Flat Dom Makes Retirement Farewell Appearance at Easton Town Center

Dom Tiberi, the longtime chief meteorologist for WBNS 10TV in Columbus, Ohio, is retiring from his broadcasting career. To mark the occasion, a cardboard cutout known as “Flat Dom” was stationed at Easton Town Center on June 10, 2026, allowing local residents to leave messages and take photos as part of a community farewell, according to reporting from WBNS 10TV.

The “Flat Dom” installation served as a physical proxy for the meteorologist, providing a designated space for viewers to share well wishes before his official departure from the station. The event took place at the Easton Town Center, a major retail and dining hub in Columbus, where residents gathered to interact with the cutout and document their messages for Tiberi.

How did the “Flat Dom” event work?

The “Flat Dom” campaign utilized a life-sized cardboard replica of Tiberi, modeled after the “Flat Stanley” educational concept. According to 10TV, the initiative encouraged viewers to integrate the cutout into their daily lives or visit the official installation to leave personal notes. Residents at Easton Town Center on June 10, 2026, used the site to express gratitude for Tiberi’s years of weather forecasting.

The station used the event to bridge the gap between the televised retirement announcement and the public’s desire for a direct way to say goodbye. By placing the cutout in a high-traffic area like Easton Town Center, the station enabled a larger volume of community participation than a traditional studio-based farewell would allow.

What is Dom Tiberi’s career history at 10TV?

Dom Tiberi has served as a primary weather authority for Central Ohio for several decades. As the chief meteorologist for WBNS 10TV, he became a recognizable figure in the region, known for his delivery of severe weather warnings and daily forecasts. His tenure coincided with the station’s growth in digital weather tracking and the implementation of advanced radar technology in the Columbus market.

Tiberi’s role extended beyond daily forecasts to include community outreach and educational segments regarding meteorology. This long-term presence in the local market established a level of trust with viewers, which 10TV leveraged for the “Flat Dom” campaign to allow for a more personal community send-off.

Why was “Flat Dom” used for the retirement?

The use of a cardboard cutout differs from standard retirement protocols in local news, which typically consist of a tribute montage and a final on-air sign-off. By creating “Flat Dom,” the station shifted the focus from a broadcast-led narrative to a user-generated experience. This approach allowed viewers to control the interaction and create their own memories associated with Tiberi’s retirement.

This strategy mirrors modern engagement trends where news organizations move away from one-way communication. Instead of simply informing the public of a retirement, the “Flat Dom” event transformed the announcement into a participatory community event.

What happens to the 10TV weather desk?

Tiberi’s retirement leaves a vacancy in the chief meteorologist position at WBNS 10TV. While the station has not detailed the specific succession plan in the “Flat Dom” event materials, the transition follows a period of stability at the weather desk. The station’s meteorology team continues to provide coverage for the Columbus region using the infrastructure Tiberi helped maintain during his tenure.

The retirement of a chief meteorologist often prompts a shift in a station’s branding, as the weather personality is frequently the most trusted face of a local news operation. The “Flat Dom” event served as a transitional tool to maintain viewer loyalty while the station prepares for a new era of weather reporting.

Local residents continued to share their experiences with the “Flat Dom” via social media and YouTube, where videos of the Easton Town Center appearance were uploaded to document the community’s reaction to the news.