WTOL to air 'Oprah' finale Thursday because of severe weather broadcasting

Kimberly Adams of Chicago stands outside Harpo Studios before the final taping of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in Chicago, Tuesday, May 24, 2011. The finale has been delayed until Thursday at 4 p.m. in the Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan region.

Severe weather trumped Oprah Winfrey on Wednesday, even if it was her final show.

WTOL-TV, Channel 11, pre-empted The Oprah Winfrey Show at 4 p.m. for coverage of the weather through northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.

Andi Roman, WTOL’s news director, said the show will air in its entirety between 4 and 5 p.m. Thursday.

“We understand the importance of Oprah’s final show, but when it comes to tornados and severe weather, that’s the biggest factor that we worry about. Our team of meteorologists is on top of making people safe,” she said.

Ms. Roman said she made the decision to delay Winfrey’s show and conferred with the station’s general manager.

“All of our viewers are important to us,” she said.

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