Philadelphians are famously loyal to two things: their local TV news personalities and their weather. Cecily Tynan has spent three decades living at the exact intersection of both, and on July 23, she announced she’s retiring — live, at the end of the 6pm newscast, after more than 30 years with 6abc’s Action News. Her final broadcast airs Monday, August 31.
Three Decades of Philadelphia Weather, From Hurricane Sandy to Historic Floods
Cecily Tynan joined 6abc in 1995, arriving from Las Vegas station KTNV and, before that, WDBJ in Roanoke, Virginia. She started as the station’s first-ever weekend meteorologist, then made history in 2009, becoming 6abc’s first female chief meteorologist, succeeding the retiring Dave Roberts. Over the course of that run, Tynan guided Philadelphia through some of the region’s most significant weather events — Hurricane Sandy, the Blizzard of 1996, tornadoes, record heat waves, and the historic flooding that followed Hurricane Ida. She also became the network’s face for two of the city’s most beloved annual traditions, the Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Philadelphia Flower Show, connecting her to genuine civic ritual well beyond the daily forecast.
“I’m so honored to have been a member of the 6abc Action News team for more than three decades, starting as the station’s first-ever weekend meteorologist, then becoming its first female chief meteorologist,” Tynan said. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done and thankful to 6abc viewers for trusting me with their weather forecasts.” She’s looking forward to winters in Florida water skiing, traveling, and spending time with her husband Greg, adult children Luke and Emma, and three rescue dogs, Nala, Shelby, and Charlie.
On Cecily Tynan’s send-off, “From the moment she first walked off the elevator and joined Action News, Cecily has been a trusted voice for viewers, a leader in our newsroom, and one of the most talented broadcasters in Philadelphia,” said 6abc General Manager John Morris. “Whether guiding us through storms or being part of our holiday traditions, Cecily has been a part of our lives for a long time. As much as our viewers are going to miss her, we will miss her even more.”
Beyond the Weather Desk: An Ironman Finisher and Animal Welfare Advocate
Cecily Tynan’s life outside the anchor desk is genuinely remarkable in its own right. She’s a tournament slalom water-skier, a four-time sub-3-hour marathoner, a former world-class professional duathlete, and a Top 10 age-group finisher at the 2003 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. For years, she’s also been one of Philadelphia’s most visible animal welfare advocates, spearheading 6abc’s “Shelter Me” segment, which has helped countless adoptable pets across the region find homes.
More than three decades on Philadelphia television is a genuinely rare kind of tenure — the kind that turns a familiar face into something closer to family. Cecily Tynan has earned every bit of the send-off headed her way between now and August 31, and the city owes her real thanks: for the storms she talked us through, for the parades and flower shows she made feel like home, and for three decades of showing up, night after night, when we needed someone steady to tell us what was coming next.
About Post Author
