Laura Bannon Wikipedia | Biography
Laura Bannon is an Emmy-nominated meteorologist who currently brightens the weekday mornings as the meteorologist for CBS News Chicago (WBBM-TV). A proud native of Chicagoland, she joined the station’s First Alert Weather Team after carving out an impressive career forecasting severe weather in several major markets across the U.S. She’s well-known for her engaging on-air style and proudly holds the National Weather Association (NWA) Seal of Approval.
Growing up in Naperville, Illinois, Bannon graduated from Neuqua Valley High School before heading to the University of Missouri (Mizzou) to earn her degree in Communication. While she was busy with her undergraduate studies, she also took part in Mississippi State University’s distance-learning program, ultimately graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Geosciences, focusing on broadcast meteorology.
Bannon kicked off her broadcasting journey while still in college, taking on weekend meteorologist duties at KRCG-TV in Jefferson City, Missouri. After she graduated, she landed her first full-time gig at WBBJ-TV in Jackson, Tennessee. She then broadened her forecasting skills at stations in Wichita, Kansas, Dallas, Texas, and Nashville, Tennessee, where she covered a variety of weather events, from tornadoes and severe thunderstorms to flooding, winter storms, and extreme heat.
A pivotal moment in Bannon’s career occurred in March 2020 when she was the meteorologist on duty during the catastrophic EF3 Nashville tornado that swept through the city, tragically claiming 24 lives and causing extensive damage. Her team’s thorough and ongoing coverage of this disaster earned them an Emmy Award nomination in the Breaking News category.
Outside of her broadcasting career, Bannon is truly passionate about giving back to the community, especially when it comes to supporting individuals with disabilities. Having been an avid equestrian since she was a child, she has dedicated her time to volunteering with therapeutic horseback riding programs in the various communities she’s called home. Through these programs, she has had the privilege of working closely with children who face physical, emotional, and behavioral challenges, using the power of horseback riding to help them build confidence, enhance their mobility, and foster personal growth.
Laura Bannon Age
While Laura Bannon hasn’t shared her exact birth date with the public, it’s generally believed that she’s in her early to mid-30s as of 2026, based on her education and career in broadcasting. She seems to prefer keeping her birthday details under wraps.
Laura Bannon Education
Laura Bannon completed her high school education at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Illinois, before heading to the University of Missouri (Mizzou) for her bachelor’s degree in Communication. During her time at Mizzou, she also took part in the distance-learning Broadcast Meteorology Program at Mississippi State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Geosciences. This solid educational background has equipped her with the scientific knowledge and communication skills essential for her role as a broadcast meteorologist.
Laura Bannon Family
Born and raised in Naperville, Illinois, Laura Bannon developed a passion for weather and the great outdoors from a young age. Although she occasionally shares snippets of her life on social media, she keeps details about her parents, siblings, and extended family pretty private. It seems she values her family life away from the public eye.
Laura Bannon Nationality
Laura Bannon is proudly American, having been born and raised in the United States. She identifies as White-American in terms of ethnicity.
Laura Bannon Height
Laura Bannon is approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall (1.68 meters). However, her exact height and other body measurements haven’t been officially confirmed.
Laura Bannon Husband
As for her personal life, Laura Bannon hasn’t publicly stated whether she’s married or in a relationship. She tends to keep that part of her life private, and there’s no verified information about a husband or partner.
Laura Bannon Children
There’s no public information suggesting that Laura Bannon has any children. She seems to prefer keeping her personal and family life separate from her career in broadcasting.
Laura Bannon CBS 2
Laura Bannon is the friendly face you see as the weekday morning meteorologist for CBS News Chicago (WBBM-TV/CBS 2), proudly part of the station’s First Alert Weather Team. Being a native of the Chicago area, coming back to forecast in her hometown is a significant milestone in her career.
Before landing at CBS News Chicago, Laura honed her forecasting skills in various television markets across the country. She kicked off her on-air journey while still in college at KRCG-TV in Jefferson City, Missouri, and then took her first full-time role at WBBJ-TV in Jackson, Tennessee. Her career took her next to Wichita, Kansas, Dallas, Texas, and Nashville, Tennessee, where she covered a wide array of severe weather events, from tornadoes and flooding to winter storms and scorching heat.
A standout moment in her career occurred in 2020 when she provided relentless coverage of the devastating EF3 tornado that hit Nashville. Her team’s exceptional reporting even earned them an Emmy Award nomination in the Breaking News category.
Beyond her weather forecasting duties, Laura is deeply committed to community service. She has volunteered with therapeutic horseback riding organizations, drawing on her lifelong passion for horses to help children with physical, emotional, and developmental challenges gain confidence and enhance their quality of life.
Salary
As a weekday morning meteorologist at CBS News Chicago (WBBM-TV), Laura Bannon is believed to earn an annual salary that falls somewhere between $80,000 and $140,000. However, the exact figure hasn’t been made public.
Laura Bannon Net Worth
As of 2026, Laura Bannon’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $2 million.
