Alyssa Donovan is an American meteorologist and reporter best known as the weather anchor for WGN Midday News and WGN Evening News in Chicago, Illinois. An Emmy-nominated broadcast professional, she rose through the ranks at several television stations across the country before landing her dream role at WGN-TV. A native of Fox River Grove, Illinois, Alyssa is also recognized for her community involvement, including advocacy for cancer research following the loss of her father in 2020.
Alyssa Donovan Wikipedia
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Alyssa A. Donovan |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | Approximately March 30, 1993 or 1994 (not publicly confirmed) |
| Age | Approximately 32 years old (as of 2026) |
| Place of birth | Fox River Grove, Illinois, United States |
| Current residence | Chicago, Illinois |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Zodiac sign | Aries (estimated) |
| Religion | Not publicly known |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | Estimated around 5 ft 5 in – 5 ft 7 in (165–170 cm) |
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
| Hair colour | Blonde |
| Eye colour | Blue |
| Marital status | Engaged / Married (wedding planned for June 2025) |
| Spouse/Fiancé | Luke Thompson |
| Children | None |
| Alma mater | Illinois State University (B.S., Broadcast Journalism), Mississippi State University (Broadcast Meteorology) |
| Profession | Meteorologist, reporter, weather anchor |
| Net worth | Approximately $900,000 (estimated) |
Who is Alyssa Donovan?
Alyssa Donovan is a meteorologist and reporter who currently delivers weather forecasts on WGN Midday News and WGN Evening News in Chicago.
She joined WGN-TV in November 2021 and earned a promotion to weekday weather anchor in April 2024.
Before arriving at WGN, she built more than a decade of experience at television stations in Peoria, Spokane, Kansas City, and Indianapolis.
Her on-air presence, forecasting accuracy, and Emmy-nominated reporting made her a natural choice for one of Chicago’s most watched weather desks.
Outside the newsroom, Alyssa is a cancer research advocate who volunteers with the Red Cross, the American Heart Association, and the Lung Cancer Research Foundation. She lost her father to lung cancer in 2020, a personal tragedy that drives her philanthropic work.
How old is Alyssa Donovan? Age and birthday
Alyssa Donovan’s exact date of birth has not been officially confirmed. Multiple sources estimate she was born around 1993 or 1994 in Fox River Grove, Illinois, making her approximately 32 years old as of 2026.
Instagram posts from March 30, 2025 and March 30, 2026 show Alyssa celebrating her birthday, confirming her birthday falls on March 30. Her zodiac sign is Aries.
It is worth mentioning that some records indicate she graduated from Illinois State University with the Class of 2012, according to Illinois State University’s School of Communication.
This could place her birth year closer to 1990, but available celebrity biography sources consistently cite her age as approximately 32 in 2026.
Alyssa Donovan’s height, weight, and body measurements
Alyssa Donovan has not publicly shared her exact height, weight, or body measurements. Based on her on-screen appearances alongside WGN colleagues, she appears to stand approximately 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall (around 165 to 170 cm).
Her weight and other physical measurements remain private. She has blonde hair and blue eyes, a look that has become familiar to Chicago viewers tuning into WGN’s midday and evening newscasts.
Alyssa Donovan’s education background
Alyssa earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism from Illinois State University, graduating with the Class of 2012.
The university’s School of Communication later celebrated her promotion at WGN-TV, calling her a proud Redbird alumna.
To strengthen her meteorology credentials, Alyssa enrolled in Mississippi State University’s Broadcast Meteorology program, which she completed between 2017 and 2020.
She pursued this specialization while already working in the broadcast industry, balancing her studies in Geological and Earth Sciences with full-time television roles.
This dual educational background in journalism and meteorology set her apart in a competitive field where strong communication skills and scientific knowledge are both required.
Alyssa Donovan’s career
Early career in Peoria (2012–2014)
Alyssa launched her television career at WEEK-TV, the ABC/NBC duopoly station in Peoria, Illinois, in December 2012.
She worked as a reporter and weather forecaster, covering major events including historic flooding and the devastating November 2013 tornadoes that struck central Illinois.
Spokane, Washington (2014–2017)
She then moved to KXLY-TV, the ABC affiliate in Spokane, Washington, where she served as a weekend weather anchor and reporter for nearly three years.
In Spokane, she covered wildfires, windstorms, extreme flooding, and record snowfalls — stories she later described as some of the most challenging and rewarding of her career.
Kansas City, Missouri (2017–2018)
After Spokane, Alyssa joined KSHB (41 Action News) in Kansas City, Missouri, as a field reporter for about seven months.
She chased storms and severe weather across state lines while covering a wide range of stories for the NBC affiliate.
WRTV Indianapolis (2018–2021)
In June 2018, Alyssa joined WRTV in Indianapolis, the Scripps-owned ABC affiliate, where she spent three years as a meteorologist, reporter, and fill-in anchor.
The move brought her closer to her hometown of Fox River Grove for the first time in nearly a decade. During her time at WRTV, she earned a reputation as a “utility player,” working nearly every shift in the newsroom and filling in at sister stations across the Midwest.
WGN-TV Chicago (2021–present)
Alyssa joined WGN-TV in November 2021 as a reporter and fill-in meteorologist, marking her much-anticipated return to the Chicago area.
Her hard work paid off on April 29, 2024, when WGN-TV named her the weather anchor for WGN Midday News (11 a.m.–1 p.m.) and WGN Evening News (5 p.m.).
She took over the role from Chief Meteorologist Demetrius Ivory, who had replaced longtime Chicago weather icon Tom Skilling.
