Jeff Renner - Our KING5 Television Weatherman

Jeff Renner thinks of his career and life as pre-Mount St. Helens and post-Mount St. Helens.

The eruption of Washington’s Mount St. Helens made history with its 80,000-foot plume which deposited ash in eleven states, spreading as far as Oklahoma and sending Yakima and Spokane into darkness. As St. Helens’ ash circled the globe in the upper atmosphere, mudflows poured down the Toutle River and into the Columbia. The historic eruption also became a big part of Renner’s life.

Over 55 people were killed that day, May 18, 1980, including Renner’s good friend, David Johnston, a geo-chemist for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Jeff feels it fitting that the Johnston Ridge Observatory on the mountain is named in his friend’s honor.

As a reporter for King 5, Renner made several trips to St. Helens, where in 1979 he observed and reported on steam explosions coming from the mountain. Late March, 1980, he flew via helicopter to the volcano with a photographer where he interviewed local residents, worked with engineers and researchers and also lived under “camping” conditions with no warm water for showers. Renner grew a beard at that time, fitting right in to mountain-man mode.

Days before St. Helens erupted, Renner returned to the mountain to see the north side bulging. Since engineers didn’t think the mountain would blow that soon, Jeff left for Seattle.

On May 18th at 8:32am, while inside his Redmond home, Jeff and his wife, Sue, heard a thud on the side of the house.

His phone started ringing. It was a colleague in Toledo, Wash., yelling, “Eruption going on”… with a subsequent call, “Lightning coming out of eruption cloud!”

Viewers needed to see what was happening, so Jeff hopped in the King 5 helicopter. As ash spouted, it was tough getting close enough to the volcano to report on the eruption. Coast Guard helicopters forced Jeff’s helicopter away from the area.

To this day, Renner reflects on the vast size of the blast zone with no trees standing, no vegetation and mud—a lifeless environment.

It’s like the size of the entire Seattle area, including Federal Way and Tacoma,” says Renner.

St. Helens became a significant event in Renner’s life…a life filled with many diverse interests and opportunities.

Childhood

As a child, Renner grew up thinking about outer space. His interest in astronomy increased when he visited the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, which heightened his desire to become an astronaut. But without 20-20 eyesight, this dream slipped away.

Jacques Cousteau and his underwater sea adventures comprised Renner’s second dream. Maybe he could join the crew; but as he noted, “They were all French.”

Fortunately, Jeff got plenty of support from his parents, no matter the dream.

“We were a close family. I had extremely attentive parents,” says Renner. He was also particularly attached to his grandmother who taught him anything is possible.

As Jeff had no siblings, he became close to his Dachshund “Schatzi.” He always loved animals and provided refuge to various frogs and salamanders. Since Dad was a salesman, the family traveled, living in Chicago, Ohio and Wisconsin.

It was in high school that a new possibility opened for him when his teacher said, “Have you ever heard your voice?” The teacher offered him a speaking class, which led to a vast realm of new experiences.

Jeff and his wife Sue taking a break during a trip to Italy

While at the University of Wisconsin, Jeff got a job offer at a television news station in Milwaukee. With his rich, deep voice and a degree in broadcast journalism and political science, he became the science and health reporter for the station. Happily, during this time, Jeff’s neighbor introduced him to his future wife, Sue, who worked as a medical social worker at a local hospital.

As opportunity would have it, while attending a conference in 1977, Jeff met King 5 Science and Health Reporter, Wendy Tokuda, who said, “We have an opening in Seattle.”

This appeared to be a good move since Jeff loved outdoor activities and looked forward to hiking in the majestic mountains of the Pacific Northwest. With that job offer, Jeff became King 5’s health and science reporter, replacing Wendy Tokuda.

To add to his interest in science, Jeff went back to school at the University of Washington to study meteorology and to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in atmospheric sciences. As part of his new job at King 5, he took a class on mountain climbing at Mount Rainier. This experience paid off when, on assignment, he climbed to the summit of Mount Baker and into the crater. Today, viewers know Jeff Renner as King 5’s weatherman and chief meteorologist, a position he held since 1984.

The King 5 Family

Over the years Jeff made lasting friendships with his King 5 colleagues, forming a close-knit family with Jean Enersen, Mike James and Tony Ventrella, to name a few. He also stays in touch with photographers, producers and engineers, the behind-the-scenes people who make it all happen.

Along with sad stories, there are comical antics in the news room as well.

Jeff says, “The news report that day was about a giant sink-hole opening up in Florida.” During the telecast, Jeff and a colleague pulled the lever in their chairs to lower themselves. With a reprimand from management not to ever perform that stunt again, everyone on the set, and behind, laughed uncontrollably.

Renner was often blamed for the weather on and off the set. As a guest of honor at Opening Day of Boating Season in Des Moines, the sunny day Jeff had forecasted, turned cold, gray and drizzly. The Master of Ceremonies handed him a hangman’s noose for his screw-up prediction.

Memorable Moment – May 2014

“I was one of eight broadcast meteorologists invited to the White House for a briefing on the latest update of what’s called the National Climate Assessment,” says Renner.

The study, compiled by university, private sector and government scientists, assessed the present climate and forecasts likely future trends. After briefings from cabinet-level officials came the opportunity for a one-on-one interview with President Obama in the Rose Garden.

“I was a little nervous while waiting, more because I knew I was representing our region and my profession. That disappeared once the interview with President Obama began,” says Renner. “We preceded the interview conversing about the Oso slide,” says Renner.

Since President Obama visited the slide area one month after it happened, this deadly geologic event of March 22, 2014 provided mutual interest and a starting point for the interview.

Jeff found the President to be welcoming, gracious and he thoroughly answered all of Jeff’s questions.

Retirement

Jeff with his 10-year-old Siberian Husky, Roger

Jeff and Sue, a social worker, decided that when the television network offered early retirement, it felt like the right choice. They now eat dinner together and enjoy evenings for the first time in 39 years, the same length of time they’ve been married! This also includes hanging out with 10-year-old Roger, a Siberian Husky. Roger is thrilled to have Jeff around as he relishes hikes and cross-country skiing trips with his master. However, Roger hates water.

Jeff recalls jumping into Lake Sammamish to go wake-boarding, when Roger gallantly leapt into the water to “save” him. Learning from that distasteful experience, Roger now stays in the boat and simply barks his dissatisfaction at his Master’s swimming.

Besides water sports, SCUBA, flying and hiking, Jeff likes to cook and also loves books.

And he often gets asked the question, “How does retirement feel?”

He responds, “When I get a chance to feel retirement, I’ll let you know.”

At present he feels like he’s on sabbatical and knows something will pop up. He’s still active at the Seattle Aquarium, playing SCUBA Santa during the holidays and helping with Aquarium fund-raisers.

He adds, “I also see myself engaged in environmental issues and serving as a consulting meteorologist in the near future.”

The Renners have no plans on leaving the Pacific Northwest. Jeff’s mom lives here, Sue enjoys volunteering in the community and their son, Eric, a veterinarian, also lives in the area. Jeff’s distinct voice became a part of our living room as we tuned in to hear the evening weather report.

But, one of Renner’s prize joys in retirement? … Not having to put on makeup for TV!

MORE INFORMATION

Jeff Renner has received many awards, including six Emmys. Jeff is the author of Northwest Marine Weather, Northwest Mountain Weather and Lightning Strikes: Surviving Thunderstorms. He is a contributing author of Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills and Ice Climbing in Washington. Jeff holds a commercial pilot’s license for land and seaplanes and is a former certified flight instructor. Jeff remains very active in the community and volunteers for many organizations.