The next sound you hear will be hearts breaking all over Chicago.

With her contract up next month at WMAQ-Channel 5, Cheryl Scott is leaving the NBC-owned station after three years as weekend meteorologist.

Frank Whittaker, station manager and vice president of news at NBC 5, confirmed the station made an offer to renew Scott’s contract, but she has decided to explore other options. Her last day on air will be September 14.

“We appreciate Cheryl’s contributions over the past three years, and wish her the best in the future,” Whittaker told staffers in a memo.

"Like the Jen Blossoms said, 'innywhere you go, I'll follow you down.'"

Will Leery break bad on Cheeryl?

So she is moving up and out? Or she is on the street?

Am I supposed to enjoy getting my ........... Pete Sack?????

Didnt you get enought tonight at the Sox game?

I'm with you. This is an epic human tragedy. If Sharpie could have kept his dick in his sweater...

Who watches the weather anymore & why?

I already miss Cheryl! Her current replacement....No Likey!

Who?

Despite an erroneous blog a few months ago that suggested she was going to full-time during the week at NBC 5 with her new contract in September, her exit is not a shock to the rest of the media watchers out there. There was no way that NBC 5 was going to dump Brant Miller for Cheryl Scott. Her agent was demanding full-time hours and a large paycheck, but she just isn't there yet -- at least not for a major market. I'm sure she will have no problem getting picked up by some desperate station somewhere, probably even as a full-time weeknight weather anchor, based solely on her looks.

I will probably be in the minority here, but I don't see this as such a big loss for NBC 5. Other recent Chicago meteorologists, who also happened to be good looking females -- I'm speaking of Ginger Zee and Amy Freeze -- had much more to offer besides just a pretty smile. These were more than just "weather girls," but absolute weather experts, with deep knowledge of any weather situation. Cheryl Scott looked great in her skin-tight dresses and had an adorable smile, but when it came to being a trusted weather expert, she was average at best. I know there are people on the Internet and even some media bloggers whose tongues pop out of their mouths and pants hit the ground at just the whisper of her name. On a recent CRM poll about Chicago female meteorologists, she came in first place, but it certainly wasn't because of her ability to explain isobars.

In her three years in Chicago, has there been a single article written about her, solely about her skills as a meteorologist? There have indeed been articles and blogs, but all of them talk first and foremost about her looks, and sometimes even on the stupider trait of being popular on social media. (A cat being forced to play keyboards is popular on the Internet, too. That doesn't mean it can accurately tell me about the storm heading to town.) In her three years in Chicago, she has done nothing to stop that perception of her, and has in fact, pushed it. She is more style over substance. In the cases of the aforementioned Zee and Freeze, there was both style and substance. It's possible to have and do both. So far in her short career, Cheryl Scott has only perfected one of those two qualities.

I wish her well at the FOX station she lands at in Pittsburgh, Columbus, or wherever.

As mentioned here yesterday, NBC 5 picked up Byron Miranda, which is a big plus for their weather department. They have also retained Alicia Roman, which was a smart move, as she is very good and has the potential for excellence. Of course, they have the beloved Brant Miller for nights and Andy Avalos for mornings. Cheryl Scott was the weakest link on that weather team... albeit with the cutest smile and most Facebook followers... big deal.