BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry revealed on Wednesday that Jay Grymes, the chief meteorologist at WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge, will assume the role of the state's new climatologist.

In his new capacity, Grymes will oversee Louisiana's climate monitoring and data archiving efforts, crucial responsibilities for a state perennially at risk during hurricane seasons.

During a press briefing, Grymes assured that Hurricane Beryl, currently devastating the southeast Caribbean as a Category 4 storm, poses no threat to Louisiana. Nevertheless, he cautioned that the state should brace for an active hurricane season expected to persist until November.

"This season will be particularly active," Grymes emphasized.

Grymes will collaborate closely with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, expanding his role to provide specialized weather insights for the state.

Governor Landry underscored the importance of centralizing weather communications through the state climatologist role, especially given Louisiana's volatile weather patterns.

With over three decades of expertise in meteorology and climate, Grymes brings extensive experience to his new role, having previously served as the state climatologist from 1991 to 2003. His background includes advisory roles for Louisiana's Department of Justice, Department of Environmental Quality, and State Police.