Popular Alabama meteorologist returns to Huntsville station as TV news merger confirmed

Huntsville television viewers are seeing a major shift in the local news landscape. WAFF 48 officially confirmed the consolidation of its news operations with WAAY 31 this past Thursday, signaling a unified path forward for the two stations under a single brand: 48 News.

A Unified Newsroom

The station shared the news via a Facebook post, noting that audiences have likely already spotted the collaboration in action. From reporters to promotional segments, the stations have been intentionally blending their teams to create a cohesive experience for the Valley.

A significant part of this transition includes a familiar face returning to the 48 First Alert Weather Team. Jeff Castle, who previously served at WAFF for 12 years before moving to a role in Shreveport and later returning to Huntsville as WAAY 31’s chief meteorologist, announced his return on social media.

Castle expressed excitement about reuniting with meteorologists Brad Travis and Eric Burke, as well as working alongside Jeff Desnoyers and forecaster Jayda Russell.

Digital and Brand Shifts

The consolidation extends well beyond on-air talent. Viewers visiting waaytv.com are now being directed to waff.com. Digital users should also note that former WAAY 31 mobile apps are being transitioned to the WAFF 48 News and 48 First Alert Weather platforms, while the 48 Sports Zone remains the hub for local athletics.

Social media channels across Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube will also align under the singular 48 News identity as the transition progresses.

This development follows Gray Media's acquisition of WAAY and nine other stations from Allen Media Group last year for $171 million. For more context on regional news shifts, read what Birmingham’s ‘very confusing’ TV news shuffle means for local viewers.