Jim Cantore Shares His Honest Thoughts About 'Dr. Doom' Nickname and Which Celebrity Came Up with the Playful Jab (Exclusive)

The long-standing meteorologist shares how he got his nickname and how he got into the business in the first place

NEED TO KNOW

• Jim Cantore reflects on his 40-year career at The Weather Channel and his reputation for appearing during major storms

• NBC broadcaster Al Michaels nicknamed him “Dr. Doom” during their time working together
• Cantore credits his father’s advice for inspiring his career in weather

When Jim Cantore is in your town, you know a storm is coming. 

The Weather Channel meteorologist has been with the network for 40 years, and wherever he goes, people joke that he brings the storm with him. Cantore, 62, speaks with PEOPLE about how he got his nickname, "Dr. Doom," and how he got into the profession.

Cantore says it was actually iconic broadcaster Al Michaels who gave him the moniker.

“One of my favorite things in my tenure about working at The Weather Channel was when we had a relationship with NBC, I got to do Olympics and hockey games and football," he shares. "I loved working with those guys. It's sports, it's an event, but it's like a storm."

"There's a buildup to the event, and that's what I loved about it," he continues. "We were picking on each other, and everything like that, and Al Michaels had given me that Dr. Doom name. He presented me with a hat one time, and I was like, ‘Oh geez, thanks, Al.' ” 

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Cantore has covered over 100 storms, including Hurricane Ike and Katrina, during his tenure with the network. Going out into the field and documenting the severity of the storms is important to him, so people at home can know what to expect, he explains.

While he knows the nickname sounds a bit daunting, he also knows that it means people pay more attention when they find out he is coming to their area.

“Every city people would be like, ‘Oh no, get out of here,'" he says.

As a play on that, The Weather Channel once released a satirical advertisement called Running from Cantore, where people ran into the famed weatherman on vacation and thought something big was heading their way.

“We just took advantage of the fact that, well, there's something about when Jim comes, it's like the worst day," he says.

While the advertisement came and went, he says that, years later, "somebody took it and put it out on social media and it went viral, like nuts again."

"So now that's kind of a part of my, you know, reputation in a much bigger way, because everybody's seen it now. It's not just on The Weather Channel, it's everywhere. It was really fun to make that commercial,” Cantore shares. 

At the end of the day, he says, “If this helps make people aware and give you an 'Oh s—, Cantore's here' moment, then fine. Mission accomplished. We got people aware and ready to take action, especially when there's a hurricane."

While Cantore has cemented himself as one of the most well-known meteorologists, he wasn't always going to be in front of the storms and in front of the cameras.

One night, when he was 17, Cantore shares that his father asked him at the dining room table what he was going to do for the rest of his life. 

“I said, ‘I don't know, Dad, be an electrician, a fireman,'" Cantore recalls. "He goes, ‘You need to go study the weather. You're like a freak when it snows. You leave the barn light on all night, waiting for the first flakes to shovel the walkway so your mother can go to work.' "

"He goes, ‘Look, son, you gotta wake up for the next 50 years of your life every day. You better love what you do,'" Cantore continues.

To this day, Cantore shares that he can “just close my eyes and see that moment.”

“My dad didn't say much, but when he did, he was freaking spot on, and that's the whole reason I'm where I am,” he adds.

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