WGN News Director Dominick Stasi praised her at the time: “Alyssa has done an amazing job since joining WGN-TV. Already an important part of our weather department, on-air presence, accuracy and teamwork make her the right choice as weather anchor.”
As of April 2026, Alyssa continues to deliver daily weather forecasts on WGN’s weekday midday and evening newscasts.
What is Alyssa Donovan’s net worth and salary?
Net worth
As of 2026, Alyssa Donovan’s net worth is estimated at approximately $900,000. She built this wealth through more than a decade of work in broadcast journalism and meteorology across five television markets.
Salary and income sources
Meteorologists at WGN-TV in Chicago typically earn between $99,787 and $182,083 per year, with an average annual salary of about $133,000.
Given Alyssa’s role as a weekday weather anchor on two major newscasts, her salary likely falls within or above this range.
Beyond her WGN salary, Alyssa earns supplementary income from hosting community events, emceeing fundraising galas, and making public appearances across the Chicago area.
Her work with the Lung Cancer Research Foundation’s annual walk and her participation in Dancing With Chicago Celebrities are examples of paid or sponsored engagements that add to her earnings.
Is Alyssa Donovan married? Husband, relationship status, and wedding details
Engagement to Luke Thompson
Alyssa Donovan is engaged to Luke Thompson. The couple created a wedding website on The Knot, announcing a destination wedding in Tuscany, Italy, scheduled for June 4, 2025, at Castello di Ristonchi.
The event was planned as a multi-day celebration featuring breakfast on the terrace, farm tours, Prosecco, and local beer tastings.
Wedding and current marital status
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.
No public announcement or social media post has confirmed the wedding, as the couple prefers to keep relationship details relatively private.
Luke Thompson’s profession and detailed background are not widely publicized. The couple does not have any children as of early 2026.
Dating history
Alyssa has kept her romantic life largely out of the public eye. No previous relationships have been documented in media reports or on her social media accounts.
Alyssa Donovan’s family
Alyssa grew up in Fox River Grove, a small village in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. She often speaks fondly of her hometown, describing it as a tight-knit community that shaped who she is today.
Her father, believed to be Brian Russell Donovan, passed away on October 22, 2020, in Fox River Grove after a battle with lung cancer.
His death deeply affected Alyssa and inspired her to become an advocate for cancer research and awareness.
Alyssa has shared photos with her father on WGN’s Father’s Day features and has spoken publicly about how losing him fuels her charity work with the Lung Cancer Research Foundation.
Alyssa Donovan’s social media presence
As of early 2026, Alyssa Donovan has over 7,100 followers on Instagram under the handle@alyssadonotv. She uses the platform to share weather updates, behind-the-scenes moments from WGN-TV, outdoor adventures, and personal milestones.
Her Facebook page,Alyssa Donovan TV, has over 12,200 likes and serves as a hub for weather forecasts, viewer interaction, and community engagement.
On X (formerly Twitter), she posts under@AlyssaDonovanTV, sharing quick weather updates and Chicago-related content.
Fast facts about Alyssa Donovan
- Alyssa is an Emmy-nominated meteorologist and reporter who has worked in five television markets.
- She grew up in Fox River Grove, Illinois, and now forecasts weather for her hometown on WGN-TV.
- She graduated from Illinois State University with a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism (Class of 2012).
- Alyssa completed Mississippi State University’s Broadcast Meteorology program while working full-time in television between 2017 and 2020.
- She started her career covering the devastating November 2013 tornadoes in Peoria, Illinois.
- In 2024, she participated in Dancing With Chicago Celebrities, raising money for breast cancer research through Arthur Murray Dance Studios.
- She volunteers with the Red Cross, the American Heart Association, and the Lung Cancer Research Foundation.
- Alyssa lost her father to lung cancer in 2020, which drives her advocacy and fundraising efforts.
- She enjoys hiking, kayaking, and is working toward visiting every U.S. national park.
- She took childhood dance classes but admits that partnered ballroom dancing was “a whole different game.”
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Wrapping up
Alyssa Donovan has grown from a small-town Illinois girl into one of Chicago’s most recognized weather professionals.
Her path from Peoria to Spokane to Kansas City to Indianapolis and finally to WGN-TV shows steady dedication to her craft.
With her role as WGN’s midday and evening weather anchor, a loving relationship with Luke Thompson, and a passion for community service, Alyssa’s story continues to inspire viewers across the Chicago area and beyond.
References
- WGN-TV. “Alyssa Donovan | Chicago”.
- WGN-TV. “WGN-TV Names Alyssa Donovan as WGN Midday and Evening News Weather Anchor”.
- TVNewsCheck. “Alyssa Donovan Named WGN Midday and Evening News Weather Anchor”.
- WRTV. “Alyssa Donovan”.
- LinkedIn. “Alyssa Donovan – Meteorologist, Reporter at WGN-TV”.
- CelabMagazine. “Alyssa Donovan Age, Net Worth, Husband, Wedding, Career”.
- LCF Magazine. “Alyssa Donovan: Age, Net Worth, Husband, Wedding, and Career”.
- The Knot. “Alyssa Donovan and Luke Thompson’s Wedding Website”.
- Dancing With Chicago Celebrities. “Alyssa Donovan, WGN”.
- Illinois State University News. “Fulfilling a Dream”.
- Davenport Family Funeral Home. “Brian Russell Donovan Obituary”.
Disclaimer: The information on Star Vistiq is collected from trusted public sources. We strive for accuracy but cannot guarantee completeness of celebrity profiles, net worth estimates, or biographical data. Readers should verify information independently. For corrections or inquiries, contact: info@starvistiq.com.
