NBC’s Today viewers probably noticed that Al Roker has not been in the studio at 30 Rockefeller Plaza this week.
The three-time Daytime Emmy Award winner has been a full-time member of the Today on-air team since 1996 when he replaced legendary weatherman Willard Scott. (Scott delivered Today’s weather reports for 35 years before moving to a part-time role at NBC. He died in September 2021 at age 87.)
Roker is set to celebrate his 30th anniversary on Today in January 2026 — and there’s no doubt NBC will commemorate the TV milestone.
Aside from his weather reports, Roker regularly hosts the third hour of Today and previously had his own Weather Channel show, Wake Up With Al, from 2009 to 2015.
Al Roker, Wife Deborah Roberts Have an ‘Unusual’ Day: See Their Cute Selfie
Keep scrolling to find out more about Roker’s Today absence:
Why is Al Roker Missing on ‘Today’ This Week?
Today cohost Craig Melvin first acknowledged Roker’s absence on Tuesday, August 19, when he joked that his coworker was taking “one of his 16 weeks of vacation.”
However, the Today team later confirmed that Roker was actually on leave to celebrate his 71st birthday on Wednesday, August 20. Savannah Guthrie told viewers that the Today staff video chatted with Roker before the show to wish him a happy birthday.
“He’s having a great birthday,” Guthrie said, before declaring, “We love you, Al, wherever you are in the world!”
Guthrie later offered Roker even more birthday wishes via Instagram, when she wrote: “Happiest birthday to the life of our party – our sunshine @alroker.”
Roker’s wife, 20/20 coanchor Deborah Roberts, confirmed via Instagram that the couple are spending the week in Italy to celebrate the weatherman’s special day.
“To the man who brings life, love and laughs to my world, a heartfelt happy birthday,” she wrote to Roker. “Your kindness, joy and generosity are boundless blessings. Love you so much! Please join me in showering @alroker with the biggest birthday wishes his heart can hold!”
Who Is Filling In for Al Roker on ‘Today?’
The early hours of Today have featured Today 3rd Hour cohost Dylan Dreyer delivering the weather, while NBC News Now anchor Savannah Sellers joined Dreyer and Melvin for the show’s third hour.
When the trio wished Roker happy birthday to start off Today 3rd Hour on Wednesday, Dreyer revealed their absent coworker had sent in photos from his vacation to “[rub] in how much fun he’s having.”
Melvin lightheartedly replied, “Well deserved. Happy birthday, bud.”
When Will Al Roker Return to ‘Today?’
NBC has not yet confirmed when Roker will be back in Studio 1A at 30 Rock.
When Has Al Roker Previously Taken Breaks?
Roker gets a healthy amount of vacation time due to his long tenure on Today — as evidenced by his cohost Melvin’s tongue-in-cheek reference to the weatherman taking “16 weeks” per year.
A few of Roker’s extended breaks from Today in recent years have revolved around health issues. Roker stepped back from Today and even missed hosting the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time in 27 years in November 2022 when he was hospitalized with blood clots in his legs and lungs.
“Al’s recent hospitalization was very scary. [He] counts himself so lucky to have gotten speedy treatment and knows that ultimately he’s lucky to be alive,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly in January 2023. “He’s been so brave throughout this, never complaining or feeling overly sorry for himself, always wanting to know how others are doing even when he’s at his lowest. Right now he’s following all the doctors’ advice.”
While Roker returned to Today in early 2023, he was out again in May 2023 to undergo knee replacement surgery. This time, Roker was back in the studio by the end of the month.
“This was a much more involved operation because they were taking out a knee and then putting a knee back in, put some other stuff in,” Roker explained during his first show back. “But that said, it’s coming along well.”
Roker had a much more fun reason to miss work in March 2024 when he went on a spring break trip to Mexico with his son, Nick.
Is Al Roker Retiring From ‘Today?’
When Roker’s longtime Today cohost Hoda Kotb stepped down from the show in 2025, the weatherman opened up about his future. He told People that the “time will come” for him to leave Today, though he wasn’t ready to retire yet.
“You know when you know,” Roker said in September 2024, before clarifying: “I don’t feel like that’s my time yet, but who knows. Maybe a year or two. Maybe not, but I’m enjoying it. I love this. You don’t get off the train until the last stop.”
Roker will celebrate his 30th anniversary on Today in 2026.
