Jill Szwed’s Biography: Meet WTAE-TV’s Passionate Meteorologist
Jill Szwed is a passionate meteorologist for WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a familiar face to many in her hometown region.
Her journey into meteorology was sparked by childhood experiences with severe weather, including snowstorms, flooding, and a tornado in downtown Pittsburgh in 1998.
Early Life and Education:
A Butler native, Jill graduated from Saint Joseph High School in Natrona Heights in 2010.
She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology with a minor in communications from Saint Louis University.
Her dedication to the field is further highlighted by her membership in the American Meteorological Society and holding the prestigious Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) seal.
Even as a student, she gained valuable experience through internships with notable meteorologists Jeff Verszyla at KDKA-TV and Stephen Cropper at WPXI-TV.
Career Path:
Szwed’s career began in Clarksburg, West Virginia, as a morning forecaster and traffic anchor at WDTV-TV.
She then moved to Lexington, Kentucky, where she worked as an afternoon and weekend evening meteorologist at WLEX-TV, and notably had the opportunity to broadcast from the Kentucky Derby during the wettest Derby on record.
Prior to joining WTAE-TV, she spent three and a half years at WTEN-TV/WXXA-TV, the ABC-Fox duopoly affiliates in Albany, New York, as a weekday morning meteorologist.
Return to Pittsburgh and WTAE-TV:
In February 2024, Jill Szwed returned to her roots, joining WTAE-TV as a weekend morning meteorologist.
For her, this move was a dream come true, allowing her to serve the community she grew up in and be part of a “rock star weather team.”
Beyond traditional forecasting, Jill is keen to leverage her science background to pursue STEM reporting for WTAE-TV on weekdays.
Her aim is to cover a wide range of science and environment-related topics, from technology companies to medical research and climate change, hoping to make this a unique niche in her reporting.
Personal Interests:
Outside of her meteorological duties, Jill Szwed is a STEM advocate, a retired dancer (having danced since age four, with ballet as her favorite style), and a self-proclaimed foodie.
She enjoys cooking and baking, and cheers for Pittsburgh’s sports teams: the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates.
Family is also important to her, with parents living in Butler, a sister in Wexford, and grandparents in Butler and Scottdale.
Age
Jill Szwed was born on September 24, 1991, making her 34 years old. Her zodiac sign is Libra. Jill Szwed belongs to the White-American ethnicity and holds American nationality.
Parents and Siblings
Jill Szwed was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania, USA. She has strong ties to the Pittsburgh area, which she proudly represents in her work. Jill Szwed has a younger sister, who she considers her best friend.
However, there is no information indicating that her sister or any other family members are in the same field of meteorology. Jill often shares pictures of her family on her Instagram, showing her close relationship with them.
Husband
Jill Szwed has not publicly shared details about her marital status or whether she has a husband. Like her family life, she prefers to keep her personal relationships private.
Height, Weight
Jill Szwed stands at a height of 5 feet 8 inches (1.72 meters) and weighs approximately 60 kg (132 pounds).
Career and Background
Jill Szwed’s career in meteorology has spanned several years across different television stations. She started her career after earning a degree in Meteorology and has since worked in various roles that have solidified her expertise in the field.
Her previous positions included working at WLEX-TV in Lexington, KY, and WTEN-TV in Albany, NY, where she gained recognition for her detailed weather forecasts and storm coverage.
Szwed joined WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, bringing her wealth of experience to Western Pennsylvania. Her career highlights include covering extreme weather events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and snowstorms.
Jill Szwed has expressed a particular fascination with severe weather phenomena. She enjoys covering events like thunderstorms, tornadoes, and snowstorms.
These events not only challenge her forecasting skills but also allow her to provide crucial information to keep the public safe.
One of the most memorable weather events Jill Szwed has reported on was the historic flooding in Kentucky while she was at WLEX-TV.
The flooding caused significant damage and required extensive coverage to keep the public informed and safe.
This event was particularly impactful due to the widespread devastation and the critical role of accurate weather reporting in disaster response.
Here are some highlights:
Career Path
- Early Career: Jill began her career at WDTV in Clarksburg, West Virginia, where she worked as a morning and noon meteorologist.
- WLEX-TV: She then moved to WLEX-TV in Lexington, Kentucky, serving as a weekend meteorologist for four years. During her time there, she covered a wide range of weather events, including severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, and snow.
- WTEN-TV: In June 2020, Jill joined WTEN News 10 ABC in Albany, New York, as a morning meteorologist. She worked there until January 2024.
- WTAE-TV: As of February 2024, Jill has been working at WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she forecasts weather every weekend.
Becoming a Meteorologist
Jill’s passion for weather started early. She developed an interest in meteorology during her middle school years, sparked by local snowstorms and a tornado in downtown Pittsburgh.
She pursued this passion academically by earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology with a minor in Communication from Saint Louis University.
Throughout her career, Jill has been involved in various community events and has even broadcasted live from notable events like the Kentucky Derby.
She is also a member of the American Meteorological Society and holds the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal.
WTAE-TV has a talented team of meteorologists, including:
- Mike Harvey – Chief Meteorologist
- Ashley Dougherty – Meteorologist
- Brian Hutton Jr. – Meteorologist
- Jeff Verszyla – Meteorologist
Net Worth and Salary
Jill Szwed’s estimated net worth is not publicly available. As an experienced meteorologist, it’s likely that she earns a competitive salary in line with industry standards for a broadcast meteorologist.
Typically, meteorologists in major markets like Pittsburgh earn between $70,000 to $120,000 annually, depending on experience.
Is Jill Szwed Married?
Jill Szwed has not publicly disclosed her marital status. She maintains a high level of privacy regarding her personal life, and there are no known details about her being married.
How Old Is Jill Szwed?
Jill Szwed was born on September 24, 1991, making her 34 years old as of 2025. She celebrates her birthday every year on September 24th.
Where Is Jill Szwed Working?
Yes, Jill Szwed is currently working at WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, PA. She currently forecasts the weather every weekend on Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 (WTAE).
Jill has a rich background in meteorology, having worked in various states including Pennsylvania, Missouri, West Virginia, Kentucky, and New York.
She holds the prestigious Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) seal from the American Meteorological Society. She remains a key part of the weather team, delivering forecasts and storm coverage to viewers in the Pittsburgh area.
Jill Szwed is active on social media. You can find her on platforms like Twitter and Facebook, where she shares weather updates, personal insights, and interacts with her audience.
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