Alyssa Donovan is a well-known American meteorologist and broadcast journalist based in Chicago. She currently anchors the weather segment on two daily newscasts at WGN-TV, one of the top television markets in the country. She grew up in Fox River Grove, Illinois, and studied Broadcast Journalism at Illinois State University before completing meteorology training at Mississippi State University. She is also known for her community involvement, including advocacy for cancer research following the loss of her father in 2020.
Alyssa is around 32 years old and has built an estimated net worth of approximately $900,000 through over a decade of hard work in broadcast journalism and meteorology. She is engaged to Luke Thompson, and the couple planned a beautiful destination wedding in Tuscany, Italy, at Castello di Ristonchi. Her career saw steady growth across multiple TV markets, including Peoria, Spokane, Kansas City, and Indianapolis, before she landed at WGN-TV. She was promoted to Midday and Evening News weather anchor in April 2024, marking one of the most prominent roles in Midwest broadcast meteorology.
Alyssa Donovan Wikipedia
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Alyssa Donovan |
| Profession | Meteorologist & Broadcast Journalist |
| Nationality | American |
| Birthplace | Fox River Grove, Illinois, USA |
| Age | Around 32 Years Old |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Eye Color | Hazel |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| High School | Cary-Grove Community High School (2008) |
| University | Illinois State University – B.S. Broadcast Journalism (2012) |
| Meteorology Training | Mississippi State University (2020) |
| Current Employer | WGN-TV, Chicago |
| Current Role | Midday & Evening News Weather Anchor |
| Joined WGN-TV | November 2021 |
| Promoted to Anchor | April 2024 |
| Previous Stations | WEEK-TV (Peoria), KXLY (Spokane), KSHB (Kansas City), WRTV (Indianapolis) |
| Partner | Luke Thompson (Fiancé) |
| Wedding Venue | Castello di Ristonchi, Tuscany, Italy |
| Wedding Date | June 4, 2025 |
| Net Worth | Approx. $900,000 (as of 2026) |
| Annual Salary | $99,787 – $182,083 (estimated) |
| Awards | Emmy-Nominated |
| Social Cause | Lung Cancer Research Foundation Advocate |
| Hobbies | Hiking, Kayaking, Dancing |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Who is Alyssa Donovan?
Alyssa Donovan is a well-known American meteorologist and broadcast journalist based in Chicago, Illinois. She currently works as the Midday and Evening News weather anchor at WGN-TV, one of the most watched stations in the country. She grew up in Fox River Grove, a quiet suburb in the northwest part of Chicago, and from a young age had a strong passion for weather forecasting and storytelling.
Alyssa studied Broadcast Journalism at Illinois State University and graduated in 2012 as part of the Class of 2012. She later earned her meteorology certification from Mississippi State University in 2020, completing the AMS accredited meteorology program that gave her deep expertise in atmospheric science. Her dual educational background in journalism and meteorology made her stand out in the competitive world of broadcast media.
Alyssa built her career step by step, working as a television reporter and weather forecaster at several TV stations across the country before reaching Chicago. She gained hands-on experience in Peoria, Spokane, Kansas City, and Indianapolis over many years. In November 2021, she joined WGN-TV and quickly proved herself as a talented and reliable on-air personality. By April 2024, she was promoted to the Midday and Evening News weather anchor role. Today, she is one of the most recognized and respected faces in Chicago’s television news scene.
How old is Alyssa Donovan? Age and birthday
Alyssa Donovan is around 32 years old as of 2026, though her exact date of birth has never been made public. She has always kept personal details like her birthday away from the media and public eye. Based on her education timeline, she graduated from high school in 2008 and from Illinois State University in 2012, which lines up with her estimated age. She was born and raised in Fox River Grove, Illinois, a small suburb located in the northwest part of Chicago. While her birthday remains unknown, her achievements at such a young age clearly show how hard she has worked throughout her career.
Alyssa Donovan’s education background
Alyssa Donovan’s educational journey started at Cary-Grove Community High School in Illinois. She was a dedicated student who showed an early interest in media and communication. She graduated from high school in 2008 with a strong academic record. Her time in high school helped shape her goals and pointed her toward a career in broadcasting.
After high school, Alyssa enrolled at Illinois State University to follow her passion for journalism. She pursued a B.S. Broadcast Journalism degree through the university’s School of Communication. She worked hard throughout her studies and graduated in 2012 with her degree in hand. Illinois State University gave her the skills and confidence she needed to enter the competitive media industry.
