Solar Eclipse Brings Tom Skilling To Tears

CARBONDALE, IL — He's dedicated his career to the weather, and on Monday, it brought him to tears. Longtime WGN chief meteorologist Tom Skilling made the pilgrimage to Carbondale for the solar eclipse. Broadcasting live from the path of totality, Skilling grew emotional.

"For some, it's just a life-changing experience," he said, his voice breaking before he quickly apologized. "Sorry about that," he said. "I'll get my act together, guys." His fellow eclipse-watchers didn't seem to mind, cheering and exchanging high-fives and even hugs with the weatherman, who joined them in a chorus of the Beatles' "Here Comes The Sun."

"Look at that," Skilling said, looking skyward with wonder. "What do you think of this, guys?" According to his coworkers at WGN, the weatherman's reaction was the "sweetest thing you'll ever see."

"Tom Skilling" soon began trending on Twitter. "You and I will never love anything as much as Tom Skilling loves the weather," one fan wrote. "There is so sweeter bond than the one between a boy and his eclipse," another said. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or other neighborhoods. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

More from Patch:

• Solar Eclipse 2017 Across Illinois: Watch It Again
• The Best Solar Eclipse 2017 Photos From Coast To Coast
• Solar Eclipse 2017: Adler Planetarium's Chicago Watch Party Draws Thousands

Image via Twitter screenshot