David Bernard, Meteorologist: Bio, Age, Husband, Career

David Bernard Biography

David Bernard is a retired American broadcast meteorologist and licensed social worker. He served as chief meteorologist at WVUE-TV (FOX 8) in New Orleans from 2015 until October 2022. Earlier in his career, Bernard worked for WWL-TV in New Orleans and WFOR-TV in Miami. He also served as a national hurricane consultant for CBS News. Bernard anchored live weather coverage during critical events, including Hurricane Ivan, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Ike, Hurricane Isaac, Hurricane Irene, Hurricane Sandy, and Hurricane Ida. In late 2022, he retired from local television to earn a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Tulane University, where he now focuses on mental health counseling.

Originally from Houston, Texas, he completed his education at the University of Texas at Austin. Following that, he pursued further studies at Mississippi State University. Upon obtaining his degree, he embarked on his professional journey as a television meteorologist, specializing in predicting weather patterns in the Tornado Alley area spanning the Texas panhandle and Oklahoma. Initially, he held positions at KZTV in Corpus Christi, Texas, and KVII in Amarillo, Texas.

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In 1997, he relocated to WWL-TV in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he worked as a meteorologist for the morning news program for a duration of eight years. Dave Walker highly praised Benard’s coverage of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, which critics also acclaimed. “After that, David departed WWL in the summer of 2005 to take up a new role at WFOR, a CBS affiliate in Miami.

“David returned to New Orleans after leaving the city shortly after Hurricane Katrina to report on its aftermath. In 2008, CBS News appointed him as their national hurricane consultant, and he provided coverage for hurricanes Gustav, Ike, Issac, Irene, and Sandy. He joined WVUE-TV later on and was eventually promoted to the position of chief meteorologist following a few months.

Age and Early Life

Bernard was born on April 6, 1969, in Houston, Texas. He is 57 years old. Growing up on the Texas Gulf Coast inspired his lifelong interest in tropical weather forecasting.

Quick Facts

Full Name: David Bernard
Date of Birth: April 6, 1969
Birthplace: Houston, Texas
Education: University of Texas at Austin, Mississippi State University
Spouse: Charles Urstadt (m. 2019)
Former Employer: WVUE-TV (FOX 8 New Orleans)

Height and Physical Description

Bernard stands 5 feet 10 inches tall and maintains a professional appearance. David Bernard is a former American broadcast meteorologist best known for his career in New Orleans and Miami. He served as chief meteorologist at WVUE-TV (FOX 8) in New Orleans before retiring from local news in October 2022 to pursue social work.

David Bernard Family

Benard was born and raised in Houston, Texas, in the United States. He keeps details regarding his parents and siblings private. His early career included weather forecasting positions in Corpus Christi, Amarillo, and Tulsa. Bernard later spent eight years at WWL-TV in New Orleans and ten years at WFOR-TV in Miami and worked as a national hurricane consultant for CBS News.

Austin Forsyth is the husband of Joy-Anna Duggar. The couple, who are four years apart in age, were married in Rogers, Arkansas, on May 26, 2017. Gideon, Evelyn, and Gunner are their three joint children. After Austin’s family relocated from Texas, they first met when Austin was eight years old and Joy-Anna was four.

David Bernard’s Husband/Spouse

Marriage

Bernard married real estate investor Charles Urstadt in July 2019.

Bernard married real estate investor Charles Urstadt in July 2019. Urstadt also served as the chairman of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans. Bernard holds certifications from the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. He earned first-place awards for best weathercast from the Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press in 2018 and the Press Club of New Orleans every year from 2019 through 2022. Adore magazine named him one of New Orleans’ most influential people in 2021.

Education

Bernard attended the University of Texas at Austin, earning his degree in broadcast meteorology. He completed specialized meteorology coursework at Mississippi State University. This academic foundation prepared him for a three-decade career tracking severe storms across Tornado Alley and the Gulf Coast region.

David Bernard Net Worth

Public records do not contain official salary or net worth figures for Bernard. Industry averages for major-market chief meteorologists typically range from $100,000 to $250,000 annually, putting estimated career net worth between $1 million and $3 million.

David Bernard’s Salary

Has David won any award for meteorology?

Yes! David Benard has received multiple awards for his contributions to meteorology. “The Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press competition in 2018 awarded him first place in the categories of best weather anchor and best weather cast.” Additionally, the Press Club of New Orleans recognized him with the first prize for best weathercast in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. New Orleans Adore magazine further acknowledged his achievements and named him one of the most influential in New Orleans in 2021.

Specific On-Air Roles & Beat Focus

David Bernard anchored live severe weather broadcasts across the Gulf Coast for three decades. He led emergency coverage during major hurricanes, including Hurricane Ivan, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Isaac, and Hurricane Ida. He also served as a national hurricane consultant for CBS News, delivering storm tracking and safety guidance to nationwide audiences.

Retirement Transition Details

Bernard retired from local television in late 2022 to pursue a new career path in mental health. He enrolled at Tulane University and earned his Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. He now works as a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, focusing on community wellness and counseling.

Awards & Professional Designations

Bernard earned the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) seal, the premier professional credential awarded by the American Meteorological Society (AMS). He also served on the AMS Board of Broadcast Meteorology. The Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press Broadcasters and Media Editors awarded him first place for best weathercast, and the New Orleans City Council issued an official proclamation honoring his 30 years of broadcasting service.

Where did Bernard work most?

Bernard spent most of his career forecasting extreme weather in high-impact regions. He tracked severe storms across Tornado Alley in Texas and Oklahoma before covering the South Florida market. He spent over two decades serving viewers across the Greater New Orleans area and the broader Gulf Coast region.

Key Media Stations

Bernard worked at major network affiliates throughout his broadcasting career. He served as morning meteorologist at WWL-TV (CBS affiliate) in New Orleans for eight years. David Bernard later joined WFOR-TV (CBS affiliate) in Miami for a decade. He concluded his on-air career as chief meteorologist at WVUE-TV (FOX 8) in New Orleans.

What is his educational background?

David Bernard graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in broadcast meteorology. He completed additional meteorological coursework at Mississippi State University.

Career Achievements and Awards

Bernard holds the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) seal, the highest professional designation awarded by the American Meteorological Society (AMS). He served on the AMS Board of Broadcast Meteorology. The Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press honored him with first-place awards for best weathercast in 2018. The Press Club of New Orleans recognized him with first-prize awards every year from 2019 through 2022. The New Orleans City Council issued an official proclamation in 2022 honoring his 30 years of broadcasting service. In 2021, Adore magazine named him one of New Orleans’ most influential leaders.

David Bernard (Meteorologist). Bio, Age, Family, Wife, Height, Net Worth, Salary