Derek Van Dam

Weather Anchor

Derek Van Dam is a weather anchor for CNN based at the network's headquarters in Atlanta. He provides weather reports and science bulletins on weekday and weekend editions of CNN Newsroom.
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Derek Van Dam
Derek Van Dam
JEREMY FREEMAN

Latest

People try to remove water from their flooded house after a rainstorm on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.
Pablo Porciuncula/AFP/Getty Images
At least 27 dead as flooding ravages southeast Brazil
Mar 25, 2024
Dozens of people have been killed in southeast Brazil as rainfall continues to ravage parts of the country
Derek Van Dam
•Video 1:23
‘Crippling’ weather conditions expected to hit California 1:23
Mar 1, 2024
A dangerous winter storm has arrived in California and will unload feet of snow, powerful winds and rare blizzard conditions in the mountains through the weekend. CNN’s Derek Van Dam reports.
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•Video 1:39
Meteorologist explains ‘rare’ weather risk in California 1:39
Feb 19, 2024
Emergency officials in California have issued evacuation warnings in parts of the state as millions brace for another round of flooding in regions that are already saturated. CNN’s Derek Van Dam explains.
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CNN
•Video 1:16
‘Real-life snow globe’: Meteorologist reports from Central Park 1:16
Feb 13, 2024
New York City and other major northeastern metropolitans are seeing a surge of snow from a strong and fast-moving nor’easter that is expected to knock out power and significantly disrupt travel, work and school. CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam reports from Central Park in New York City.
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Kansas Highway Patrol Troop C
•Video 1:51
See what driving through a severe snow storm looks like 1:51
Jan 9, 2024
40 million Americans are under a severe storm threat as a massive winter storm is making its way across the United States. CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam reports.
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CNN
•Video 2:06
Winter alerts continue: See the storm forecast 2:06
Jan 4, 2024
CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam reports on a storm system that could bring snow to California and a wintery mix to the Northeast over the weekend.
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•Video 1:57
Last meteor shower of 2023 illuminates the sky 1:57
Dec 22, 2023
The last meteor shower of 2023 is lighting up the sky just in time for Christmas. CNN’s Derek Van Dam tells you the best way to see it.
Derek Van Dam
•Video 1:50
See the location CNN meteorologist is concerned about during storm 1:50
Dec 18, 2023
Nearly 60 million people are under flood watches as a powerful storm moves up the East Coast, bringing heavy rainfall and gusty winds. CNN’s Derek Van Dam reports.
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CNN
•Video 1:38
How Hurricane Otis ‘rewrote the history books’ 1:38
Oct 25, 2023
The National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Otis unleashed a “nightmare scenario” on Acapulco in southern Mexico after the storm rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane just before it made landfall. CNN’s Derek Van Dam has more.
In this aerial photo, a tugboat pushing barges navigates around a sandbar during low water levels on the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge, La., and Reserve, La., in Livingston Parish, La., Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Gerald Herbert/AP
The Mississippi River has dropped to a historic low for the second consecutive year
Oct 11, 2023
Mississippi River water levels are plummeting to an all-time low this week at Memphis in the wake of a sweltering summer and ongoing drought – setting a record for the second consecutive year, new data shows.
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•Video 1:18
This is what El Niño means for the US this winter 1:18
Sep 26, 2023
CNN’s Derek Van Dam breaks down what El Niño will mean for US weather patterns this winter.
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•Video 2:36
Tropical storm warning in effect along New England coast 2:36
Sep 17, 2023
CNN’s Derek Van Dam reports from Massachusetts where Lee, a post-tropical cyclone, continues to churn hurricane-strength winds while delivering rainfall to parts of southeastern New England and Atlantic Canada.
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See Lee’s path as it approaches Category-5 strength 1:08
Sep 6, 2023
Lee has quickly strengthened into a tropical storm as it tracks in an environment favorable for strengthening, which will fuel the storm to near Category-5 strength as it approaches the Caribbean.
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•Video 0:55
It’s so hot out, corn is sweating. Here’s what that looks like 0:55
Aug 25, 2023
A heat dome across the midwest is pushing temperatures in America’s corn belt to triple digits, but did you know that corn can actually sweat? CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam breaks down how it works.
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•Video 1:38
Gusty winds and heavy rain expected as Tropical Storm Harold nears landfall 1:38
Aug 22, 2023
Meteorologist Derek Van Dam has the latest update on Tropical Storm Harold as it nears the Texas coast.
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•Video 1:47
Hear why Hurricane Hilary is the first storm of its kind since 1939 1:47
Aug 18, 2023
Hurricane Hilary has intensified into a Category 4 storm as it nears Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, bringing the threat of flooding to parts of the Southwestern US.

About

Derek Van Dam is a weather anchor for CNN based at the network’s headquarters in Atlanta. He provides weather reports and science bulletins on weekday and weekend editions of CNN Newsroom.

Van Dam is a “Certified Broadcast Meteorologist” by the American Meteorological Society (AMS), a designation which recognizes excellence in his field.

Van Dam has reported live on location from every U.S. landfalling hurricane since 2016 including Hurricane Harvey from Houston, Texas; Hurricane Maria from San Juan, Puerto Rico; Hurricane Irma from Miami Beach, Florida; and Hurricane Nate from Biloxi, Mississippi.

He also reports extensively on the climate crisis and its impact on society.

In 2017 he contributed to CNN’s special live coverage of the solar eclipse from Tennessee. The team’s virtual reality coverage of ‘The Eclipse of the Century’ was recognized with a 2018 Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Innovation.

In 2015 Van Dam flew into the eye of a major storm during Hurricane Joaquin with the infamous ‘Hurricane Hunters’ U.S. Air Force squadron looking for the doomed ‘El Faro’ cargo ship that sank during the storm as part of special coverage for Anderson Cooper 360°.

Prior to joining CNN International, Van Dam was credited with raising the quality and standards of weather broadcasting across the African continent with his previous position as Chief Meteorologist at eNCA (eNews Channel Africa). He managed a team of seven meteorologists and climatologists while anchoring daily weather bulletins for the station’s flagship news shows.

His humanitarian work with a U.S.-based non-governmental organization (NGO) called “The Compassionate Life Foundation” is what first brought him to Southern Africa. He fell in love with the region, and in 2008 relocated to Cape Town to pursue a unique position within his field of work; launching South Africa’s first 24-hour news channel.

Before moving to Africa, he worked as a morning weather anchor at an NBC affiliate in Flint, Michigan.

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Van Dam studied Meteorology & Broadcast/Cinematic Arts at Central Michigan University.

Currently residing in Atlanta with his wife, Van Dam enjoys extreme sports including surfing and sailing. He is also an avid Ultra Marathon runner and has participated in two of South Africa’s toughest single-day road and trail events.