While working in the broadcast field, Alyssa realized she wanted to deepen her knowledge of weather science. She decided to go back to school and enrolled in the Broadcast Meteorology program at Mississippi State University. This program covers atmospheric science, geological and earth sciences, synoptic meteorology, and severe storm analysis, making it one of the most respected meteorology credentials in the entire broadcasting industry. She successfully completed the program and earned her meteorology certificate in 2020.
Her decision to pursue dual education in both journalism and meteorology truly set her apart from others. Most reporters focus on one area, but Alyssa chose to master both fields at the same time. This combination made her a highly versatile and valuable professional in the broadcast world. Today, her strong educational background plays a major role in her success as a top weather anchor at WGN-TV in Chicago.
Alyssa Donovan’s career
Early career beginnings
Alyssa Donovan started her broadcasting career at WEEK-TV in Peoria, Illinois, right after finishing her degree. She worked there as a field reporter and weather forecaster, covering major stories like historic flooding and the devastating 2013 tornadoes, gaining valuable severe weather coverage experience early in her career. From Peoria, she moved to KXLY-TV in Spokane, Washington, where she worked as a weekend weather anchor and reporter, handling wildfire reporting, extreme snowstorms, and heavy flooding. She then headed to Kansas City, Missouri, where she worked at KSHB as a weekend weather anchor and field reporter for several months, covering storm chasing events and severe weather across the region.
Alyssa gained a lot of valuable experience during these early years of her career. Each new city taught her something different and helped her grow as a broadcast meteorologist. She covered a wide range of stories, from severe weather events to everyday community news. These early roles built a strong foundation that later helped her land bigger opportunities in larger DMA markets.
WRTV Indianapolis (2018–2021)
In June 2018, Alyssa joined WRTV Indianapolis, the Scripps-owned ABC affiliate, as a meteorologist and reporter, marking a big step forward in her career. She spent three solid years at the station, building a strong reputation as a skilled and reliable broadcast journalist. During her time there, she also traveled to sister stations across the Midwest to fill in as both a reporter and meteorologist, earning a reputation as a true utility player in the newsroom. Working in Indianapolis brought her closer to her Fox River Grove hometown for the first time in nearly a decade, which made the role even more meaningful to her.
Her time at WRTV was one of the most important chapters of her professional life. She sharpened her on-screen skills and became known as a versatile and dependable team player at the station. She handled everything from breaking weather news to in-depth reporting with great confidence. By the time she left in November 2021, she was fully ready to take on a major role in the Chicago media market.
WGN-TV Chicago (2021-Present)
Alyssa Donovan joined WGN-TV in Chicago in November 2021 as a reporter and fill-in meteorologist. This was a huge milestone in her career as WGN-TV is one of the most watched stations in the entire country. She returned to her hometown market after spending years working in smaller cities across the United States. From day one, she brought energy, professionalism, and a genuine connection to the Chicago community.
She quickly proved herself as a hardworking and talented broadcast meteorologist at WGN-TV. Her strong on-screen presence and deep knowledge of weather forecasting earned her the respect of both her colleagues and viewers. In April 2024, she was promoted to the Midday and Evening News weather anchor position, a major achievement in her career. This promotion placed her in one of the most visible meteorology roles in the entire Chicago television market.
Today, Alyssa is one of the most recognized weather anchors in Chicago and continues to grow in her role at WGN-TV. She delivers weather updates on two major daily newscasts, keeping thousands of viewers informed every single day. Her Emmy-nominated reporting skills and warm personality have made her a fan favorite among Chicago audiences. With her continued dedication and passion for her work, her future at WGN-TV looks incredibly bright.
What is Alyssa Donovan’s net worth?
Alyssa Donovan has built an impressive financial profile through her long and successful career in broadcast journalism. As of 2026, her net worth estimate is approximately $900,000, which reflects over a decade of hard work in the media industry. She has worked at multiple television stations across the country, each role adding to her professional value and broadcast salary. Her steady career growth has been the main driving force behind her growing financial worth.
Her primary source of income comes from her current role as a weekday news anchor at WGN-TV in Chicago. Meteorologists at WGN-TV typically fall within a salary range of $99,787 to $182,083 per year, with an average annual income of around $133,000. Given her prominent role anchoring two major daily newscasts, Alyssa likely earns at or above the average salary range. This steady and competitive income has played a big role in helping her build her overall net worth over the years.
Beyond her regular salary, Alyssa also earns extra income from various outside activities and engagements. She gets event hosting earnings from community events, emceeing fundraisers and fundraising galas, and making public appearances across the Chicago area regularly. Her involvement with organizations like the Lung Cancer Research Foundation also adds to her public profile and earning potential. These additional income streams have helped her grow her net worth beyond just her television salary alone.
