Chilly weather in new city surprises local weatherman.

Chesley McNeil is having a tough time embracing his new life as a weather anchor in Atlanta Georgia. First, he nearly died of hypothermia in an attempt to beat the rush of ice fishermen on Lake Erie. Upon returning home, he was nearly blinded while working on a modified gas-powered barometer in his home weather studio. Now, in the city he will soon call home, McNeil is in the hospital suffering from hypothermia.

Reports confirm that McNeil arrived in Atlanta late on Friday for a scheduled tour of the city and promotional photo sessions at local landmarks. WXIA station manager Ellen Crooke said that McNeil may have made an error in judgment regarding appropriate apparel for the Atlanta winter.

Witnesses on American Airlines flight 844 reported seeing McNeil dressed in Bermuda shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, among other questionable clothing choices considering Atlanta’s 35-45 degree forecast.

“He had on sandals, and the bandages on his head and fingers were decorated in floral patterns”, said Jon Manly, who was traveling south to see his mother. “His eye patch had a big smiling sunshine on it.” McNeil is still recuperating from his recent injuries.

Crooke says that it seems as though McNeil wasn’t ready for the day she had scheduled.

“We took him out for photos and it just turned out to be a longer day than we had planned. Chesley kept telling us he was comfortable, that he was used to Buffalo winters, but after a few hours outside he started to shake pretty severely. His body just couldn’t get itself to warm.” The temperature only reached a high of 45 degrees with a slight drizzle.

“In retrospect, we should have cancelled the motorcycle tour of the downtown area, but Chesley seemed all for it”, Crooke continued. “He never stopped smiling, but as we pulled in to the studio, he just passed out.” He is listed in stable condition, though doctors are concerned that he has not fully recovered from his recent injuries.

“His trademark smile is a bit lopsided and while we hope the scarring on his forehead heals nicely, his condition in no way jeopardizes his position here at WXIA”, Cooke said. She added that while she hired Chesley for his pleasant and optimistic demeanor, he should be prepared for Atlanta’s weather.

“Chesley was just a little wide eyed and maybe a bit disoriented from his recent accidents in Buffalo,” she said. “He kept saying, ‘It’s a warm 37 degrees’, though it obviously wasn’t. He just needs some rest.”

McNeil returns home to Buffalo later this week.