BATON ROUGE – Jay Grymes, the esteemed chief meteorologist at WAFB-TV and interim Louisiana state climatologist since February, has been appointed as the permanent state climatologist, effective August 1st.

Grymes, retiring from WAFB after a distinguished career spanning nearly three decades, will join the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP). In this dual role, he will oversee the Louisiana Office of State Climatology based at LSU, guiding its operations and enhancing its mission.

"We are thrilled to have Jay assume this pivotal role permanently," remarked LSU's Executive Vice President & Provost, Roy Haggerty. "His extensive expertise and collaboration with GOHSEP will further strengthen LSU’s partnership with Louisiana."

The Louisiana Office of State Climatology, situated at LSU, plays a crucial role in monitoring Louisiana's climate, archiving climate data, and engaging the public through informative reports and summaries. Grymes, leveraging over three decades of experience, including significant tenures at LSU and the University of Delaware, previously served as Louisiana’s state climatologist from 1991 to 2003.

In his new capacity, Grymes will collaborate closely with the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service under LSU’s AgCenter, ensuring timely updates on meteorological conditions and supporting initiatives such as the U.S. Drought Monitor. His leadership will also harness the AgCenter’s extensive network of scientific weather instrumentation statewide.

Jay Grymes’ appointment underscores a commitment to enhancing weather and climate services crucial for Louisiana’s economic and community well-being.