Looking ahead, financial experts believe that Alyssa’s net worth is expected to cross the $1 million mark very soon. Her career is still in full swing and she continues to grow in one of the biggest television markets in the United States. With her Emmy-nominated skills, strong audience connection, and expanding public presence, her earning potential is only going to increase. Alyssa Donovan is clearly on a very strong financial path that reflects both her talent and her years of dedication.
Is Alyssa Donovan married? Husband, relationship status and wedding
Alyssa Donovan is not yet married but she is happily engaged to Luke Thompson. The couple made their engagement public and quickly became one of the most talked about pairs in the Chicago media scene. Alyssa has always kept her personal life fairly private, but her engagement brought some sweet details into the spotlight. The couple created a wedding website on The Knot announcing their plans, and it is clear that the two share a very strong and loving bond with each other.
The couple planned a truly romantic and unforgettable destination wedding in Tuscany, Italy. They chose the stunning Castello di Ristonchi as their wedding venue, a beautiful historic castle in the Italian countryside. The June 2025 wedding was designed as a multi-day celebration for their family and friends. The itinerary included breakfast on the terrace, farm tours, and beer tastings at the breathtaking castle grounds.
Alyssa has always been a private person when it comes to sharing details about her relationship status and romantic life. She rarely speaks about her relationship on air or on social media, preferring to keep things personal. However, her engagement to Luke Thompson showed fans a beautiful and happy side of her life outside of work. The couple currently has no children, and their Tuscan wedding was a true reflection of their love and shared taste for beautiful experiences.
Alyssa Donovan’s social media presence
Alyssa Donovan is an active and engaging personality on social media platforms across the internet. She uses her social media accounts to connect with her viewers and fans on a more personal level. Her online presence reflects the same warm and energetic personality that she brings to her television broadcasts every day. Fans across Chicago and beyond enjoy following her journey through her posts on Instagram @alyssadonotv, Facebook Alyssa Donovan TV, and X (formerly Twitter) @AlyssaDonovanTV.
On Instagram, Alyssa regularly shares weather updates, behind-the-scenes content from WGN-TV, and personal photos from her everyday life. Her followers appreciate how genuine and relatable she comes across in everything she shares online. Her viewer engagement across platforms has helped her build a strong and loyal fan base beyond just her television audience.
Alyssa also uses social media to raise awareness about causes that are close to her heart. She actively promotes cancer research and community fundraising events through her online platforms regularly. After losing her father to lung cancer in 2020, she has used her voice to support the Lung Cancer Research Foundation. Her social media pages often reflect her deep commitment to giving back to the community she loves and serves.
She also shares glimpses of her personal life, including her outdoor adventures like hiking and kayaking, her travels, and special moments with her loved ones. From her trip to Greece to her engagement with Luke Thompson, fans have enjoyed seeing her personal milestones unfold online. She strikes a great balance between being open with her followers while still maintaining a level of privacy. This approach has made her one of the most genuine and well-liked personalities on social media in the Chicago area.
Alyssa’s social media presence continues to grow as her career reaches new heights at WGN-TV in Chicago. Her authentic personality and consistent viewer engagement make her stand out from many other broadcast journalists online today. She understands the power of social media in building a strong connection with her audience and community. As she continues to grow professionally, her social media following is expected to keep growing right along with her success.
Fast Facts about Alyssa Donovan
- She is an American meteorologist and reporter currently serving as the weather anchor for WGN Midday News and WGN Evening News in Chicago, Illinois.
- She is a native of Fox River Grove, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago.
- She is approximately 32 years old, born around 1993 or 1994, though her exact birth date has not been publicly disclosed.
- She earned a B.S. Broadcast Journalism degree from Illinois State University, Class of 2012, through the university’s School of Communication.
- She later completed Mississippi State University’s Broadcast Meteorology program between 2017 and 2020, earning AMS accredited meteorology credentials with deep training in atmospheric science and geological and earth sciences.
- She joined WGN-TV in November 2021 as a fill-in meteorologist before being promoted to full weather anchor in April 2024.
- Before WGN, she worked at WRTV Indianapolis for three years as a meteorologist and reporter, and before that at KSHB Kansas City and KXLY-TV Spokane, covering severe weather and storm chasing.
- She is an Emmy-nominated broadcast meteorologist recognized for her on-air accuracy and community presence.
- After losing her father, believed to be Brian Russell Donovan, to lung cancer in 2020, she became a passionate cancer research advocate and volunteers with the Lung Cancer Research Foundation.
- She also volunteers with the Red Cross and American Heart Association.
- In her personal time, she enjoys hiking and kayaking and is on a mission to visit all of the U.S. national parks.
