Cheryl Scott

Recently hired meteorologist Cheryl Scott has been assigned to deliver the weather on WLS-Channel 7’s top-rated 4 and 5 p.m. Monday-through-Friday newscasts, the ABC-owned station announced Friday.

The move, effective immediately, followed the release Thursday of meteorologist Mike Caplan after 21 years at ABC 7, including the last 11 years in afternoons.

Mike Caplan

“We thank Mike for his many years and his contributions to the television station, and we wish him well,” said John Idler, president and general manager of ABC 7.

Chief meteorologist Jerry Taft, who recently extended his contract through July 2016, will continue on ABC 7’s 6 and 10 p.m. Monday-through-Friday newscasts. The station also employs full-time meteorologists Tracy Butler and Phil Schwarz and free-lance meteorologist Troy Christensen.

Scott joined ABC 7 last month after three years at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5. In addition to her duties on the 4 and 5 p.m. newscasts, she will continue to forecast weather on “ABC 7 Eyewitness News on WCIU, The U,” the 7 p.m. weeknight newscast ABC 7 produces for Weigel Broadcasting WCIU-Channel 26.