Rex Thompson

Rex is originally from Columbia, MS. His interest in weather began in 1969 when he was just 8 years old.

One of the worst hurricanes to ever strike the United State was hurricane Camille. It struck south Mississippi on August 17th-18th. Winds in his home town were estimated to be sustained at 120 mph with gusts to 140. This event made a huge impact on Rex.

At the age of 12 he was fortunate enough to meet Jim Thornhill. Jim was the director of the Civil Defense for Marion County and Columbia. We know it now as Emergency Management.

It tuned out Mr. Thornhill was a former Air Force meteorologist and immediately took Rex under his wing and began to teach him.

Rex’s first ever broadcast experience was at WFFF radio in Columbia where he did a weather segment at just 13 years of age. He landed his first job in television in as the weekend weathercast for WAPT channel 16 in 1982.

Rex has worked several stints in the Pine Belt on various television stations over the years as well as the weekend weathercast for WTVC in Chattanooga, TN.