Ginger Zee’s Emotional Final Forecast: A Decade of Grit, Grace, and Goodbyes on GMA

“You will always be in our hearts.”

With those tender words, Ginger Zee, America’s most beloved meteorologist, signed off from Good Morning America for the last time—bringing a decade-long era of sunshine, storm warnings, and unshakable spirit to a bittersweet close. Her farewell was not just a goodbye, but a national moment—teary, tender, and unforgettable.

The morning studio, usually alive with upbeat chatter and breaking news, took on a hushed, reverent tone. Surrounded by her GMA family, Ginger stood center stage—voice trembling yet steady—as she delivered her final words to millions of viewers who had welcomed her into their homes for more than 12 years.

“It’s not just the weather I’ll miss,” she said, eyes glistening. “It’s the people. The energy. The purpose. It’s you.”

And with that, a chapter closed—not with silence, but with the thunderclap of gratitude echoing from coast to coast.

From Storm Chaser to Morning Show Icon

Before she was the nation’s go-to voice on the weather, Ginger Renee Colonomos—known to the world as Ginger Zee—was a Michigan girl with her eyes on the clouds and her heart in the sky. Her obsession with weather began in childhood, when most kids were watching cartoons and she was watching Doppler radar. That early passion would propel her through years of meteorological study, storm chasing, and eventually, national acclaim.

Her journey with ABC began in 2011, joining Good Morning America Weekend with contagious energy and grounded authority. Audiences connected immediately—not because she presented the weather, but because she embodied it. When tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma, Ginger was there. When hurricanes barreled toward the Gulf, she stood firm in the storm. When blizzards buried the Northeast, she reported live in the cold and chaos, delivering not just data, but calm.

In December 2013, she was named Chief Meteorologist for ABC News, succeeding Sam Champion in a symbolic and seismic moment in morning television.

“Taking over from Sam wasn’t just a promotion,” she said. “It was a passing of the torch. It meant everything.”

A Career Defined by Purpose

Over the next decade, Ginger not only reported weather—she redefined it. From Hurricane Maria to record-breaking wildfires, from polar vortexes to flash floods, she became a fixture in crisis coverage. With boots on the ground and sleeves rolled up, she exemplified what it meant to serve the public in times of need.

In 2021, she took on a new role as Managing Editor of ABC’s Climate Unit—an acknowledgment not just of her expertise, but of her voice in shaping the conversation around climate change. As extreme weather events became more frequent, so too did Ginger’s urgency.

“This isn’t just about storms anymore,” she told viewers. “It’s about our future.”

Under her leadership, ABC’s Climate Unit expanded its reach and mission. Ginger leveraged her platform to challenge complacency, promote science, and elevate stories that too often went untold.

Beyond the Weather Map: The Human Side of Ginger Zee

But Ginger’s strength was never just professional—it was deeply personal. She peeled back the curtain on the polished image of morning television, sharing her struggles with depression, anxiety, and past trauma in interviews and her powerful memoir, Natural Disaster: I Cover Them. I Am One.

In doing so, she shattered stigma. She reminded viewers that even in the face of internal storms, there is strength in vulnerability.

She was also a devoted mother, often juggling early call times and field assignments with bedtime stories and dance parties in the kitchen. With husband Ben Aaron, she raised sons Adrian and Miles in a world that often demanded her presence elsewhere. But family always remained her anchor.

A Farewell Felt Nationwide

As news of her departure spread, tributes flooded in. Colleagues, fans, celebrities, and meteorologists from across the country shared their admiration.

GMA’s Instagram shared a video montage of her most iconic moments—including the emotional handoff from Sam Champion in 2013. Ginger reposted it with heartfelt words:

“Twelve years in total here at ABC News. A ride beyond my wildest dreams. The gratitude is oozing out of me today and every day.”

Champion responded with his own praise:

“You didn’t just take the reins, Ginger. You transformed the job.”

GMA anchor Gio Benitez called her a “trailblazer.”
Fitness icon Cody Rigsby captured the sentiment of millions in just three words:

“She’s an icon.”

What’s Next for Ginger?

Though she hasn’t yet revealed specific plans, Ginger made it clear: she’s not done.

“There’s more to do,” she teased. “This isn’t the end—it’s just a new beginning.”

Insiders suggest she may pursue full-time environmental storytelling—perhaps through documentaries, publishing, or new media projects focused on climate advocacy. Whatever she chooses, it will likely align with the mission that has defined her career: to educate, inform, and protect.

One Final Forecast

In an age of fleeting media personalities and rotating anchor chairs, Ginger Zee was a constant. She didn’t just forecast the weather—she earned our trust. She met the nation each morning not with perfection, but with presence. Not with performance, but with purpose.

From wildfires to winter storms, from coral reefs to Capitol Hill, she carried not just the science of meteorology, but the soul of journalism.

Her final message wasn’t about the weather. It was about life:

“No matter how stormy it gets, there’s always a sunrise. Always something beautiful ahead.”

A Sunrise, Not a Sunset

As the lights dim on the GMA studio and the final credits roll on Ginger Zee’s time at ABC, one truth shines brighter than ever: She didn’t just tell the weather—she changed it.

She taught us to care about the planet. To respect the power of nature. To speak truth in the face of fear. And above all, to keep showing up—even in the storm.

So here’s to Ginger Zee: scientist, mother, advocate, warrior.

Thank you for the mornings.
Thank you for the storms.
Thank you for the light.

You will always be in our hearts.