Over time, Dean said, she became more aware of her symptoms. Eventually, the work became too much.
"Ultimately, my symptoms progressed to the point that I can no longer continue working in my role, and my doctors agreed that stepping away was necessary for my health," she said.
What Dean said in her goodbye message
Dean called her time on Fox & Friends a "pivotal part" of her life and thanked the colleagues and viewers who had been with her "through the good times and the bad, the dark clouds and the sunshine."
She also spoke about the departure in the warm, weather-themed language viewers know her for, saying, "So, maybe I'll call this my mostly sunny goodbye, because for every goodbye, there's always the next hello and maybe the chance to meet again one day in a different place at another time."
Dean said she was grateful for her family and closest friends, whose support helped carry her through difficult periods.
"I'm also grateful for my family and my closest friends, whose love and encouragement has gotten me through these really tough moments," she said, adding, "but I know how lucky I was, and that's why it's so hard to finally say the words."
She closed her message by telling viewers, "Take good care of yourselves. Be well. God bless you all and thank you from the bottom of my heart."
What multiple sclerosis means for her health
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that damages the protective covering around nerve fibers, which can disrupt communication between the brain and the rest of the body, according to the Mayo Clinic. The illness can affect the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve. There is currently no cure.
Dean said early diagnosis helped her manage the disease for many years.
"Thankfully, I was diagnosed early," she said, "and I've been on different therapies over the last two decades."
Her announcement puts another public spotlight on chronic illness and work, especially when the illness is not always visible. Dean described this less as a dramatic exit than as a health boundary, which can be harder to explain than a standard television farewell.
How Fox News responded
Fox News Media praised Dean in a statement to E! News, citing her "warmth, resilience and dedication."
"Her willingness to share her personal journeys has touched countless lives and served as a source of strength and encouragement to many," the network said. "We fully support Janice’s courageous decision to step away from her role as senior meteorologist on Fox & Friends and are grateful for her many contributions."
Dean’s departure closes a 22-year chapter on one of cable news’ most recognizable morning programs. For viewers who watched her deliver forecasts through ordinary days and major national moments, her goodbye feels less like a career update and more like a reminder that even familiar faces on television are managing private realities off camera.
