Al Roker apologizes for de Blasio jab

NBC’s “Today” show meteorologist Al Roker apologized on Friday for a tweet he posted a day before, blasting New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio for not closing down schools during a snowstorm.

“On the one tweet, I do regret … I’m very passionate about the weather. I made a prediction that there would be only one term of his administration. I apologize for that. That was a little below the line. Everything else, I still stand by including that the National Weather Service did forecast that on Wednesday,” Roker said Friday on “Today.”

Roker was referring to one of a series of tweets he posted Thursday after de Blasio announced he would keep city schools open.

I knew this am @NYCMayorsOffice @NYCSchools would close schools. Talk about a bad prediction. Long range DiBlasio forecast: 1 term

— Al Roker (@alroker) February 13, 2014

The veteran meteorologist, however, stood by the other tweets he posted chastising de Blasio.

Why are schools all around NYC closed? It’s going to take some kid or kids getting hurt before this goofball policy gets changed

— Al Roker (@alroker) February 13, 2014

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) had declared a state of emergency for the rest of New York, Roker pointed out. Many schools districts outside of the city were closed.

@BillseBlasio Gov. Cuomo declaring state of emergency for the Mid-Hudson, New York City, and L.I. as a Nor’Easter storm continues affect NY

— Al Roker (@alroker) February 13, 2014

At a press conference Thursday afternoon, de Blasio required schools to dismiss students early as the snowstorm strengthened.

So now my daughter’s NYC public school is being let out early. @NYCMayorsOffice @NYCSchools Is it worth putting kids’ safety at risk?

— Al Roker (@alroker) February 13, 2014

De Blasio responded to Roker’s criticisms at the press conference and defended his initial decision to keep schools open.

“I respect Al Roker a lot, watched him on TV for many many years,” de Blasio said. “It’s a different thing to run a city than to give weather on TV … I respect all the meteorologists out there, but the one I respect the most is called the National Weather Service.”

How dare @NYCMayorsOffice @NYCSchools throw NWS under the school bus. Forecast was on time and on the money

— Al Roker (@alroker) February 13, 2014

Mr. Mayor, I could never run NYC, but I know when it’s time to keep kids home from school

— Al Roker (@alroker) February 13, 2014

De Blasio was sworn in as mayor last month, succeeding Michael Bloomberg who served in that role for 12 years. Many New Yorkers haven’t been too happy with how de Blasio has handled snowstorms so far this season.

Roker has worked as the “Today” weather anchor since 1996.