TV Station Defends Tornado Warning Interruption During Georgia-Alabama Game
WSB-TV stated it has a responsibility to air life-saving weather information, even during popular sporting events.
Atlanta's WSB-TV has defended its decision to interrupt the second quarter of the Georgia-Alabama football game on Saturday to issue a tornado warning.
Meteorologist Ashley Kramlich appeared on screen in a split view with a radar behind her to deliver the alert for Butts and Jasper counties. She informed viewers that the information was for a “life-threatening situation.”
While the game continued to be visible, many viewers expressed frustration on social media. In response, Kramlich addressed the backlash on Sunday, stating, “Trust me, that’s the last thing I wanted to do last night was to break into the game. I’m a football fan myself. So, I understand the frustration when a game get interrupted but when a tornado warning is issued, your safety has to come first.”
Kramlich emphasized the station's responsibility, adding, “We have a responsibility to interrupt programming to bring you potentially life-saving information when severe weather threatens our communities. That’s why we stay on the air during life-threating weather and use a split screen so you can keep watching the game while still getting the information you need to protect your family. We really appreciate you for understanding.”
WSB-TV shared Kramlich's statement on X, writing, “We don’t make these decisions lightly, and we won’t apologize for putting lives first.”
The tornado warning coverage lasted for more than 16 minutes, spanning the end of the second quarter and the halftime break, during which viewers received weather updates instead of the game's commentary. Following the incident, the Georgia Bulldogs defeated Alabama 20-17.