Bill Reh Biography
Bill Reh is a retired American television meteorologist who dedicated nearly forty years to forecasting the weather in North Carolina’s Triangle area. He’s perhaps best recognized for his long-standing role at WNCN/CBS 17 in Raleigh, where he was the go-to weekday morning meteorologist from 2004 until he hung up his hat in December 2022.
Before making his mark at CBS 17, Reh spent 13 years at WTVD ABC11 in Durham and five years at WB22 in Raleigh. Throughout his impressive career, he reported on some of North Carolina’s most notable weather events, including the Red Springs tornado outbreak in 1984, the tragic Raleigh tornado in 1988, Hurricane Fran in 1996, Hurricane Floyd in 1999, and the major snowstorm of 2000.
Reh earned his degree in meteorology and broadcasting from Northern Illinois University. In 1984, he was honored with the American Meteorological Society Television Seal of Approval, a testament to his expertise in the field.
Bill Reh Education
Bill started his educational journey at a local elementary school in his hometown. He later went on to Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, where he earned a double major in meteorology and broadcasting. In 1984, he received his first American Meteorological Society Television Seal of Approval for his outstanding work on CS 17 News.
Bill Reh Age
So, how old is Bill? As of 2026, he’s around 61 years old. He was born in the United States, but the exact date of his birth is still being looked into. We’ll keep you posted on any updates regarding his age as soon as we have more information.
Bill Reh Nationality | Ethnicity
Bill is an American by birth, holding both nationality and citizenship. He grew up in a suburban neighborhood in the U.S. in a middle-class family of German descent, which gives him a mixed German-American heritage.
Bill Reh Height
Wondering how tall Bill is? He stands at a modest 5 feet 7 inches and weighs between 55 to 60 kilograms. While we’re still gathering details on his other body measurements, we do know he has striking ocean-blue eyes and dark brown hair. In his free time, Bill enjoys cooking and staying active.
Bill Reh Family
Bill was raised in a simple suburban neighborhood in the U.S. Unfortunately, we don’t have any information about his parents at the moment. However, he grew up inspired by various weather reporters who delivered morning and evening updates, which fueled his passion for weather and climate change.
Bill Reh Wife
Is Bill married? Yes, he is happily married, but he prefers to keep details about his wife private. He hasn’t shared much about their wedding day on social media or in interviews, but it’s clear he enjoys a joyful married life. We’ll provide more information about Bill’s wife as soon as it becomes available.
Bill Reh CBS 17
Bill Reh made his mark at WNCN, now known as CBS 17, when he joined the team in 2004, bringing with him experience from WTVD and WB22.
Over his impressive 18-year tenure at CBS 17, he became a beloved figure for viewers in Raleigh, Durham, and the wider Triangle area. His expertise shone through as he forecasted everything from severe storms and hurricanes to tornadoes and winter weather.
As he stepped into retirement, it was noted that Reh’s career in television weather spanned nearly 40 years. His last forecast for CBS 17 aired in December 2022.
In addition to his on-air work, he also created and produced the “Ask a Meteorologist” exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science in Durham.
Bill Reh WNCN
WNCN played a significant role in Bill Reh’s television journey. He became part of the Raleigh station in 2004, back when it was still called NBC 17, and continued his journey as the station transitioned to CBS 17.
Reh was mainly known for his contributions to the morning newscasts, earning a reputation as one of the longest-serving meteorologists in the Raleigh television scene.
His time at WNCN/CBS 17 spanned around 18 years, and his retirement in 2022 marked the end of a remarkable chapter in local television weather.
Bill Reh Retiring
Bill Reh officially retired from CBS 17 in December 2022, wrapping up nearly 40 years in the field of television meteorology.
His final forecast aired on December 16, 2022, during a special tribute to celebrate his extensive career. At the time, Reh was 63 years old.
While his retirement wasn’t a total surprise—he had been contemplating it for a few years—2022 brought a turning point when the station offered him a six-month contract instead of the usual one-year renewal. This nudged him toward making the decision to retire.
Reh described his departure from television as bittersweet; he loved forecasting but was also ready to embrace more family time and step back from the hectic morning schedule.
Looking ahead, he planned to travel, spend time with family, volunteer, and simply enjoy the luxury of free time.
Why Did Bill Reh Retire?
Bill Reh’s decision to retire was largely a personal one after nearly 40 years in the television industry.
One of the main reasons was the grueling morning schedule he had to keep. He often joked about his alarm going off at 2:25 a.m., and while he still had a passion for weather, he found that not every part of the television experience brought him joy anymore.
Additionally, the station’s choice to offer him a six-month contract instead of the one-year deal he had hoped for nudged him closer to retirement. Reh admitted he had been “hemming and hawing” about stepping away for quite some time.
Bill Reh Kidney Transplant
As for Bill Reh’s health journey, one of the most significant events after his retirement was his kidney transplant in November 2025.
Reh had been living with polycystic kidney disease, a condition he discovered in his 30s. Tragically, his father also suffered from the same disease and passed away in his 60s due to related complications.
For years, Reh kept a close eye on his health and managed his high blood pressure. However, in early 2025, doctors informed him that his kidney function had worsened considerably, and he was nearing the point where dialysis would be necessary. This led to a referral to UNC Health for a transplant evaluation.
Fortunately, he didn’t have to wait for an anonymous donor. His wife, Shields Reh, stepped up and offered to donate one of her kidneys.
After thorough testing, the doctors confirmed that Shields was a perfect match as a living donor. The transplant surgery took place in November 2025, and the couple began their recovery journey together.
Bill Reh Wife and Kidney Donation
Bill Reh’s wife is Shields Reh, and they’ve been happily married for about 37 years when the transplant happened in 2025.
Shields stepped up in a big way by donating one of her kidneys to help with Reh’s treatment. After the surgery, the couple opened up about the experience, with Reh expressing heartfelt gratitude for his wife’s brave decision to be his living donor. Reports indicated that he was recovering at home, keeping a close eye on his blood pressure and temperature post-procedure.
This transplant also shed light on a part of Reh’s health journey that he had kept mostly under wraps during his time on television.
What Happened to Bill Reh’s Kidneys?
Reh was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease many years before his transplant.
This hereditary condition leads to the formation of cysts in the kidneys, which can gradually impair kidney function. Reh was aware that he might need a transplant someday, especially since his father had faced the same health issue.
Despite the challenges, he managed to keep his career on track and live what he described as a fairly normal life for many years, although high blood pressure was a constant hurdle.
By early 2025, however, his kidney function had declined to a point where doctors suggested he undergo a transplant evaluation. Thanks to his wife’s generous kidney donation, he was able to have a living-donor transplant in November 2025.
Bill Reh Salary
Reh served as the Senior Meteorologist for CBS 17 News in North Carolina, and his annual salary was between $68,000 and $96,000.
Net Worth
Bill Reh is a well-respected broadcast meteorologist and weather reporter, and as of 2026, his estimated net worth is around 1 million dollars.
