Meteorologist Laurel Blanchard is the newest member of Storm Team 11. You can watch her forecasts on weekend nights from 6-11 p.m and several weeknights during the 7 and 7:30 pm shows.
Weather has been a lifelong passion for Laurel. Growing up in Abington, MA, just south of Boston, she and her great-grandfather would spend mornings together before school watching weather reports and guessing snow totals. Laurel has always liked the saying, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait 5 minutes,” commonly heard across New England. She is also learning that natives of the Tri-Cities and the surrounding areas use this phrase as well! She looks forward to forecasting the weather extremes that the Appalachian region has to offer as she starts her broadcast meteorology career.
Growing up in New England, Laurel has come to love forecasting snow, but she also has a passion for severe weather which led her to pursue a degree in meteorology.
Laurel graduated from Millersville University in Lancaster, PA with a BS in Science and Technology. She majored in Meteorology and minored in both Mathematics and Emergency Management. While in college, Laurel was the President of the Millersville University Student Chapter of the American Meteorological Society and often posted weather video forecasts from the MU Weather Deck. She also was involved in the honors college, wrote a thesis focusing on broadcast meteorology and graduated Cum Laude. Laurel is currently professionally involved in the National American Meteorological Society.
Before coming to the Tri-Cities, Laurel interned in the heart of Illinois ABC in Peoria, Illinois, with Chief Meteorologist Brian Walder, a former meteorologist at WJHL.
Even though Laurel is far from home, she is looking forward to exploring the Tri-Cities area and meeting the wonderful people in the community.
When Laurel is not at the studio, she loves watching movies (Star Wars and Marvel Movies are her favorites). Laurel has been involved in theatre since she was very young and is looking forward to attending local theatre productions. She also loves being outside and finding new places to explore, especially if it means finding a new coffee shop or place to eat!
Laurel was very active in her community in Abington and wishes to continue this in the Tri-Cities and would welcome the opportunity to visit local schools and inspire future meteorologists. If interested in connecting with Laurel, email her at lblanchard@wjhl.com.
And be sure to follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter at the username @wxwithlaurel
