CBS 2 hires former NewsNation forecaster Albert Ramon as chief meteorologist

Albert Ramon

Fresh from his yearlong stint with Chicago-based cable news network NewsNation, Albert Ramon has been hired as chief meteorologist at WBBM-Channel 2, the CBS-owned station announced today.

“We are thrilled to welcome Albert to the team at CBS Chicago,” Jeff Harris, vice president of news, said in a statement. “He is an experienced forecaster who excels in severe weather coverage. We look forward to having him and the other members of our weather team draw on their expertise to keep everyone in Chicago safe and prepared.”

CBS 2 Chicago

The addition to CBS 2's weather staff marks the first big move by Jennifer Lyons, who was appointed president and general manager in August. Lyons first hired Ramon at NewsNation, where she led the startup and served as vice president of news before resigning in March.

At the time of his hiring Ramon was billed as “the only Latino chief meteorologist on national television.”

Before joining NewsNation, the native of Beeville, Texas, worked at KVUE, the ABC affiliate in Austin, and KZTV, the CBS affiliate in Corpus Christi. A graduate of Texas A&M University, he also holds a broadcast meteorology degree from Mississippi State University.

NewsNation officials declined to comment on Ramon's departure last week, which closely followed that of news anchor Rob Nelson, another of the network's four original on-air hires.

“I am so excited to join the award-winning team of meteorologists and journalists at CBS 2 Chicago,” Ramon said in a statement. “It’s the honor of a lifetime to be named chief meteorologist and I can’t wait to serve this amazing city and area.”

The position of chief meteorologist has been vacant since Steve Baskerville retired from CBS 2 after 30 years in December 2017.

Meteorologists Mary Kay Kleist, Laura Bannon, Robb Ellis and Ed Curran will continue on CBS 2's weather staff, according to station insiders.