Roland Steadham, a 67-year-old television meteorologist who spent more than three decades forecasting weather across the United States, died Tuesday, January 27, 2026, when his small aircraft crashed into the frozen Payette River near Emmett, Idaho.
The CBS2 chief meteorologist and Dallin Laufenberg, 26, were killed when the plane clipped a power line and plunged into the icy waterway in Gem County at 10:58 a.m. local time. The Gem County Sheriff’s Office reported that both men were fatally injured in the crash, which occurred west of Montour, Idaho, in the Black Canyon area northwest of Boise.
Steadham had worked as a meteorologist for 35 years, building a career that took him from South Florida to Salt Lake City before settling in Idaho. For the past decade, he had served as the face of weather forecasting at CBS2, guiding viewers through Idaho’s variable weather patterns with an enthusiasm colleagues described as contagious.
The veteran forecaster was a commercially licensed pilot who operated his aircraft out of Emmett and considered recreational flying a cherished hobby. He owned the small aircraft involved in Tuesday’s crash and frequently shared stories about local pilots and their accomplishments with coworkers and viewers alike.
Steadham’s career in meteorology spanned multiple television markets across the country. Before joining CBS2, he worked at KUTV 2News in Salt Lake City from 2005 to 2009, followed by a stint at KTVX Salt Lake City. His time in Utah came after a decade-long career in Miami, where he became a familiar face to South Florida viewers.
From 1996 to 2006, Steadham served as chief meteorologist at WTVJ-NBC6 in Miami, establishing himself as a trusted voice during hurricane season. He later worked at WPLG Local 10 from 2013 to 2014, where he worked closely with Max Mayfield, a respected figure in hurricane forecasting. His South Florida tenure totaled approximately 10 years across multiple stations in the Miami market.
Steadham’s educational background included degrees from both Brigham Young University and the University of Utah, providing him with the technical foundation for his meteorology career. His approach to weather forecasting combined scientific rigor with an evident passion for atmospheric phenomena, particularly severe weather events.
Beyond his professional accomplishments in meteorology and aviation, Steadham was known for his adventurous spirit. He was an avid skydiver, embracing activities that allowed him to experience the atmosphere he spent his career studying and predicting. This combination of professional expertise and personal passion for weather and flight made him uniquely connected to his work.
The father of six children was devoted to his family, frequently discussing his wife, Erin, and their grandchildren with colleagues and in casual conversations. In recent years, Steadham and his family enjoyed kayaking throughout Idaho’s rivers and waterways, and he often talked about grilling food with his family in their backyard.
“Rarely did he have a conversation without sharing about his love for his family,” colleagues recalled.
Coworkers remembered Steadham’s tendency to share updates about his six children and grandchildren, discussing their accomplishments, their love for life, and their enjoyment of outdoor activities. He looked forward to visits with his grandchildren and spoke with evident pride about his family’s activities and achievements.
At the station, Steadham was known for occasionally bringing his dog to work, where the animal would watch him deliver forecasts. He also kept colleagues updated about his cats, reflecting the meteorologist’s affection for animals alongside his love for family and aviation.
“For the past decade, Roland Steadham guided people through storm after storm in Idaho,” the station wrote. “He loved to study the weather and shared it with people across Idaho. Roland’s excitement for the weather was contagious.”
The crash investigation remained active as authorities worked to determine the exact circumstances that led the aircraft to strike the power line before crashing onto the frozen river. Preliminary information suggested the plane hit the line before descending into the Payette River, where it came to rest on the ice. Officials did not immediately reveal who was piloting the aircraft at the time of the incident.
Steadham’s death represents a loss not only for his family and the broadcasting community but also for viewers across Idaho who relied on his forecasts and appreciated his evident enthusiasm for meteorology. His career trajectory from South Florida’s hurricane-prone coast to the mountainous terrain of Idaho demonstrated his adaptability and commitment to serving communities through weather forecasting, regardless of the regional climate challenges.
The meteorologist’s combination of professional expertise, personal passions, and family devotion painted a picture of someone who lived fully, whether studying storm systems, piloting his plane through Idaho skies, or spending time with his wife and six children. His 35-year career in meteorology touched multiple communities across the United States, from the subtropical climate of Miami to the varied seasons of Salt Lake City and the mountain weather patterns of Idaho.
Steadham is survived by his wife, Erin, their six children, and his grandchildren, who will remember him not only as a forecaster who loved a good storm but as a father and grandfather who shared his enthusiasm for life’s adventures with those closest to him.
