George Lessens Biography
George Lessens is an American meteorologist working for WZZM as the chief meteorologist since July 2001. His forecasts appear on weekdays at 5, 6, and 11 p.m. His career with the station started in 1985 as a weekend meteorologist.
George Lessens Education
Lessens joined Grand Rapids Community College when he finished his education at Lowell High School. In 2008, he graduated with an Associate’s degree in Chemistry. He then joined Penn State University where he graduated with a Bachelor Of Science degree in Meteorology. Furthermore, he also graduated from
George Lessens Career
Lessens has worked for WZZM as the chief meteorologist since July 2001. His forecasts appear on weekdays at 5, 6, and 11 p.m. His career with the station started in 1985 as a weekend meteorologist. He was the morning anchor from 1985 to 1991 before rejoining the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. weekend newscasts.
In October 2007, Lessens became the longest-working meteorologist at any single West Michigan TV station, logging 26 years and 11 months. After a career that spans over 4 decades, he announced that he would retire in December 2024.
Lessens has had a passion for weather since the Palm Sunday tornadoes hit West Michigan in 1965. While in Lowell, he created a weather club as to scan the skies for storms and tornadoes. Even though he didn’t witness a tornado, he has been inside the ruin paths of numerous of these storms.
During the early morning hours of his 21st birthday, a small tornado impacted his hometown. He heard the storm coming and cautioned his family members. In its wake, the tornado collapsed a church steeple, ruined the Lowell Showboat, and damaged the surrounding community.
During the July 4, 1991 holiday weekend, Lessens rode out a derecho windstorm in a van parked under a highway bridge walkway. On May 31, 1998, another “derecho” impacted West Michigan as he waited out the storm in the studies of 13 On Your Side. At the time, he co-anchored almost 12 hours of non-stop harsh weather broadcasts.
Awards
In March 2019, Lessens won the “Silver Circle” award from the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences for his over 25 years of service. 9 times, he has won the Michigan Association of Broadcasters “Best Weathercast” Award. He won four “Merit Weathercast” awards and Michigan Emmy Awards in 2005 and 2009.
Grand Rapids Community College awarded him its “Distinguished Alumni” award in 2008. Moreover, he won Muskegon County’s “Farm Bureau Agricultural Service Award,” UPI Michigan Broadcasters’ Best Graphics awards, the Detroit Press Club Foundation award for TV Documentary on “The Flood of ’86,” and a nomination for an Emmy for “Toys for Tots.”
Work Outside TV;
Over the past years, Lessens has visited numerous school children for his “Lessons on Science” programs surrounding topics like Space, the Environment, and a Michigan Emmy-awarded series on “Birds.” Till today, he spotlights his passion for weather by delivering speeches to numerous schools and civic groups.
Aside from TV, Lessens has delivered weather forecasts on numerous West Michigan radio stations, West Michigan farmers, and ski resorts. He also wrote a weekly weather column for the Advance Newspapers, where he shared his extensive knowledge of West Michigan weather trivia, facts, and folklore.
Lessens serves as a member of the American Meteorology Society (AMS) and has its Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) seal of approval. For three years, he served on the board of the National AMS Broadcast Meteorology. An Eagle Scout, Lessens holds the Boy Scouts’ highest honor from Troop 102, Lowell, Michigan.
George Lessens Age
Lessens likes to keep his personal life private and hence has not yet disclosed the year and month he was born. It is therefore not known when he celebrates his birthday. However, he might be in his 70s.
George Lessens Height
Lessens stands at an approximate height of 5 feet and 7 inches.
George Lessens Family
Lessens grew up in Lowell, Michigan has managed to keep his personal life away from the limelight hence he has not disclosed any information about his parents. It is also not if Lessens has any siblings.
George Lessens Wife
Lessens is married to Sherry but has kept more information regarding her away from the public but we’ll update this information once it is available. During his free time, he enjoys working with communities, landscaping his home, or gardening.
George Lessens Net Worth
Lessens has an estimated net worth ranging between $1 Million – $5 Million which he has earned through being a meteorologist.
George Lessens Salary
Lessens earns an annual salary ranging between $40,000 – $ 110,500.
George Lessens Retirement
After working for more than 4 decades in the weather industry, Lessens shared that he would retire at the end of 2024. His last day on-air will be in December.
George Lessens WZZM
Lessens is working at WZZM where he works alongside other famous anchors and reporters including;
- Tanner Holbrook
- Yaw Bonsu
- Josh Alburtus
- Lauren Baker
- Julie Koharik