Award-winning meteorologist and storm chaser Damien Lodes joined the First Alert Weather team at CBS News Texas in 2026.
When Lodes looks at a severe weather map, he doesn't just see place names, he sees towns where his family, friends and loved ones live. He says he loves his job and treats the weather with the respect it deserves.
Lodes was born in Kingfisher and raised in Oklahoma City. The 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado helped solidify his passion for meteorology, math and physics.
From a young age, Lodes had two goals: to become a TV meteorologist and to serve his country. His first experience in front of a green screen came as a first grader at the Omniplex (Science Museum) in Oklahoma City, where he wore a green T-shirt and laughed as he appeared to disappear on screen.
After graduating from Southeast High School, Lodes enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served for five years as an air traffic controller.
Following his military service, Lodes attended the University of Oklahoma. While there, he delivered his first live, on-air forecast for OU Nightly. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in meteorology, along with minors in broadcast journalism and political science.
Lodes began his television career in Midland, where he served as chief meteorologist and covered everything from record-breaking snow to powerful tornadoes. He later became chief meteorologist in Lawrence before returning to Oklahoma City, where he spent eight years covering and chasing tornadoes across Oklahoma and Texas.
Outside of forecasting, Lodes enjoys spending time with his wife trying new restaurants. He is also an avid fan of the Denver Broncos and proudly considers himself the "world's biggest Batman fan," with a passion for comics, movies and music.
