Longtime Fox News meteorologist Janice Dean has revealed she is stepping back from the network, announcing in an emotional message to fans that “health issues” have forced her to pause work and social media.

Dean, 55 — who has lived with multiple sclerosis since 2005 — told followers that she needs “rest and time to heal,” adding that she wants to feel “healthy and strong again” before returning to screens.

The beloved Fox & Friends weather anchor explained that a recent trip to Rome with her husband Sean Newman helped her “begin healing spiritually,” but she now needs to focus on her physical recovery.

“I wanted to let you all know that I’m taking a break from work (and social media) for a bit,” she wrote. “I’m OK, but I’ve had some health issues that require rest and time to heal.”

Dean said she felt “blessed” that Fox leadership has been “kind and understanding,” giving her the space to prioritise her wellbeing and spend more time with her family.

She added, “I’ve always been upfront and honest about my life, and I felt I owed you an explanation for my absence. I will be back. Thank you for the kind words.”

 A Private Battle She’s Only Recently Begun Sharing

Although Dean was diagnosed with MS in 2005, she didn’t publicly reveal the condition until 2023, calling it an “invisible illness” she had quietly lived with for nearly two decades.

“My body is attacking its central nervous system — the brain and the spine,” she said at the time. “I might look fine on TV, but inside, it can be a challenge.”

Multiple sclerosis affects the brain’s communication with the body and can cause symptoms such as muscle weakness, trouble walking, numbness, and vision problems. While there’s no cure, treatment can slow the progression.

 A Career Built on Strength — Even When Viewers Never Knew

Dean joined Fox News in 2004, eventually becoming senior meteorologist and a familiar face to millions of viewers. Her warmth, candor, and humour helped her become one of the network’s most recognisable personalities.

But in 2021, she made headlines for a deeply personal reason: publicly calling for then–New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign after his administration admitted it withheld nursing home death data during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both of Dean’s in-laws died from the virus in early 2020, a loss that fuelled her outspoken criticism of the governor.

 “I Just Need Time to Heal”

Today, Dean is focusing on rest, recovery, and her family — with the promise that she will return when she is ready.

Fans, colleagues, and friends across the industry have flooded her social media with support, calling her “brave,” “honest,” and “an inspiration.”

For now, she says her only priority is stepping back, getting well, and finding the strength to come back to the work — and the viewers — she loves.