Mike Buresh is the chief meteorologist at Action News Jax. He anchors newscasts on WJAX and WFOX and can be heard daily on 104.5 WOKV in addition to a number of other local radio stations. Buresh is a self-professed "weather holic," and his fascination with weather developed at a very young age while growing up in rural Iowa. As early as the second grade, Mike's mom says he was drawing weather maps and "always looking at the sky." Mike's passion for weather continues to this day as Mike eats, drinks, breathes, and - yes - sleeps weather. Or as he likes to call it: "All the Weather, All the Time!" Mike graduated from Iowa State University in 1987 but began his college studies at Oklahoma University, where he became an experienced "storm chaser" in addition to working at the National Weather Service. Shortly after graduating, Mike earned the American Meteorological Society's "Seal of Approval" and has also achieved his Certification for Broadcast Meteorologist, which certifies that Mike meets specific educational and experience criteria and has passed rigorous testing in his knowledge and communication of meteorology and related sciences needed to be an effective broadcast meteorologist. Buresh began his television meteorology career at WHO-TV in Des Moines, Iowa, then at WKRC-TV in Cincinnati, Ohio, before coming to Northeast Florida nearly 25 years ago. Mike has calmly, effectively and accurately warned, tracked and informed viewers about tornadoes, waterspouts, floods and many local tropical cyclones including hurricanes Milton, Helene, Debby, Idalia, Ian, Nicole, Michael, Irma and Matthew, Bonnie, Charley, Frances, Jeanne, Fay, Beryl, Debby and Andrea to name just a few. FLASH – Federal Alliance for Safe Homes named Buresh as the 2024 National Weatherperson of the Year (NWP). This annual accolade acknowledges weather professionals who exhibit exemplary leadership in advocating for disaster safety and resilience. Mike joins the likes of Ginger Zee, James Spann, Richard Knabb, Max Mayfield, and Jim Cantori – all past winners of NWP. Mike garnered the most votes in the history of this award! Mike has also been a multiple-year winner of the Folio “Best of Jax Meteorologist” -- an award voted on by locals across Jacksonville. If you would like the most accurate chief meteorologist to visit your school, club, or civic organization, email Mike at mburesh@ActionNewsJax.com. Mike is also an active member of the Jacksonville Salvation Army Advisory Board. He has traveled extensively, including trips to Australia, Asia, Central and South America, the Galapagos Islands, and four times to Africa. When Mike isn't forecasting your weather, he enjoys pickleball, golf, basketball, football, swimming, water skiing, the beach, reading, community outreach, and, most of all, spending time with his lovely wife and daughters. Mike is an avid writer and has a large following in the blogosphere -- "Buresh Blog" and "Talking the Tropics With Mike" (hurricane season June 1st-Nov. 30th).