David Bernard (born 1969) is a former American television meteorologist who worked for WVUE-TV in New Orleans, Louisiana. He previously worked for CBS News and television stations in Miami, Florida, and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Early life and career

Bernard is a native of Houston, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and attended Mississippi State University. ^[1]

In 1993, he began his career in television meteorology forecasting in the Tornado Alley region of the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma. ^[1] Bernard first worked at television stations KZTV in Corpus Christi, Texas and KVII in Amarillo, Texas. ^[2]

He then began work at Tulsa, Oklahoma TV station KJRH in 1994 where he was the meteorologist for the morning and midday news programs. ^[3]

New Orleans and Miami

Bernard moved to WWL-TV in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1997. ^[4] He was the meteorologist for the morning news programs at the station for eight years. ^[1]

For his coverage of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, Bernard earned critical praise from Dave Walker, TV columnist for the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Walker wrote: “Nuts-and-bolts when he needed to be, Bernard presented potentially terrifying facts with palpable tranquility, and added comprehendible meteorological context to the public-safety discussion. Cool and correct but mostly cool, he was the ideal guide through a few threatening days.” ^[5]

In the summer of 2005, Bernard left WWL for a new position at Miami TV station WFOR, a CBS affiliate. Six weeks after his departure from New Orleans, he was sent back to New Orleans to cover the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. ^[4]

He was named CBS News national hurricane consultant in 2008. ^[1] He covered hurricanes Gustav, Ike, Isaac, Irene and Sandy for the network on the CBS Evening News, CBS This Morning, ^[6] Face The Nation and CBS Sunday Morning. ^[7]

In 2015, Bernard returned to New Orleans working for WVUE-TV. ^[4] Several months later, he was named chief meteorologist. ^[1] On Oct. 25, 2022, it was announced that he would be "leaving FOX 8 to pursue new passion". ^[8]

Accreditation and honors

Bernard is a member of the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association. He is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist and former member of the AMS board of broadcast meteorology. ^[1]

In 2018, Bernard won first prize for best weather anchor and best weathercast in the Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press competition. ^[9] The Press Club of New Orleans awarded Bernard the first prize for best weathercast in 2019, ^[10] 2020, ^[11] 2021 ^[12] and 2022. ^[13]

Bernard was named one of 2021's most influential New Orleanians by New Orleans Adore magazine. ^[14]

Personal life

In 2019, Bernard married longtime partner Charles Urstadt in New Orleans. ^[15] Urstadt is a real estate investor and chairman of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. ^[16]

References