When Joe’s
family was faced with leaving central Pennsylvania in the mid 1990s, they
didn’t think they would ever have the opportunity to return. But when he found
out about the opening for Chief Meteorologist at WTAJ, it didn’t take much
thought to return. Joe has lived in many places, learning about many different
climates across the nation. He was born in Brooklyn, NY but was raised in
Tulsa, OK and Morgantown, WV. “I was always interested in
weather,” Joe says, “but the blizzard of 1978 is a fond memory, and
the severe weather in Oklahoma helped me decide to become a
meteorologist.” Joe received a BS Degree in Meteorology from Penn
State in 1990. Now, the table has turned and Joe has been teaching Introductory
Meteorology courses at Penn State Altoona for over a decade. He also enjoys
sharing his weather knowledge with younger students in his school visits across
Central Pennsylvania.
Joe’s experience started before graduation with
a couple of internships including one at WRC-TV in Washington, D.C. After
graduation, he became a Senior Meteorologist with AccuWeather in State College.
During that time, he forecasted and broadcasted for radio stations across the
nation, he also made critical forecasts for television stations across the
country. Joe always wanted to share his knowledge of weather with people
through television. So, in October 1995 he made a decision to leave
Pennsylvania to pursue his goal. He first joined the forecasting team at
WTOV-TV in Steubenville, OH. Joe most recently worked at WUSA-TV, the CBS
affiliate in The Nation’s Capital before returning to WTAJ to head up the
weather department.
In 2005, Joe was one of the first meteorologists
in the nation and the first in Pennsylvania to be designated as a Certified
Broadcast Meteorologist by the American Meteorological Society (AMS). This is
one of the most prestigious honors in the field of Broadcast Meteorology. In
2008, Joe also earned a Television Seal of Approval for the National Weather
Association, completing a sweep of all possible certifications for television
meteorologists . He has won numerous other awards inside and outside of the
broadcast field. In 2009, Joe was appointed to the American Meteorology
Society’s Board of Broadcast Meteorology. In 2012 he was elevated to the chairman
American Meteorology Society’s Board of Broadcast Meteorology. He helped award
the CBM seals to others in the field. He also is on the Professional
Development committee of the National Weather Association and is now serving a
second round on the AMS board of broadcast meteorology.
Joe is married to Mara and has two daughters,
Kristen and Rebecca. His family also includes two golden retrievers, Sadie and
AJ. The Murgo family also fosters dogs from the Central Pennsylvania Humane
Society. Joe loves to be involved with many community events, and during the
winter, you can catch him on the ski slopes. He is a certified ski instructor
and enjoys teaching others the joy of the sport. In the warmer seasons you can
catch him kayaking on the local rivers or hiking on our hills.
