Chicago weather legend Tom Skilling to retire in 2024

By MixDex Article may include affiliate links

Tom Skilling, a longtime Chicago meteorologist at WGN and local broadcasting legend, announced he will retire in 2024.

“There’s no formula for this. I am going to retire at the end of February after a marvelous 45 years at this incredible television station,” Skilling said during his announcement on the “WGN Evening News” Oct. 12, 2023. “We all get to a point where we have to make a decision. ‘Is it time to retire. It’s the toughest decision.’”

Skilling, who has been at the station 45 years, will deliver his last forecast Feb. 28, 2024.

Skilling started working in the weather field at age 14, while he was still in high school. He joined WGN in 1978 after a series of broadcasting jobs in across Illinois and Wisconsin.

Over the years, Skilling became known for his passion of delivering forecasts that not only told viewers what to expect from the skies, but also the science behind it. In addition to his television work, he is well-known throughout the fields of meteorology and climate studies, contributing his knowledge and experience at conferences, special events and educational events nationwide.

In many Chicago-area families, Skilling is a household name and is known across generations.

WGN, which has never been affiliated with a big three network, is known for its news-heavy schedule and weather is a big part of that. The station, which was part of Tribune Broadcasting for years, is now owned by Nexstar Media Group, and performs well in the local ratings.