Tom Skilling facts for kids

Tom Skilling, born on February 20, 1952, is a well-known American TV meteorologist. He worked for many years at WGN-TV in Chicago, from 1978 until he retired in 2024. He was famous for his detailed weather forecasts and his passion for science.

Tom Skilling's Career Journey

Early Life and First Jobs

Tom Skilling was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was the oldest of four children. His family later moved to Aurora, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

Tom started his broadcasting career very young, at just 14 years old. He worked for local radio stations WKKD and WKKD-FM. He noticed that the weather forecasts for the area were not very accurate. So, he offered to make his own forecasts for a few days. If his predictions were right, he asked to be hired. His forecasts were indeed accurate, and he got the job! He then forecasted Aurora's weather three times a day. By age 18, he was working at WLXT-TV in Aurora.

Tom went to the University of Wisconsin–Madison to study meteorology (the science of weather) and journalism. While in college, he also worked at TV and radio stations in Madison. In 1975, he got his first big TV job at WITI-TV in Milwaukee. There, he even had a fun helper: a sock puppet named Albert the Alley Cat!

Working at WGN-TV

Tom Skilling returned to the Chicago area and joined WGN-TV on August 13, 1978. He became WGN-TV's main meteorologist. Many people believed he was one of the highest-paid local weather forecasters in the United States. He also wrote a daily weather column called "Ask Tom" for the Chicago Tribune newspaper for many years.

Tom's weather reports always used the newest computer graphics and animation. He was known for his in-depth reports and how accurate his forecasts were. A great example is when he correctly predicted a huge snowstorm in 2011. He warned people about the "Groundhog Day blizzard" almost two weeks before it hit Chicago. His colleagues sometimes called him "Skillful" because of his talent. He even helped with ideas for the movie The Weather Man, which was set in Chicago.

Tom also narrated special TV shows for WGN-TV. These shows, like It Sounded Like a Freight Train and When Lightning Strikes, taught people about tornadoes and lightning. They also shared stories about tornadoes in the Chicago area.

On October 12, 2023, Tom announced he would retire from WGN-TV on February 28, 2024. To honor his amazing career, WGN announced on February 1, 2024, that their weather center would be renamed the Tom Skilling Weather Center.

Science and Seminars

Tom Skilling is a member of important groups like the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. For many years, he hosted special seminars about tornadoes and severe weather. These events took place at the Fermi National Accelerator Lab (Fermilab) in Batavia, Illinois. In 2013, for the first time, these seminars also included talks about climate change. He stopped hosting these popular seminars in 2018 due to his busy schedule.

Awards and Special Honors

Tom Skilling has received many honors for his work. In January 1995, Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, gave him an Honorary Doctorate degree. This was to recognize his contributions to science and communication.

There is even an asteroid named after him! Asteroid 91888 Tomskilling was discovered in 1999. It was officially named in his honor in 2014. On November 1, 2023, a special statement honoring his career was read into the official records of the U.S. Congress.

In May 2024, Tom was chosen to be the Grand Marshall for the Woodstock (IL) Pridefest parade. However, he was unable to attend due to illness.

Personal Life

Tom has a brother named Jeffrey Skilling.