- She is engaged to Luke Thompson, with a destination wedding planned at Castello di Ristonchi in Tuscany, Italy.
Alyssa Donovan’s Community Involvement
Alyssa Donovan is deeply committed to giving back to the communities she serves, volunteering with organizations like the Red Cross and the American Heart Association. After losing her father to lung cancer in 2020, she became a passionate cancer research advocate, actively emceeing the Lung Cancer Research Foundation’s annual fundraising walk as a community events emcee. Her community spirit extends beyond health causes, as she also participates in local charity events and uses her platform at WGN-TV to shine a light on important community stories.
Beyond her on-screen work, Alyssa has taken part in high-profile charity events such as Dancing With Chicago Celebrities, where she took dance lessons at Arthur Murray dance studio to raise funds for breast cancer fundraising and other meaningful causes. She has used her visibility as a Chicago media personality to support breast cancer awareness, given that the disease has affected friends and extended family members. Her dedication to volunteerism and advocacy reflects a genuine passion for making a difference far beyond the weather desk.
Alyssa Donovan Age in 2026
As of 2026, Alyssa Donovan is approximately 32 years old, having been born around 1993 or 1994 in Fox River Grove, Illinois. While she has not publicly disclosed her exact birth date, her educational timeline graduating from Illinois State University in 2012 supports this estimated age range. She maintains a level of privacy around personal details, which is common among broadcast media professionals.
What makes her age particularly noteworthy is how much she has accomplished at such a relatively young point in her career. Holding a primary weather anchor role at a major-market station like WGN-TV in Chicago is an achievement many broadcast meteorologists do not reach until their late 30s or 40s. Her rapid rise speaks to her dual academic credentials in journalism and atmospheric science, years of multi-market experience, and standout on-air performance.
Latest Updates and Current Status
As of 2026, Alyssa Donovan continues to anchor the WGN Midday News and WGN Evening News weather segments, a role she officially stepped into in April 2024. She remains one of Chicago’s most recognized on-air meteorologists and weather forecasters, known for her accurate forecasts and energetic screen presence. Her promotion to full-time weekday news anchor marked a significant milestone in her broadcasting career.
On the personal front, Alyssa is engaged to Luke Thompson, with a destination wedding planned at the stunning Castello di Ristonchi in Tuscany, Italy. She continues to grow her social media presence across Instagram @alyssadonotv, Facebook Alyssa Donovan TV, and X (formerly Twitter) @AlyssaDonovanTV, where she shares weather updates and behind-the-scenes content with her Chicago audience. With an estimated net worth of $900,000, she remains one of the rising stars in Midwest broadcast journalism.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Alyssa Donovan?
Alyssa Donovan is approximately 32 years old as of 2026, born around 1993–1994 in Fox River Grove, Illinois.
What is Alyssa Donovan’s net worth?
As of 2026, Alyssa Donovan’s net worth is estimated at around $900,000, earned through her successful career in broadcast journalism and meteorology at WGN-TV.
Who is Alyssa Donovan’s husband or fiancé?
Alyssa Donovan is engaged to Luke Thompson. The planned wedding date of June 4, 2025, has passed, and some sources refer to Luke Thompson as her “fiancé/husband,” suggesting the ceremony likely took place as planned.
Where did Alyssa Donovan get married?
The couple planned a destination wedding in Tuscany, Italy, at Castello di Ristonchi, designed as a multi-day celebration with activities including breakfast on the terrace, farm tours, and beer tastings at the castle.
What does Alyssa Donovan do for a career?
Alyssa Donovan is an Emmy-nominated broadcast meteorologist and reporter who currently serves as the weather anchor for WGN Midday News and WGN Evening News in Chicago, a role she was promoted to in April 2024.
Where did Alyssa Donovan work before WGN-TV?
Before joining WGN-TV, Alyssa worked through multiple markets — WEEK-TV in Peoria, KXLY-TV in Spokane, KSHB in Kansas City, and WRTV Indianapolis — building nearly a decade of experience in reporting and meteorology.
Conclusion
Alyssa Donovan is a talented broadcast meteorologist based in Chicago. She is around 32 years old and works at WGN-TV. She anchors the Midday and Evening News weather segments, delivering accurate weather forecasting to thousands of viewers every day. Her hard work and dedication have made her a trusted on-air personality and newscast presenter in broadcasting.
Her net worth is estimated at $900,000, built through years of experience across multiple DMA markets. She is engaged to Luke Thompson and the couple married in Tuscany, Italy. Alyssa has worked in many cities before returning to her Fox River Grove hometown and the Chicago market she loves. She is truly an inspiring example of passion meeting success.
