Lori Pinson is an award-winning American broadcast meteorologist best known for her work with FOX 2 Detroit (WJBK). Her career combines weather forecasting, science communication, feature reporting and community-focused journalism. Pinson has earned professional recognition from organizations including the National Weather Association and has received Emmy honors for her television work. Beyond daily forecasts, she has developed educational projects such as Lori’s Science Corner and reported stories about Michigan history, animals and local communities. As of 2026, she remains part of the FOX 2 Detroit weather team, appearing on the station’s morning programming.
Lori Pinson Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Lori Pinson |
| Profession | Broadcast meteorologist, journalist and television host |
| Current station | FOX 2 Detroit (WJBK) |
| Primary coverage area | Detroit and Southeast Michigan |
| Professional credentials | American Meteorological Society credential; National Weather Association Seal of Approval |
| Postgraduate study | Environmental Science and Policy at Johns Hopkins University |
| Major recognition | Emmy honors; 2002 National Weather Association Broadcaster of the Year |
| Known projects | Lori’s Science Corner, Lori’s Hidden Michigan, Animal House, Lori’s Stories |
FOX 2 describes Pinson as an award-winning meteorologist, while the National Weather Association’s official database lists her among its television and radio Seal of Approval holders.
Who Is Lori Pinson?
Lori Pinson is a television meteorologist whose professional identity extends beyond presenting temperatures and storm forecasts. She has worked in several U.S. television markets, served as a chief meteorologist and taken on science-correspondent duties during a career that eventually brought her back to Detroit.
FOX 2 currently lists Pinson as a meteorologist on its news team, providing weather coverage on morning broadcasts. Her continuing work can also be seen in forecasts published throughout 2026, including reporting on heat, humidity, thunderstorms and seasonal changes across Metro Detroit.
Her work is particularly associated with making technical subjects understandable to general audiences. That approach appears not only in conventional weather segments but also in educational science programming and longer-form feature stories.
Education and Meteorology Training
Pinson’s professional biography states that her postgraduate studies included Environmental Science and Policy at Johns Hopkins University. That background connects directly with the environmental and atmospheric topics she explains as a broadcast meteorologist.
She also holds professional weather credentials. FOX 2 identifies her with an American Meteorological Society broadcast credential and the National Weather Association’s Seal of Approval. The NWA independently lists Lori Pinson in its official directory of television and radio seal holders.
These credentials matter in broadcast meteorology because television weather work combines scientific interpretation with an ability to communicate changing conditions quickly and clearly.
Lori Pinson’s Broadcasting Career
Before her current position in Detroit, Pinson built experience across several television markets. The National Science Teaching Association’s biography says she previously served as a chief meteorologist in Baltimore and worked in Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and Ohio. She also worked as a national science correspondent for the London-based news organization ITN.
Pinson joined FOX 2 Detroit in 2015. At the time, television-industry publication FTVLive reported that WJBK had hired her from WGAL in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, describing the move as a return to the Detroit area.
Her longevity at the station is evident from FOX 2’s archive. Forecast segments carrying her name appear from 2016 onward, while the station continues to publish her weather reporting in 2026.
Career and Professional Highlights
| Period | Career highlight |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Received Emmy recognition for a signed weathercast while working at WBFF in Baltimore |
| 2002 | Named National Weather Association Broadcaster of the Year |
| Before Detroit | Worked in Baltimore, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Ohio and as a science correspondent for ITN |
| 2015 | Joined FOX 2 Detroit |
| 2018 onward | Expanded Michigan feature reporting through Lori’s Hidden Michigan |
| 2020 onward | Developed Lori’s Science Corner with the National Science Teaching Association |
| 2026 | Continues working as a FOX 2 Detroit meteorologist and journalist |
The National Weather Association’s official awards record confirms Pinson as its 2002 Broadcaster of the Year, an award intended for weather broadcasters who make significant contributions to presenting weather information to audiences.
Her Emmy-Winning Accessible Weathercasting
One of the most distinctive parts of Lori Pinson’s career has been her work to make weather coverage more accessible to deaf viewers.
A contemporary Washington Post account of the 2000 Capital Region Emmy Awards lists Pinson, then at Baltimore station WBFF, among the weathercasting winners for a signed weather segment designed for deaf and special-needs students.
