Waking up in the Twin Cities without a familiar face on the screen can feel a bit like a glitch in the matrix. For years, viewers tuned into 5 Eyewitness News to get their forecast from Wren Clair, a meteorologist who didn't just read high and low pressures but actually seemed to enjoy the chaos of Minnesota weather. Then, she was gone. One day she’s tracking a blizzard, the next, her bio is scrubbed from the station website. It happens fast in local news. But when people started asking why did Wren Clair leave KSTP, the answers weren't tucked away in some scandalous headline. Honestly, it was a lot more human than that.
She moved on. It’s that simple, yet that complicated.
Television news is a grind that most people don't see. You see the polished hair and the professional lighting, but you don't see the 3:00 AM alarms or the missed family dinners. Wren Clair had been a staple at KSTP-TV since 2018. Coming from Boston—where she worked at WHDH—she brought a certain level of "big market" energy to Minneapolis. She knew her stuff. She wasn't just a weather presenter; she was a certified meteorologist who could actually explain the science of a polar vortex without sounding like a textbook.
The Big Move: Why Wren Clair Left KSTP for a New Chapter
The rumor mill loves a good conspiracy, doesn't it? When a high-profile personality leaves a major affiliate, people assume there was a contract dispute or a blowout in the green room. In this case, the reality was much more about career trajectory and personal alignment. Wren Clair left KSTP in 2024 because, quite frankly, she found a new opportunity that allowed her to return to her roots and explore a different market.
She landed at Fox 8 (WJW) in Cleveland.
If you're wondering why someone would trade the Twin Cities for Cleveland, you have to look at the industry. In the world of broadcast meteorology, moving between "legacy" stations is a badge of honor. Fox 8 in Cleveland is a powerhouse for local news, often dominating its market in ways that few stations do. For Wren, it wasn't just a lateral move; it was a chance to bring her expertise to a Lake Erie climate that is notoriously difficult to forecast. She grew up in Ohio. Going back there wasn't just a job change. It was a homecoming.
She’s a Buckeye at heart.
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Life Behind the Green Screen in the Twin Cities
Minneapolis is a tough crowd for weather. We’ve seen it all. We’ve had the Halloween Blizzard of '91 (which we still talk about every single year) and the brutal winters that make you question why humans live here at all. To survive as a meteorologist at KSTP, you need thick skin and a genuine love for the craft. Wren had both.
During her tenure at Channel 5, she worked alongside heavyweights like Ken Barlow and Jonathan Yuhas. Being part of that team meant she was part of a legacy. KSTP prides itself on being the first television station in Minnesota, and their weather department is usually the tip of the spear. Wren didn't just fit in; she carved out a niche for herself by being incredibly relatable on social media. She’d post about her life, her dog, and the reality of working the morning shift. People felt like they knew her.
That’s why the exit felt so abrupt.
When a contract ends, there’s usually a "non-compete" clause involved. These are the pesky legal bits that prevent a news person from jumping to a rival station across the street (like WCCO or KARE 11) for a certain period of time. Because Wren was moving out of the market entirely to Ohio, those hurdles were likely much easier to clear. She didn't have to sit out for a year. She just hopped on a plane and started her next chapter.
Managing the Morning Show Burnout
Let’s talk about the schedule. Morning news is a beast.
Wren was often the one telling you whether to scrape your windshield or grab a heavy parka at 5:00 AM. To do that, she had to be at the station hours before the sun came up. Over time, that lifestyle takes a toll. Many journalists reach a point where they look at their contract renewal and think, "Do I want to do this for another three years?" Sometimes the answer is just no.
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She never publicly complained. In fact, her departure was handled with a lot of grace. She thanked the viewers, she thanked her colleagues, and she made it clear that her time in Minnesota was something she cherished. There was no "mic drop" moment. It was a professional exit by a professional scientist.
Why the Twin Cities Still Misses Her
It’s the "familiarity factor." In local news, the anchors and meteorologists become part of your morning routine. You’re eating your cereal, drinking your coffee, and Wren is there telling you the humidity is going to be miserable today. When that person changes, it feels like your routine is broken.
- She had a way of making complex meteorology feel accessible.
- Her energy was consistent, even when the news was grim.
- She actually engaged with viewers on Twitter (X) and Instagram.
The departure of a fan favorite often leads to a dip in viewership, at least temporarily. KSTP has had to fill that void, but Wren’s specific brand of "nerding out" over weather patterns is hard to replicate exactly.
Tracking the Move to Cleveland
So, what is she doing now? Since leaving KSTP, Wren has integrated herself into the Cleveland news scene. For those who follow her on social media, you can see she’s back in the swing of things, dealing with "lake effect" snow instead of "Alberta clippers."
Ohio weather is a different animal. While Minnesota is cold and dry, Cleveland gets hammered by moisture off the lake. It requires a different set of forecasting muscles. Watching her adapt to that has been interesting for the weather nerds who still follow her career from afar. She seems happy. She seems settled.
The Reality of Career Pivots in Local News
If you’re looking for a scandal, you won't find one here. The story of why Wren Clair left KSTP is actually a success story. It’s the story of a talented woman who put in her time in a top-15 market, served her viewers well, and then chose to move closer to home for a prestigious role at a winning station.
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We often forget that these people on our TVs are just employees. They have families. They have hometowns. They have goals that don't always involve staying in one city for thirty years. While Minnesota would have loved to keep her, the pull of Ohio and the opportunity at Fox 8 were clearly the right moves for her life at this stage.
What to Do if You Miss Your Favorite Meteorologist
It’s a bit of a bummer when your favorite TV personality leaves, but you don't have to lose touch. If you’re still wondering what she’s up to or want to see how she’s handling the Cleveland winters, there are a few ways to stay in the loop.
Follow the Digital Trail
Most broadcast journalists keep their professional social media pages active even when they switch markets. You can find Wren on Instagram or Facebook, where she still shares weather updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses of life at Fox 8. It’s a great way to see how "the other side" lives in terms of Midwestern weather.
Check the Station Sites
If you’re ever curious about where a former local anchor landed, sites like TVNewsCheck or FTVLive track these moves religiously. The industry is smaller than you think. Everyone knows everyone.
Support the New Talent
KSTP has brought in new faces to fill the gap. While it's not the same as having Wren there, the science remains the same. Giving the new meteorologists a chance is part of the cycle of local news. They're likely working those same 3:00 AM shifts, trying to earn the trust of a Twin Cities audience that is notoriously loyal to its weather legends.
Wren Clair’s departure wasn't an end; it was just a transition. She left KSTP on her own terms to go back to her roots, and honestly, we should all be so lucky in our careers. The Twin Cities might be a little colder without her forecast, but the radar keeps spinning, and the next storm is always just around the corner.
Next Steps for Followers
If you want to keep up with Wren's career, your best bet is to follow her official verified social media accounts. Avoid the "fan pages" which often post outdated information. If you're looking for her specific weather insights, the Fox 8 Cleveland website hosts her latest segments and weather blogs, which are still a great read for anyone interested in the science of the skies.