Hi! I am FOX 2 News Meteorologist, Chris Higgins. Born and raised here in the St. Louis area, I have a lifetime of experience with our wild weather. I’ll never forget the bitter cold winters of the late ’70s, the “Blizzard of ’82”, the “Drought of ’88” or the “Great Flood of ’93”, nor the “New Year’s Eve Tornado,” nor the “Good Friday Tornado.” I’ve been here for them all!
My education is homegrown, too. I graduated from De Smet Jesuit High School in 1988. Then, in 1992, received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Meteorology from St. Louis University.
My career in television began here at FOX 2 as an intern in 1990. After my graduation from SLU in 1992, I moved into the heart of “Tornado Alley,” Joplin, Missouri, where I spent two exciting years as Chief Meteorologist at KODE-TV. In 1994, I moved back to St. Louis and FOX 2 as the weekend meteorologist and then moved to the lead forecaster for Fox 2 News at 11pm (Monday-Friday) in 2014. Now you can wake up with my forecasts Monday-Friday on Fox 2 News in the Morning!
In October 2002, I was honored to receive my first of eight Emmy awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Science for weather forecasting and reporting. In July of 2006, I became first ever St. Louis meteorologist to receive the American Meteorological Society’s Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) designation – passing a rigorous written test covering many aspects of atmospheric and natural sciences.
In June 2003, I realized a long-time dream when I was commissioned as an officer in the Air Force Reserves. During the summer of 2008 I deployed to the deserts of the Middle East in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’ve been honored as the United States Air Force Weather Officer of the Year for the Reserve Component two times. In 2013, while serving on the Storm Prediction Center backup team, I sent out the first real-world Tornado Watch ever issued by the United States Air Force! Finally, in 2019 I was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and I hope to retire as a “Light Colonel” in 2023.
Community involvement is important to me. So, every year I make dozens of public appearances at local schools talking about weather, the importance of staying in school and serving your community!
Despite my passion for weather, my most cherished blessing is my loving family who continue to support my “crazy weatherman” obligations and schedule every hour of every day!
When I’m not working, I enjoy being outdoors and trying to stay fit by hiking, running or just working outside in my yard. Keep an eye on the local trails, you may just catch me out for a run (or a walk) some afternoon.
