Email: Lee.Ringer@charter.com
Twitter: @LeeRingerWX
When Lee Ringer was 5 years old, a tornado swept through his hometown of Newberry, South Carolina. From that early age, Lee took interest in learning more about the weather and how to keep people safe when severe storms hit. This South Carolina native would grow up to do just that. After graduating from NC State, and a brief stint in Lufkin, Texas, Lee returned to the home of his beloved Wolfpack, and has remained in Raleigh ever since.
Joining the Spectrum News Team in 2005, Lee has covered a variety of weather conditions, from heat waves and winter storms to severe weather and hurricanes. As the morning news meteorologist, Lee wakes up every morning at 1:45 a.m. However, this doesn’t bother Lee at all. Setting an alarm for a job that he loves and reporting on the topic he is most passionate about makes his day-to-day well worth the early morning wake-up call. Having spent many early mornings and late evenings delivering the latest headlines in weather news, Lee remembers Spectrum News’ non-stop coverage of the life threatening and historic flooding that took place during Hurricanes Matthew and Florence as two of the most memorable weather events in North Carolina. After many storms and many years at Spectrum News, Lee’s passion for meteorology is unwavering and his commitment to informing viewers how to stay safe remains.
Lee is a decorated meteorologist to say the least. Throughout his impressive career, Lee has been named the Weathercaster of the Year for the Carolinas in 2013, 2016, and 2018 by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC). He’s also earned the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist designation from the American Meteorological Society.
With a true appreciation for all things weather related, it’s no surprise that Lee’s favorite restaurant is Thaiphoon in the Glenwood South District of Downtown Raleigh. When he’s not enjoying a spicy Thai dish at his favorite restaurant, you can find Lee either cheering on NC State (especially during football season!) or planning his next international trip. Lee has traveled to 12 different countries in the last five years and plans to add four more to this growing list in the next twelve months.