You know that feeling when you turn on the morning news and it feels like the person on the screen is actually talking to you, not just reading a teleprompter? That's basically the vibe John Elliott has brought to New York airwaves for nearly two decades. If you’ve ever lived in the Tri-State area, his face is as familiar as a delayed subway train—though much more welcome.
While most people just see the guy in the sharp suit pointing at a green screen, the john elliott weatherman biography is actually a wild journey through advertising, Iraq war zones, and even some pretty serious personal health hurdles that he’s handled with surprising openness.
Where Did He Even Come From?
John isn't a "born and bred" New Yorker, even if he feels like one now. He actually hails from the Midwest, which probably explains that grounded, no-nonsense energy. He got his undergraduate degree in radio, TV, and film from Wayne State University in Detroit.
But here’s the kicker: he didn’t just jump into weather.
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Before he was ever a meteorologist, Elliott was an advertising copywriter and producer. He even spent time teaching media courses at Mott Community College and Central Missouri State. It makes sense, right? The guy knows how to tell a story. He eventually grabbed his master's in communications from Central Missouri State University and went back to hit the books for meteorology at Mississippi State.
He’s a lifelong learner, honestly. Just recently in early 2025, he was spotted at Pennington School teaching fifth graders about the "battery in the sky" (lightning). It’s that teacher's heart that keeps his forecasts from feeling like a dry math lecture.
Not Just a "Weather Guy"
People tend to pigeonhole meteorologists. They think they just stand in front of a map and guess if it’s going to rain. But Elliott’s resume looks more like a foreign correspondent’s than a local weatherman’s.
- War Reporting: He didn't just stay in the studio. He reported from various military bases as troops deployed for the war in Iraq. He even spent time onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
- Politics: In 2004, he was on the ground in Iowa as a presidential campaign correspondent for MSNBC.
- The West Coast Grind: Before landing at WCBS in New York in 2007, he put in the work at KCBS in LA, XETV in San Diego, and KGET in Bakersfield.
He’s been around. He’s seen the country from the flight deck of an aircraft carrier to the cornfields of Iowa. That kind of experience gives a person perspective you just don't get by staying in one zip code your whole life.
The Health Update That Stopped Down the News
One of the most human moments in the recent john elliott weatherman biography happened in early 2023. Usually, the "talent" on TV keeps their private life under lock and key. But John went on air to talk about something scary: a pancreatic cyst.
He didn't do it for sympathy. He did it to show people what "surveillance" looks like in medicine. He participated in a research initiative at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, undergoing endoscopies and ultrasounds to keep an eye on it.
By being open about his own health, he basically became a walking PSA for early detection. He’s still a fixture on CBS New York as of 2026, still delivering those "First Alert" forecasts, but there's a different level of respect for him now. He’s not just a talking head; he’s a guy who’s dealing with the same "real world" stuff we all are.
Why He Still Matters in a Digital World
In an era where everyone has a weather app on their phone, why do people still tune in to see John?
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It’s about the "why."
As he told those students in Mount Vernon, weather is math and physics in motion. Anyone can tell you it's 40 degrees and raining. John tells you why the low-pressure system is stalled and how it’s going to affect your kid's soccer game or your commute through the Lincoln Tunnel.
He’s also a bit of a local hero for his "Better Together" campaign work, whether he’s highlighting a New Jersey bagel shop fighting breast cancer or hanging out with the Community Food Bank.
Actionable Takeaways from John’s Career
If you’re looking at John’s life and wondering what to take away from it, it's pretty simple:
- Pivot when you need to. He started in ads and teaching before finding his lane in weather. It’s never too late to go back to school (like he did at Mississippi State).
- Education is a superpower. Whether he’s explaining a "polar vortex" or a "bomb cyclone," his ability to simplify complex science is what keeps him employed.
- Transparency builds trust. His openness about his pancreatic cyst health journey did more for his "brand" than any flashy promo ever could.
John Elliott is still the guy you want in your living room when a blizzard is bearing down on Manhattan. He’s lived a lot of life, and it shows in every broadcast.