Marina Jurica Wikipedia | Biography
Marina Jurica is an Emmy Award-winning meteorologist and climate scientist who currently works as a meteorologist for CBS News Los Angeles (CBS LA/KCAL News). She joined the team in September 2023 after an impressive four-year stint at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California.
While at NASA JPL, Marina contributed to several groundbreaking Earth science and space missions, including SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography), Sentinel-6, NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar), ICESat-2, and the historic Perseverance Mars rover landing mission. Her role involved translating complex scientific research into accessible information, helping the public better understand Earth observation and climate science.
Before her time at NASA, Marina had a remarkable broadcasting career that spanned over 20 years. She served as an Emmy Award-winning meteorologist in several major television markets across the United States, including Minneapolis, Minnesota; Cincinnati, Ohio; Orlando, Florida; Lexington, Kentucky; and Fresno, California. Notably, she made history in Fresno as the station’s first female Chief Meteorologist, gaining recognition for her forecasting skills and severe weather coverage.
Marina earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Atmospheric Science and Music Performance from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Mississippi State University. She is also working towards a Ph.D. in Climate Science, focusing her research on how the atmosphere affects glacier melting from both above and below. Her studies involve fieldwork in places like Greenland and Alaska, where she investigates the impacts of climate change and looks for strategies to help the world adapt.
A proud second-generation UCLA Bruin, Marina is an enthusiastic supporter of the university’s football and basketball programs. She is also deeply connected to her Croatian heritage. Both of her parents were born in Croatia, and she speaks Croatian fluently, frequently traveling to the country to visit family and stay connected to her roots.
Outside of her professional life, Marina enjoys traveling with her husband and their son, John, who shares her passion for science and dreams of becoming a paleontologist. As a family, they enjoy exploring the world together and participating in dinosaur fossil digs and other outdoor adventures.
Marina Jurica Age
While Marina Jurica hasn’t shared her exact birthday with the public, we can estimate that she’s in her late 40s to early 50s as of 2026, thanks to her impressive education and over twenty years of experience in broadcast meteorology and climate science. However, her precise age remains unconfirmed.
Marina Jurica Education
Marina boasts a rich academic background that spans both the sciences and the arts. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Atmospheric Science and Music Performance from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Mississippi State University.
Currently, she’s working towards a Ph.D. in Climate Science, where her research dives into how atmospheric conditions are linked to glacier melting in places like Greenland and Alaska, as well as exploring how communities worldwide can adapt to the challenges of climate change.
Marina Jurica Family
Marina hails from a Croatian-American family, with both of her parents originally from Croatia. As a proud second-generation UCLA Bruin, she cherishes her Croatian roots, speaks the language fluently, and often travels back to Croatia to connect with family. However, she prefers to keep details about her parents and siblings under wraps.
Nationality
She is an American citizen, proudly holding her nationality while also embracing her Croatian heritage, thanks to her parents who immigrated from Croatia to the U.S.
Height
Marina is approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall (1.68 m), although her official height hasn’t been publicly verified.
Marina Jurica Husband
She is happily married, but she has opted to keep her husband’s identity and personal details private. The couple loves to travel together and shares a mutual enthusiasm for science, exploration, and outdoor adventures.
Marina Jurica Children
Jurica and her husband are thrilled to be the parents of a son named John. Marina has mentioned that John is really into paleontology, and the whole family loves to travel together, going on dinosaur fossil digs and educational adventures across the globe.
Marina Jurica CBS LA
She has been making waves as a meteorologist for CBS News Los Angeles (CBS LA/KCAL News) since September 2023. She came on board after an impressive four-year stint at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), bringing a fantastic mix of scientific know-how and broadcasting flair to the Southern California audience.
Prior to her role at CBS Los Angeles, Marina racked up over 20 years of experience as an Emmy Award-winning meteorologist across various television markets, including Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Orlando, Lexington, and Fresno, where she proudly became the first female Chief Meteorologist in the city.
At CBS LA, she skillfully merges her extensive knowledge of atmospheric science with captivating on-air forecasts, making it easier for viewers to grasp not just the daily weather but also the bigger picture of climate-related issues.
Marina Jurica NASA
Before making her mark at CBS LA, Marina Jurica spent four impactful years at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, from 2019 to 2023.
During her time there, she played a key role in communications and public engagement for several groundbreaking Earth and space science missions, such as:
– SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography)
– Sentinel-6
– NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar)
– ICESat-2
– The Perseverance Mars rover landing mission
Her efforts were instrumental in breaking down complex scientific discoveries for the public, shining a light on NASA’s vital work in climate research, Earth observation, and the exploration of other planets.
Salary
As a meteorologist at CBS News Los Angeles, she is believed to earn an annual salary that falls somewhere between $120,000 and $220,000. However, the exact figure hasn’t been made public.
Marina Jurica Net Worth
Her net worth is estimated to be between $2 million and $5 million. She has accumulated her wealth over a successful career in broadcast meteorology, climate science, and her work with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, along with her current position at CBS News Los Angeles.
