For nearly two decades, Jeriann Ritter has been a familiar face and reassuring presence for viewers of WHO Channel 13 News in Des Moines, Iowa. Her steady voice and warm demeanor have guided Iowans through countless weather forecasts, from sun-drenched afternoons to the most unpredictable storms. But in recent months, Ritter’s own life has taken an unexpected turn, one that she never could have forecasted—even with her years of meteorological expertise.
On February 24, 2026, Ritter made a deeply personal announcement during a televised interview with her colleague Keith Murphy. Through tears and with characteristic candor, she revealed that doctors believe she is facing a career-ending diagnosis: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. More specifically, her physicians suspect bulbar ALS, a rare and aggressive form of the disease that primarily affects the muscles responsible for speech, swallowing, and breathing.
“I didn’t forecast this storm hitting. It’s raining right now, and I’m just trying to find the sunshine,” Ritter told viewers during the interview, according to the Des Moines Register. “But I’m gonna do what I’ve always been doing for almost 50 years of my life. I’m gonna live, and I’m gonna love. That’s what I’m gonna be doing.”
Ritter’s journey with ALS began in October 2025, when she first noticed subtle changes in her speech. At first, she suspected something as mundane as shifting teeth and turned to her dentist for answers. The dentist, however, suspected a possible stroke, setting off a months-long chain of referrals that eventually led to a neurologist’s office. There, a closer examination revealed telltale signs of bulbar ALS—a diagnosis that would upend Ritter’s life and career.
Bulbar ALS is a particularly challenging subset of the disease, as explained by Target ALS and cited by multiple outlets. It attacks motor neurons in the bulbar region of the brainstem, leading to rapid deterioration of the muscles used for speaking, swallowing, and breathing. The progression is swift, and the prognosis is grim: there is no known cure or effective treatment. Women are more frequently affected by this form, and survival rates are lower compared to other ALS types.
For Ritter, the diagnosis was both bewildering and devastating. “I’m just bummed that the speech is impacting how I tell you about the weather. Because I love talking about the weather. I don’t love talking about ALS, and that’s what the doctors believe is causing my speech problems,” she said during the February 24 interview, as reported by Sportskeeda. “They’re still trying to prove it to me, but in the meantime, they’re telling me no treatment, no cure. It’s called bulbar ALS, and that I just would continue to get worse.”
The road to diagnosis was not straightforward. Ritter tried speech therapy, hoping that relaxing her muscles might help. But she soon learned that, with ALS, relaxing muscles can actually hasten their weakening. Even specialized ALS speech therapy comes at a steep price—$500 per hour—making it inaccessible for many patients. “It is killing me that something that came so easy is so hard,” Ritter shared, reflecting on the mounting challenges of a disease that targets her greatest joy: communication.
Ritter’s struggles did not go unnoticed by her loyal audience. By late November 2025, viewers began reaching out with messages of concern, some gently inquiring about her health, others more blunt. “Are you drunk?” one viewer asked, a question that stung deeply as Ritter tried desperately to mask her symptoms on air. Yet, as time went on, she realized she could no longer hide the truth. On January 12, 2026, she took to Facebook to address her speaking issues directly, expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support. “Thank you so much for your concern. I know all of us have stuff going on, but when my greatest joy is talking and it’s becoming harder to do, it’s kind of a bummer right now,” she wrote, as reported by Distractify.
Her candor was met with an overwhelming wave of support from fans and colleagues alike. Messages poured in on social media, with viewers expressing their admiration and offering prayers. “When you have watched someone and welcomed them into your home for decades via your television, you feel like they become family in a warm way. That is how we feel about Jeriann. So many prayers for you and your family from ours,” one fan wrote on Facebook. Her coworkers, too, rallied around her, sharing memories and requests for prayers in recent days.
Despite the dire prognosis, Ritter remains determined to focus on the things that matter most: her family, her faith, and her commitment to living each day fully. “Maybe I’m dealing with this to remind people to be thankful for their life,” she mused during her interview with Murphy. She recounted the story of a viewer who, years ago, wrote to her while battling cancer, asking, “What brings you joy?” Now, she says, her answer is simple: living in the moment, having God in her life, and cherishing her family.
Ritter’s career at WHO Channel 13 spans more than 20 years, with stints on the morning show before moving to noon and 4 p.m. newscasts in 2022. Even as her health has declined, she continued delivering the forecast as long as she could, determined to fulfill her role for her viewers. “I’m probably done telling you about the weather, but I still have a lot to say,” she told Murphy. “I’m trying to figure out what that new race or journey looks like, but I want it to be about spreading love.”
Throughout this ordeal, Ritter has been buoyed by the steadfast support of her husband, children, and the wider community. She acknowledged the pain of missing her colleagues and the daily interactions that once defined her routine. Yet, she finds solace in knowing she is not alone. “I am so lucky,” she said, reflecting on the unwavering presence of her loved ones.
As for what comes next, Ritter is clear-eyed yet hopeful. She continues to pray for a miracle, clinging to the possibility that her doctors might be wrong. But she is also preparing for the road ahead, focusing on spending time with her family and, perhaps, finding new ways to inspire others. At the end of her interview, when asked how people could help, she offered a simple but profound request: “Keep living. And loving. Maybe if more of us do that, this world will be a better place, and that would be a gift to me.”
Jeriann Ritter’s story is not just one of personal adversity—it’s a testament to resilience, gratitude, and the enduring power of human connection. Even as she faces the storm of her life, she remains, as ever, a beacon of hope and love for the community she has served so faithfully.