Tony Petrarca

Tony joined WPRI-TV in March of 1987 and has over 20 years experience studying and forecasting New England weather. He is a native Rhode Islander, born and raised in Warwick. Tony grew up watching Eyewitness News. Being a meteorologist was a childhood dream, tracking snowstorms and hurricanes on his "weather wall" at home!

"I thank my parents for their love and support in helping me achieve that dream".

He is a graduate of Toll Gate High School and Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, Vermont with a B.S Degree in Meteorology (considered one of the finest weather schools in the country).

Tony is a member of the American Meteorological Society and holds the Society's highest standards for a television meteorologists with the "A.M.S. Broadcast Seal Of Approval" award. He has been nominated 6 Times for the New England Emmy award for his work and was voted Most Accurate Meteorologist  6 times by Rhode Island Monthly Magazine'  annual reader's poll, as well as numerous Civic awards. He has also won the Associated Press Award for "Best Weathercast" in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. One of Tony's career highlights was spending a Winter weekend atop of Mt. Washington , N.H. which later turned into a half hour Emmy nominated weather documentary entitled "On Top Of New England".

Tony never really left school- in the last 20 years he has visited more than 500 elementary schools, teaching kids about weather. His influence on some students have resulted in several attending college to study weather!

"Giving back to the community I grew up in" is Tony's motto. A number of charitable organizations include the "Tomorrow Fund", "Rhode Island Association For Cardiac Kids", "East Bay Coalition For The Homeless",  Santa's Workshop, as well as serving on the Board of Directors of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

He is also a Eucharistic minister at Sacred Heart Church in West Warwick and a youth soccer coach.

Tony's family includes his wife and 2 young children

You can reach Tony at: tpetrarca@wpri.com