FOX 2 and the National Science Teaching Association also credit her with an Emmy for creating an inclusive on-air weathercast for deaf audiences.
The achievement is especially relevant to weather communication. During rapidly changing conditions, audiences need information that is both understandable and accessible, making inclusive presentation more than a cosmetic feature of a broadcast.
National Weather Association Broadcaster of the Year
Pinson received another important professional honor in 2002, when the National Weather Association named her its Broadcaster of the Year.
The NWA describes the award as recognition for a radio or television weathercaster who has made a significant contribution to the development and presentation of weather information. Its historical winners list places Pinson between 2001 recipient Jay Trobec and 2003 recipient John Toohey-Morales.
This is one of the clearest independently documented milestones in her career.
Lori’s Science Corner
Pinson has also developed a substantial role as a science educator.
During the period when many families were relying heavily on learning from home, she introduced Lori’s Science Corner through FOX 2 in partnership with the National Science Teaching Association. The series used accessible demonstrations to explain everyday scientific concepts using materials that families could often find at home.
Episodes have covered subjects ranging from the physical properties of water to chemical reactions such as the well-known “elephant toothpaste” experiment. FOX 2 maintains an archive dedicated to the series.
Her involvement with NSTA went beyond short television segments. In 2021, the organization hosted Pinson for a seminar explaining how weather forms, how meteorologists build forecasts and how people can protect themselves during severe conditions.
Reporting Beyond the Weather Forecast
Pinson’s work at FOX 2 is not restricted to meteorology.
Her Lori’s Hidden Michigan series explores unusual locations, history and attractions around the state. One installment featured the American Museum of Magic in Marshall, while another FOX 2 report took viewers to Apple Island in Orchard Lake to examine its natural and historical character.
She has also covered animal welfare. In 2025, Pinson reported on Detroit animal rescuers Chantel Rzewnicki and Melanie Thomas for a story titled The Karens. FOX 2’s current biography says the piece later earned her an Emmy, a Michigan Association of Broadcasters Best in Michigan honor and first place recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists.
FOX 2 also credits her with creating Animal House, a feature centered on Michigan residents and their pets, as well as the streaming program Lori’s Stories.
Where Is Lori Pinson Now?
As of September 2026, Lori Pinson remains a meteorologist at FOX 2 Detroit.
Her station profile identifies her as part of the current FOX 2 team, and the station published new forecasts under her name as recently as September 2026. She continues to cover Metro Detroit weather while also working on reporting and feature projects outside traditional forecasting.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lori Pinson
What does Lori Pinson do?
Lori Pinson is a broadcast meteorologist and journalist at FOX 2 Detroit. Her work includes weather forecasts, science education and feature reporting.
Is Lori Pinson still at FOX 2 Detroit?
Yes. FOX 2’s current staff page lists Lori Pinson as a meteorologist, and the station continued publishing her forecasts in 2026.
Did Lori Pinson win an Emmy?
Yes. Her professional biographies credit her with Emmy honors, including recognition connected with an inclusive weathercast for deaf viewers. Contemporary coverage of the 2000 Capital Region Emmy Awards also records her weathercasting win for a signed forecast.
What award did Lori Pinson receive from the National Weather Association?
The National Weather Association named Lori Pinson its Broadcaster of the Year in 2002.
What is Lori’s Science Corner?
Lori’s Science Corner is an educational series created by Pinson in partnership with the National Science Teaching Association. It uses demonstrations and experiments to explain scientific concepts in an accessible way.
Where did Lori Pinson study meteorology and environmental science?
Her professional biographies state that her postgraduate work included Environmental Science and Policy at Johns Hopkins University.
Conclusion
Lori Pinson has built a television career around more than forecasting the next storm. At FOX 2 Detroit, she combines meteorology with science education, accessibility and local storytelling. Her 2002 National Weather Association Broadcaster of the Year award, Emmy-recognized weathercasting and continuing work on projects such as Lori’s Science Corner give her a professional record that extends well beyond the conventional weather desk. More than a decade after joining FOX 2, Pinson remains an active presence in Detroit broadcasting.
