Jym Ganahl serves as chief meteorologist and appears on NBC 4 at 5, 6 and 11 p.m.

Jym came to NBC 4 in 1979, after serving for 12 years as weather anchor for KWWL-TV in Waterloo, Iowa. A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Jym attended the University of Northern Iowa and earned degrees in math, speech and climatology.

Jym's career began at age 17 when he became the youngest weather forecaster in the country. In 1970, Jym became the youngest person ever to be granted the American Meteorologist Society Seal of Approval. The AMS seal is the highest honor a weather forecaster can receive from his peers.

Jym and Storm Team 4 received first place in the Ohio Associated Press Awards for Outstanding Weather Operation in June 2001 and second place in May 1997.

He said the most memorable story he has covered was flooding in the Midwest in 1993.

He said he wouldn't know what he'd do if he wasn't in the television industry.

"I have been in television since 1966, so I really do not know," he said. "It has been my only love."

Jym taught science and math at St. Agatha School in Upper Arlington for several years, as well as a special summer camp for gifted students at Ohio Wesleyan University.

Jym was awarded the Spirit and Honor Medal while in the United States Army, where he was also the outstanding marksman with an M-16 rifle, and the outstanding scout before ending his military career with the Iowa National Guard in flight operation with a helicopter unit.

His array of hobbies includes snow skiing, kayaking, hiking, model railroading, and fishing in Wisconsin for northern pike.

In celebration of the launch of their new fragrance for men, Victoria's Secret named Jym "one of the 25 sexiest weathermen in the country" in October 2003.

In July 2007, Columbus Monthly readers voted Jym as the city's top weatherperson for the 18th consecutive year.

Jym supports many nonprofit organizations and causes. He speaks or assists causes for more than 100 groups every year.

Favorites:

Food: Breakfast cereals, especially Shredded Wheat and Chex
Books: Anything on World War II history and crime solving using forensics
Music: New age
Hobbies: Snow skiing, softball, golf, fishing, toy trains
Sports: I like just about any sport in season
Travel destination: Northern Wisconsin, Arizona and Colorado
Ohio/Central Ohio place: Clear Fork River Valley
NBC show: "Law and Order SVU"