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CBS/ February 6, 2009, 5:32 PM

Lonnie Quinn

Lonnie Quinn became the weather anchor for "The Early Show on Saturday Morning" in 2008.

A private pilot, Quinn is schooled in meteorology. It is his ability to brave the elements on the ground, however, that serves him best on Saturday mornings.

While news anchors Erica Hill and Chris Wragge look all polished and happy in the studio, it is Lonnie who is outside on the plaza getting buffeted by winds, pelted with sleet, drenched with rain or pummeled by snow, all to introduce America to someone's new baby, or a high school glee club, or even a couple celebrating a 50th anniversary. According to Quinn, it is a great way to spend a Saturday!

Monday through Friday, Quinn is the weatherman in New York City for the CBS 2 News at 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m. Wragge anchors those newscasts. If you do the math, that means Quinn and Wragge work six days a week together. "I see Chris more than my wife. I'm hoping he will just break down and adopt us!" Quinn quips.

The six-time Emmy Award recipient won five of them in 2009, including one for best environmental report for "Weather on the Top of Mount Washington" and one for best societal concerns report for his "Preparing for Extreme Winter Weather."

Quinn joined WCBS-TV in 2007 after a five year run at WTVJ, in Miami, Fla.

Quinn's television career actually started as an actor on ABC's "All My Children." That experience enabled him to develop a comfort in front of the camera that's served him well in local and national broadcasting.

After changing careers from acting to newsman, Quinn's first job was at WVIR in Charlottesville, Va. He was hired as a cameraman but, three months later, a chance to report in front of the camera solidified his new career path. Soon, his duties included full-time reporting and anchoring the weekend weathercasts. While in Charlottesville, Quinn covered the Thomas Jefferson/Sally Hemings controversy and the famous baby switch at the University of Virginia hospital. He also reported extensively on the rising political career of Emily Couric before her unfortunate death in October 2001.

Miami, Fla. was the next stop, and it was a turning point in Quinn's career. Not only was he promoted to full-time weather anchor, but was also allowed to develop his own, unique style. Quinn has always been a fan of the weather and he hates the idea of a boring weathercast. His approach is to give the viewers the information they need…with a smile as a by-product.

By 2005, Quinn was one of Miami's most popular on-air personalities and guided the area through the most active hurricane season in history. For five years, Quinn worked closely with Max Mayfield at the National Hurricane Center. He also joined the "Hurricane Hunters" collecting data on a Category 5 hurricane as they flew through the eye of "Isabel" off the coast of North Carolina.

Outside the weather, Quinn loves to report a good story. His belief is every network will most likely be covering the same event, so you'd better come up with some way to make your story-telling stand out. He is a proud winner of a regional Emmy award for best on-air talent.

Quinn graduated from Boston College magna cum laude with a B.A. in speech communications. He is a sports fanatic and swam competitively in college -- but decency in broadcasting prevents him from ever putting on a "Speedo" again!

Thus, you can now find him playing racquetball weekday mornings at the Westside Y in New York City. A native of Cheshire, Conn., he currently lives in Manhattan with his wife, Sharon, and his son, Nate.

He 100 percent totally digs his job!
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved.
14 Comments Add a Comment
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eisbell12 says:
Can somebody please give Lonnie a remote rear tailgate opener for the News Mobile Weather Lab?
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sheshebarger says:
Lonnie, Thank you for the great gift of all...memories. I got a call from a friend in your area telling me CBS is showing a clip from the Newport Boat Parade - especially the 65 ft.Marlin (fish)! After the Hurricane Katrina washed me out of New Orleans, I ended up living with my brother near Newport Beach. I got a job to create the logo Christmas decoration for Tommy Bahama for the boat parade. I just met this guy and asked him if we could weld and put this decoration together in his driveway.
That was 5 years ago, we are now married and all the sorrow from that year is long past. All because of a "little 65ft." decoration. Sheila B. Redondo Beach, CA
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donnaeymard says:
Hey Lonnie,

I really enjoy watching you on Saturday mornings but had a question for you...how do I get an event on your "shout out"? I live on South Padre Island in Texas and we are having a Walk for Women event coming up October 5-7. We're a small community and we have this event yearly to raise money to help local women and their families with expenses incurred during their battle with breast cancer. We have been asked to be on our local cbs affiliate morning show on October 2 (Channel 4 in Harlingen, Texas) and I thought it would be really cool to get a shout out from you as well. Would love to hear back from you...Thanks so much!
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justchillin3699 says:
I am a viewer from Western New Jersey in Hunterdon County. More times than not you stand in frot of the map for Western New Jersey, even if there is bad weather showing. I keep seeing NY and LI but not our weather. Don't forget your western viewers! Thanks!!
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barreto14 says:
Hi Lonnie, I watch you everday and Chris you two dress so neat, your shirts ties and suits, both of you dress so nice,
Listen someone has to go on facebook there is a women she is beating up her baby, she keeps slapping him, her name is Munes Varen, Please have someone check this out. thanks.
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tedvacek says:
Lonnie,

7/Jan 2012 - please stop saying there is no arctic air ANYWHERE in the U.S. Please check the temperatures in Alaska (which the last time I checked was a U.S. State)
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madtownfini says:
Get your facts correct Lonnie - there is no Madison County, WI. The City of Madison is the capitol of Wisconsin in the County of Dane. Nice tribute to Clint Eastwood but you got it wrong!

I'll be watching NBC.
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msiff says:
Hi Lonnie, My husband and I view your weather forecast every night on CBS television 11:00 news. We also listen to your weather report on the radio in our cars every day. We think you do a terrific job but have a suggestion. New York and New Jersey are always mentioned but Connecticut (we ARE part of the tri-state area) is overlooked most of the time. We feel neglected! We hope you will rectify this situation.

Thank you!

Marlene S.
Westport, CT
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JacobLeisler says:
Lonnie, I'm a great fan and you can do no wrong in my book, but for the sake of Pete, PLEASE roll down your sleeves and put on your jacket.... Don't remove the sophisticated, cutting-edge feel to your presentation on the news by yielding to the casual indifference of the mainstream! Please trust me on this -- it's the first lackluster element I've ever seen introduced to your flawless TV appearances; I hope it's merely a fleeting fancy!
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annierochs says:
I watched all the NY channels in order to find out about Hurricane Irene. However, it wasn't until I put on channel 2 and listened to Lonnie that I started to understand what was going on. Thank you for putting everything in Plain English and answering all my questions. You did an absolutely suberb job!!
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