Darren Maier

Darren has been WEAU’s chief meteorologist since March of 2011. He previously was the chief meteorologist at the NBC affiliate in Lima, Ohio and has over 20 years of broadcast experience with more than 25 years as a professional meteorologist. He was born and raised in New Britain, Connecticut (the home of Stanley Tools!), having lived much of his life in New England. A career change into broadcast meteorology prompted the move west and now he considers the Chippewa Valley home.

His passion for weather came at a fairly young age with some of the extreme weather events New England can bring, from nor’easters to hurricanes and it drove him to pursue a career in meteorology. He received his BS in atmospheric science from Central Connecticut State University and earned a certification in broadcasting from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. In 2009 he earned the prestigious CBM certification (#363) from the American Meteorological Society which recognizes professional broadcast meteorologists for their technical competence and ability to provide informational and explanatory value in their weather forecasts. In 2018 & 2019 he won the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association award for best weathercast in small market television.

While in Wisconsin he has covered the state’s longest track tornado on record, which was classified as an EF-3 when it tore through Barron County in May of 2017, and the EF-3 Wheaton tornado in September of 2019. He also got us through the record breaking winter of 2018-2019 which brought the all-time snowiest month (February) and season on record!

Even when Darren isn’t working he still has a habit of checking out the sky, day or night, as he also enjoys astronomy. When the weather is nice, his hobbies take him outdoors for photography, gardening, tennis and bike riding. He also has quite a video game collection for those inside days.

Darren has two children who have grown up in the Eau Claire school system and is also a fur-dad to a trio of very cute Shiba-Inus.