Why was Hollie Strano fired? Ex-WKYC TV weather forecaster starts new role at Mix 94.1, Canton
Hollie Strano embraces a new chapter with her podcast and fresh radio gigs after leaving WKYC.
For more than two decades, Hollie Strano was a familiar face to households across Northeast Ohio. As a meteorologist and morning show co-host at WKYC Channel 3, she built a reputation not only for her Emmy-winning work but also for the warmth and authenticity that made her a local favorite. But in 2024, her career took an abrupt and very public turn.
The troubles began in November 2023 when Strano was arrested in Cuyahoga Falls after her car struck a fire hydrant. Court documents revealed her blood alcohol content was 0.244%—over three times Ohio’s legal limit. The case drew widespread media attention, not just because of the accident itself, but because Strano had long been a visible and trusted figure in the community. She eventually pleaded guilty to a first-degree misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle under the influence. Her sentence included a fine, license suspension, and participation in a driver intervention program.
Though WKYC initially kept her on staff, the station and its parent company, Tegna, announced her departure in September 2024. Strano, in a Facebook post, described her termination as a reflection of the stigma surrounding addiction, arguing that she was punished for openly sharing her recovery journey. Shortly afterward, she filed a lawsuit against WKYC, Tegna, and station leadership, alleging wrongful termination. The company denied the claims, stating her dismissal was unrelated to her public advocacy for sobriety.
Hollie Strano is back forecasting the weather in Northeast Ohio. The former WKYC meteorologist now delivers hourly forecasts on Mix 94.1 in Canton from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Photo: Courtesy of WKYC pic.twitter.com/h0o3M0lOR9
— clevelanddotcom (@clevelanddotcom) August 19, 2025
What could have been the closing chapter of her broadcasting career has instead marked a new beginning. Strano has returned to the media space with a different voice and a broader mission. Through her podcast, Abruptly Authentic, she speaks candidly about sobriety, mental health, personal growth, and even her first love—weather. The show streams on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, extending her reach beyond Northeast Ohio.
By mid-2025, she began rebuilding her professional presence in traditional media as well. First came weather reports for radio stations in Georgia and Alabama, followed by a larger opportunity closer to home. In August 2025, Canton’s Mix 94.1 announced Strano as their new daily weather voice, working remotely from Cleveland. The station celebrated her arrival, describing her as “an Emmy-winning mental health advocate, seasoned television professional, and nationally recognized public figure” who brings both scientific expertise and heartfelt storytelling to her forecasts.
Strano herself has embraced this new phase with optimism. “So much love for you, Canton!” she wrote on Facebook. “Thank you for having me.”
For an audience that grew up watching her deliver forecasts on television, Hollie Strano’s story is no longer just about the weather—it’s about resilience, reinvention, and using a public platform to confront personal struggles while helping others do the same.