Longtime Nebraska weather forecaster passes away after battle with cancer

A longtime Nebraska weather forecaster passed away Sunday after a battle with cancer.

Kent Boughton, who provided weather forecasts for multiple TV stations in the state, most notably for NTV in central Nebraska where he worked for more than 20 years, passed away on Sunday.

His family shared the news in a social media post.

“With profound sadness, we share that Kent died peacefully today surrounded by the love of his family,” the statement read. “Broadcasting the weather was his lifeline, and he was deeply grateful for the community that welcome him into their homes for so many years.”

Boughton announced in March that he had stage 4 cancer in a social media post, saying he learned he had cancer after going to the doctor for voice issues.

“I spent my entire career telling you about storms, trying to save your lives for crying out loud, and preparing for what’s ahead for me is going to be tough,” he said. “But I’m going to be here. I’m going to be here for severe weather. Now I’m facing my own storm. My own inside tornado, if you will.”

Steve White, farm director at KRVN radio station and former NTV News journalist, shared a post saying that Boughton “exemplified central Nebraska” and did more for the area than just delivering the forecast.

“He truly understood the power of broadcasting and what it means to serve the community, whether he was teaching a visually impaired young woman to hunt or emceeing a local event, singing in a choir, and of course having fun on and off the air,” he said.

News Channel Nebraska evening anchor Dave Griek shared a post honoring Boughton, saying he was actively involved in the community, from singing on the local choir to teaching hunter safety courses, and was passionate about delivering the weather forecast.

“On his birthday weekend in 2023, Kent stayed on air until 5 a.m. the following day (a Saturday) because the storms stuck around our area,” the post said. “No in-house or public thank you from leadership, no recognition. He wasn’t there for them - he was there for all of US. He wanted you to be informed during severe weather so you could take whatever action was necessary in the moment, and survive. From night of the twisters to the sunniest of days, Kent’s love of forecasting could not be topped. For him to put on a smile no matter the weather, no matter the pain he was dealing with from his accident or cancer, he was unyielding.”

Boughton was inducted into the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 2024.

He began his broadcasting career at age 15 as a disc jockey at KRGI in Grand Island.

After graduating from Brown Institute in 1977, he began his television career as the sports and weather director at KIFI TV in Idaho Falls before returning to Nebraska in 1979 to become weather director at KHAS TV in Hastings.

After 12 years on the air, Boughton left broadcasting and returned in 1999 as chief forecaster at KHGI TV in Kearney. He retired in 2023, but returned to television as a part-time forecaster on Lincoln’s KLKN TV and later joined News Channel Nebraska.