Al Roker reveals why he left an hour into 'Today' show broadcast - USA Today

Longtime "Today" show weatherman Al Roker played hooky at work, but it turned out to be for a good reason.

Roker, 72, provided Hurricane Polo updates, delivered a nationwide weather forecast and joined Jenna Bush-Hager, Carson Daly, Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin at the desk for "Jenna's Morning Boost" during the Monday, Sept. 28, broadcast.

However, about an hour into the show, Guthrie passed the baton to third hour co-host and meteorologist Dylan Dreyer, explaining Roker "had to leave a little bit early."

Dreyer acknowledged the colleagues did a "little switcheroo again this morning" before sharing updates on the rain forecast across the country.

Soon after, Roker explained his abrupt departure in a video posted to Instagram.

"Well, got out of the 'Today' show early because I’ve got jury duty," he said while standing in front of what appeared to be the New York County Supreme Court building in Lower Manhattan. "It’s everybody’s civic duty to do your duty."

The giggling weatherman then joked, "He said duty twice!"

This year marks Roker's 30th anniversary on "Today," where he started as a fill-in anchor from 1990 to 1995. In January 1996, Roker became the morning news program's regular weatherman.

"I love what I do," Roker said. "I feel good. I love this job. I love doing it. At some point, I guess I won't be, but I don't feel like that's anytime soon, so I'm just going to keep going."