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Ed Curran (US Meteorologist)
Ed Curran age is a topic many Chicago viewers have searched for, curious about the veteran meteorologist who has been a familiar face on their screens for decades. Ed Curran is an American broadcast meteorologist and reporter, best known for his long-running role as senior weekend meteorologist at WBBM-TV CBS 2 News in Chicago, Illinois. Born in 1956 in Chicago, he is approximately 68 to 69 years old — and still going strong on air.
What makes Ed Curran’s story worth telling is not just his weather forecasts. It is the full journey. He started in Chicago radio, working at stations like WGN, WLS, WIND, and WGCI before stepping into television. He became CNN’s high-tech correspondent. He coined and trademarked the term “Technogadgets®.” He joined CBS 2 in 2002 and never looked back.
Along the way, he earned 11 regional Emmy Awards — a number that speaks for itself. He holds the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society, one of the most respected credentials in the field.
But perhaps the most defining chapter of his life came off camera. In 2018, Ed suffered a serious kidney injury that eventually led to end-stage renal disease. For years, he spent nearly nine hours every night on dialysis. His sister, Patti Orthwein, donated one of her kidneys and saved his life. He returned to CBS 2 after the transplant — healthier, grateful, and back doing what he loves.
| Full Name | Ed Curran |
| Date of Birth | September 20, 1956 (not officially confirmed) |
| Place of Birth | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Broadcast Meteorologist, Reporter, Technology Correspondent |
| Employer | WBBM-TV CBS 2 News Chicago |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Communications, Columbia College Chicago; Broadcast Meteorology Program, Mississippi State University |
| High School | Lane Tech High School, Chicago |
| Career Start | Chicago Radio — WIND, WGN Radio, WLS-AM, WGCI-FM |
| Current Role | Senior Weekend Meteorologist and Reporter — WBBM-TV CBS 2 News, Chicago |
| Notable Coverage | Chicago Blizzards, Tornadoes, Severe Storms, Consumer Technology Reporting, Kidney Transplant Awareness |
| Marital Status | Married to Monica Curran (married early 1990s) |
| Children | Jessica (daughter), Jeff (son) |
| Grandchildren | Hayley, Charlotte Elizabeth |
| Sister | Patti Orthwein (kidney donor) |
| Awards | 11 Regional Emmy Awards; AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) Seal |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately $2 million (estimated; not officially confirmed) |
| Salary | Estimated $60,000 – $150,000 annually (not officially confirmed) |
| Trademark | Technogadgets® |
| Residence | Northwest Suburbs, Chicago, Illinois |
Early Life and Education
Ed Curran was born in 1956 in Chicago, Illinois — the city where he would go on to build his entire broadcasting career. He is a true Chicagoan, born and raised in the same city he has served as a meteorologist for decades. Growing up in Chicago gave him a natural connection to the city’s unpredictable weather, something that would later become central to his professional life.
Curran attended Lane Tech High School in Chicago. Lane Tech is one of Chicago’s most well-known selective enrollment high schools, and it was here that Curran’s early interest in communication and media began to take shape. After high school, Curran enrolled at Columbia College Chicago, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Communications. Columbia College gave him a strong foundation in journalism, storytelling, and on-air presentation — skills he would carry throughout his entire career in radio and television.
Meteorology Certification
Not content with just a communications degree, Curran took his education further. He completed the Broadcast Meteorology program at Mississippi State University — one of the most respected meteorology programs in the United States. This training gave him the scientific credibility to move from general broadcasting into serious weather forecasting. He later earned the prestigious Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) seal from the American Meteorological Society, a credential awarded only to broadcasters who pass a rigorous written examination and on-air evaluation.
Career Timeline and Broadcasting Journey
Ed Curran’s broadcasting journey is one of the longest and most varied in Chicago media history. He did not jump straight into television meteorology. He built his career brick by brick — starting in radio, moving into technology reporting, then stepping into full-time meteorology. Every stage taught him something new, and every station added another layer to the broadcaster he is today.
Curran began his career in Chicago radio — and he did not start small. He worked at some of the city’s biggest stations, including WIND, WGN Radio, WLS-AM, and WGCI-FM. At WGN Radio, he hosted his own show and became known for his sharp, humorous style. He had a gift for making complicated technology topics feel simple and entertaining for everyday listeners.
