In Boston, complaining about the weather is basically a professional sport. You know how it goes. One minute you're scraping three inches of "surprise" sleet off your windshield, and by 2:00 PM, you’re wondering if it’s weird to wear shorts to the grocery store. It’s chaotic. Because of that, the wbz boston weather team isn't just a group of people in nice suits pointing at green screens; they're more like essential navigators for anyone trying to survive a North Shore commute or a weekend on the Cape.
Honestly, the "NEXT Weather" branding you see on Channel 4 isn't just marketing fluff. It’s a specific approach to forecasting that focuses on what’s actually happening next in your driveway, not just broad regional trends. The team has evolved quite a bit recently, especially with some big veteran departures, but the core vibe remains the same: data-heavy, slightly nerdy (in a good way), and intensely local.
The Faces Behind the Forecast
When you think of WBZ, you think of Eric Fisher. As the Chief Meteorologist, Fisher has that rare "weather geek" energy that makes you feel like he’d be out in a snowstorm even if he weren't getting paid for it. He’s been the anchor of the team since 2013, coming over from The Weather Channel. You've probably seen him on CBS Mornings or the CBS Evening News when a big storm hits the East Coast, but his heart is clearly in New England. He grew up here. He gets it.
The rest of the roster is a mix of seasoned veterans and high-energy newcomers who have quickly found their footing in one of the most difficult weather markets in the country.
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- Jason Mikell: Usually the first face you see in the morning. He joined the team with a background from the Midwest and Texas, which is basically a trial-by-fire for any meteorologist dealing with severe storms. He brings a certain "Southern gentleman" warmth to the early hours, which helps when he’s delivering the news that it’s 4 degrees outside.
- Jacob Wycoff: The weekend morning staple. If there's a space launch or a cool astronomical event, Jacob is usually the one geeking out about it. He’s won multiple Emmys and was even named the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association "Best Meteorologist" in 2022. He has this way of explaining the "why" behind a storm that doesn't feel like a lecture.
- Sarah Wroblewski: A UMass Lowell grad and a total local fixture. Sarah has been a part of the WBZ family for over a decade in various capacities. She’s often the one out in the field—literally—when things get messy, providing that boots-on-the-ground context that a studio forecast just can’t replicate.
- Lexie O’Connor: A Wachusett High and Boston University grad who came home to join the wbz boston weather team in 2022. Being a local, she understands that "light dusting" in Worcester means something very different than a "light dusting" in Southie.
- Alyssa Andrews: One of the more recent additions, arriving in late 2023. She spent time storm chasing in the Midwest, so a New England Nor'easter is probably a Tuesday for her.
What Actually Happens in the Weather Office?
It’s easy to think they just look at a few computer models and call it a day. That couldn't be further from the truth. The WBZ office—especially under the guidance of Executive Weather Producer Terry Eliasen—is a 24/7 operation. Terry is sort of the "secret weapon" of the team. He’s been there for over 20 years and is the brain behind many of the deep-dive weather blogs on the CBS Boston website.
When a major storm is brewing, the team isn't just looking at the American (GFS) or European (ECMWF) models. They’re looking at micro-data from the Blue Hill Observatory and the Mount Washington Observatory. They’re calculating the "rain-snow line," which, if you live anywhere near I-95, you know is the difference between a fun day of sledding and a miserable afternoon of shoveling heavy, wet "heart-attack" snow.
The wbz boston weather team uses what they call the "NEXT Weather" system. It's built on the idea of foresight. Instead of just telling you it's raining, they focus on the impact. Will the morning commute be "Red" (dangerous) or "Yellow" (annoying)? It’s a practical way of translating complex atmospheric science into something a parent trying to get kids to school can actually use.
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The Tech That Makes It Work
You might have noticed the "Mobile Weather Lab" driving around. It’s basically a high-tech meteorology station on wheels. During big events, they send a meteorologist out in the van to get real-time temperature and wind readings from specific neighborhoods. This is huge because Boston is a city of microclimates. It can be 45 degrees at Logan Airport and 32 degrees in Framingham.
They also lean heavily into "Weather Watchers." This is a network of local viewers who report snow totals and backyard conditions. It's a crowdsourced layer of data that helps the team verify if their models are actually matching reality.
Dealing With the "Bust"
Let’s be real: sometimes the forecast is wrong. New England weather is notoriously fickle because of the "ocean influence." A shift of ten miles in a storm’s track can mean the difference between two inches and twelve inches of snow.
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What sets the wbz boston weather team apart is how they handle it. They’re usually pretty transparent when a forecast goes sideways. You’ll often see Eric Fisher or Terry Eliasen write a post-mortem on what happened—maybe a "dry slot" moved in unexpectedly or the warm air surged further north than anticipated. That honesty builds a lot of trust with an audience that is naturally skeptical of anyone with a weather map.
How to Get the Most Out of WBZ Weather
If you're just watching the 6:00 PM news, you're only getting half the story. To really stay ahead of New England’s nonsense, you have to use the tools they provide.
- The WBZ News App: It sounds basic, but the push alerts for "NEXT Weather" are actually calibrated to your specific location.
- The Weather Blog: If you want the "why," read Terry Eliasen’s posts. He goes into the weeds on things like the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and how it affects our winters.
- Social Media: Follow the individual meteorologists on X (formerly Twitter). During a live storm, they’re posting raw radar shots and quick updates that don't always make it to the TV broadcast immediately.
Why This Team Still Matters
In an era of phone apps that give you a generic icon of a sun or a cloud, having a local team of humans—people who live in the same towns we do—is invaluable. They know that a North Wind means something specific for the South Shore. They know that when the "sea breeze" kicks in, the temperature in Back Bay is going to crater in five minutes.
The wbz boston weather team has managed to bridge the gap between old-school TV broadcasting and the fast-paced digital world. They aren't just reading a script; they’re interpreting a living, breathing, and often very angry atmosphere for a community that depends on that info to stay safe.
Next Steps for Staying Prepared:
Check the WBZ NEXT Weather 7-day forecast every Sunday evening to map out your week, but keep an eye on the "Weather Headlines" section of their app for any sudden changes in the jet stream that could turn a "mostly cloudy" Tuesday into a messy commute. If you’re a weather nerd yourself, consider joining their Weather Watcher network to contribute your own backyard data to the daily broadcast.