Weather Conference

Joe Rao

Joe Rao was a broadcast meteorologist (now retired) whose career spanned over 40 years both on radio and television.  For 17 years (1978-1995) his syndicated weathercasts were heard in over 200 radio markets in the United States and eastern Canada, including here in NY on 1010 WINS.

For 21-years (1995-2016), Joe was Chief Meteorologist and Science Editor for News 12 Westchester/Hudson Valley, where he garnered 8 Emmy Nominations and in 2015, was awarded 1st Place in the weathercasting category by the NY State Associated Press Association.

He held the Broadcasting Seals of Approval from both the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and National Weather Association (NWA).

Along with meteorologist Joe Cioffi, he is co-host of “The Joe & Joe Weather Show,” which can be viewed on YouTube Sunday through Thursday evenings at 7:35 p.m.

Since 1984 he has been a frequent contributor for Weatherwise magazine.

In addition to his meteorological expertise, Joe also an accomplished astronomer. Since 1986 he has maintained an affiliation at New York’s Hayden Planetarium, where he has taught courses in introductory meteorology and given numerous lectures under the dome at Hayden’s famous Space Theater.

In 2008 Joe received the prestigious Popular Writing Award of the Solar Physics Division of the American Astronomical Society and for his many years of astronomy outreach, the Northeast Region of the Astronomical League (NERAL) bestowed Joe with their Walter Scott Houston Award in 2009.  Additionally, in 2023, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) named Asteroid 20009 Joerao in his honor.

He continues to remain active as a writer for Space.com, Sky & Telescope magazine and the Farmers’ Almanac and a speaker for many libraries and civic groups concerning weather and space subjects. His article, “13 Things about Stargazing” appears in the October 2024 edition of Reader’s Digest.