One milestone stood out during this period. Curran became the first radio host in Chicago to combine a live broadcast with an AOL chatroom — a genuinely pioneering move at a time when most people were still figuring out what the internet was. It was also during his radio years that he coined and trademarked the term “Technogadgets®” — his signature brand for covering consumer electronics and digital lifestyle stories. That name followed him for the rest of his career.
Television Career — WGN-TV, CNN, and WMAQ-TV
From radio, Curran moved into television. His first major TV role was at WGN-TV, where he contributed science and technology reports to the Morning News and occasionally filled in as a weather forecaster. It was here that Chicago television audiences got their first real look at him.
His reputation as a tech reporter opened a bigger door. CNN hired him as a high-tech correspondent, giving him national exposure and experience at one of the world’s most recognized news networks. He reported from Atlanta, Georgia, covering the fast-moving world of consumer technology for a national audience.
After CNN, Curran returned to Chicago and joined WMAQ-TV, the NBC-owned station, as a full-time meteorologist. This was a significant shift — from technology correspondent to dedicated weather forecaster. He spent close to five years at WMAQ, sharpening his meteorology skills and covering major weather events across the Chicago region.
CBS 2 Chicago — WBBM-TV
In 2002, Ed Curran made the move that would define the peak chapter of his broadcasting career. He joined WBBM-TV CBS 2 News in Chicago as a meteorologist and reporter — a role he continues to hold at present. At CBS 2, he serves as senior weekend meteorologist, tracking severe weather events including blizzards, tornadoes, and major storms across the Chicago area.
His work at CBS 2 is not limited to weather. He has reported breaking news stories, covered science topics, and even did aerobatics on the wing of a biplane for a segment — a detail that tells you everything about his fearless, unpredictable style. Over his career at CBS 2 and beyond, Curran has been honored with 11 regional Emmy Awards — one of the highest tallies among Chicago broadcasters. These awards reflect decades of consistent, high-quality journalism across both weather and general reporting.
In 2022, Curran made headlines for a deeply personal reason. After battling end-stage renal disease and spending years on dialysis, he received a life-saving kidney transplant and returned to the CBS 2 anchor desk — a moment his colleagues, viewers, and family celebrated widely.
Salary and Net Worth
At present, Ed Curran’s estimated annual salary ranges between $60,000 and $150,000. This range reflects his role as a senior weekend meteorologist at WBBM-TV, a CBS-owned station in one of the largest media markets in the United States — Chicago is the third-largest TV market in America. Seniority, contract terms, and his dual role as both meteorologist and reporter all factor into his compensation.
Taking his full career into account — over four decades in Chicago radio and television, roles at CNN, WGN, NBC, and CBS, plus his trademarked Technogadgets® brand — Ed Curran’s estimated net worth is approximately $2 million.
Ed Curran’s net worth was not built overnight. It is the result of a career that spans radio, television, national news, and technology reporting — each chapter adding both experience and income. Few Chicago broadcasters can claim roles at WGN Radio, CNN, NBC Chicago, and CBS 2 all within a single career. That breadth, combined with 11 Emmy Awards and an AMS certification, places him firmly among Chicago’s most respected — and well-compensated — broadcast professionals.
Personal Life and Family
Behind the weather maps and Emmy Awards, Ed Curran is a family man through and through. He has been married to the same woman for decades, raised two children in the Chicago suburbs, and faced one of the most frightening health crises a person can experience — all while keeping his personal life largely away from the public eye. What little he has shared paints the picture of a man who values loyalty, family, and quiet life outside the studio.
Ed Curran's Wife — Monica Curran
Ed Curran is married to Monica Curran. Their love story is a long one. The two first met when Ed was a freshman in college — young, ambitious, and just beginning to find his path in broadcasting. They married in the early 1990s, after years together, and have remained a strong partnership ever since.
Monica has never sought the spotlight. She stays largely out of public view, which Ed has always respected. But when life got hard — and it did get very hard — she was the one standing next to him. When Ed publicly reflected on his kidney illness and recovery, he was direct about her role. He said he never would have made it through without Monica’s love and guidance. That says more than any biography could.
The couple currently lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. In their free time, they enjoy riding their tandem road bike together — a small but telling detail about a couple that does things side by side.
