's yard as a tornado passed over when he was a boy.
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Overview

  • England died peacefully on June 10 surrounded by family, concluding a pioneering meteorology career.
  • Over his 41-year tenure at Oklahoma’s KWTV he became known for accessible forecasts and his comforting on-air presence.
  • His landmark 1981 introduction of commercial Doppler radar enabled real-time tornado warnings and reshaped severe weather tracking.
  • He earned national honors including an Edward R. Murrow Award, multiple Emmys, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Oklahoma.
  • Peers and storm chasers have honored him as a legend whose techniques and signature phrases saved countless lives.