Oklahoma Meteorologist Gary England Dies Aged 85, Pioneer in Severe Weather Warning

Gary England, an iconic Oklahoma meteorologist known as the 'weather God of Oklahoma City,' has died peacefully at age 85 surrounded by family. He revolutionized severe weather coverage by pioneering the use of Doppler radar on television in 1982 and creating the 'First Warning' system in 1990, which provided visual and audible tornado alerts without interrupting programming, saving countless lives. England was a beloved figure at KWTV (News 9), where he served as chief meteorologist for over 40 years and was known for his folksy style and signature Friday night phrase, "It's Friday night in the big town." He also appeared in the 1996 film Twister and remained active in weather consulting after retiring in 2013. England's coverage of devastating events like the 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado and his direct, urgent storm warnings earned him widespread respect and numerous tributes, with many crediting him for helping protect Oklahoma from deadly storms. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and left a lasting legacy as a trailblazer in meteorology and a mentor to many in the field.