Children and Grandchildren
Ed and Monica have two adult children — a daughter named Jessica and a son named Jeff. Jessica is married to her husband Steve and currently lives in the Chicago area, staying close to home. Jeff has also remained part of the family’s tight-knit circle, playing an active role during his father’s health recovery.
The family has grown beyond just the two children. Ed Curran is also a grandfather — a role he clearly embraces. His grandchildren are named Hayley and Charlotte Elizabeth. The family home in the northwest suburbs is also shared with two dogs, Ricky and Shelby, rounding out what sounds like a warm, full household.
Ed Curran's Kidney Transplant — A Life-Changing Chapter
No section on Ed Curran’s personal life would be complete without telling this story properly. In 2018, Ed suffered an acute kidney injury. It did not resolve. Over the following year, his condition worsened and progressed to end-stage renal disease — one of the most serious diagnoses a person can receive.
To stay alive, he went on dialysis. Not for a few hours here and there — for nearly nine hours every single night. For years, that was his reality. Working weekends on camera, then spending his nights hooked to a machine. Very few viewers knew what he was going through.
The turning point came through family. His sister, Patti Orthwein, stepped forward and donated one of her kidneys. The transplant was performed at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago — one of the country’s leading medical centers. Patti’s husband Wayne supported her through months of testing and multiple four-hour round trips to the hospital to make the donation possible.
When Ed finally shared his story publicly, his words were simple and from the heart. He called Patti’s gift life-saving and said there were simply no words to express his love and appreciation for her sacrifice. He returned to the CBS 2 anchor desk following his recovery — healthier, grateful, and with a story that resonated far beyond the weather forecast.
Hobbies and Life Outside Broadcasting
Ed Curran is not someone who sits still. When he is not forecasting weather or chasing storms in the CBS 2 Mobile Weather Lab, he keeps himself active and creative. He plays both acoustic and electric guitar. He fires up his backyard smoker and takes pride in his cooking. He speaks regularly at school groups and community events, sharing his experience in broadcasting and science with younger audiences.
He also enjoys storm chasing — going out into the field to cover severe weather firsthand rather than watching it from the studio. It is a fitting hobby for a man who has spent his career making Chicago’s weather personal, relatable, and real.
FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Ed Curran
Key questions answered about the CBS 2 Chicago meteorologist and his life and career
His exact birth date has not been officially confirmed by Curran himself. However, multiple public biographical sources consistently list 1956 as his birth year, making him one of Chicago's most experienced active broadcast meteorologists. He has spent his entire life and career in Chicago — the city where he was born.
He joined CBS 2 in 2002 and has remained one of the station's most recognized on-air personalities. After receiving a life-saving kidney transplant, he returned to the anchor desk and continues to forecast weekend weather and contribute science and technology reporting for the station.
Monica has largely stayed out of the public spotlight throughout Ed's broadcasting career. However, when Ed publicly shared his kidney illness and recovery journey, he was open about the critical role Monica played — saying he never would have survived the ordeal without her love and guidance. The couple currently lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and shares a love of tandem road biking.
His sister, Patti Orthwein, stepped forward and donated one of her kidneys. The life-saving transplant was performed at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. After months of recovery, Ed returned to the CBS 2 anchor desk healthier than he had been in years. He publicly shared his story to raise awareness about kidney disease and organ donation.
This estimate is based on his decades-long career across Chicago radio, WGN-TV, CNN, WMAQ-TV, and CBS 2 Chicago, along with his trademarked Technogadgets® brand and speaking engagements. This figure has not been officially confirmed by Ed Curran himself and is based on third-party industry estimates only.
These awards span both his meteorology work and his broader reporting career at CBS 2 Chicago and previous stations. The Emmy Awards reflect decades of consistent, high-quality journalism across weather forecasting, science reporting, and technology coverage — making him one of the most decorated broadcasters in Chicago media history.
He later completed the Broadcast Meteorology program at Mississippi State University — one of the most respected meteorology programs in the United States. He also holds the prestigious Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) seal from the American Meteorological Society, awarded only to broadcasters who pass a rigorous written exam and on-air evaluation.
Based on third-party industry estimates for senior meteorologists at major CBS-owned stations in top US media markets, his estimated annual salary ranges from $60,000 to $150,000. Chicago is the third-largest television market in the United States, which factors into compensation at that level. This figure has not been officially confirmed by Ed Curran or CBS 2 Chicago.
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