Meteorologist Craig Allen is one of the most authoritative weather sources in the New York tri-state area. Craig’s reports are accurate and authoritative, his manner warm and friendly. Craig earned his meteorology degree from the Earth and Space Sciences Department at Stony Brook University in May 1979 and became chief meteorologist for WCBS 880 in the spring of 1981.
At age 12, Craig lugged a chalkboard to the kitchen table each night and pretended to be a TV weatherman, delivering a forecast to his family while they ate dinner. Today, listeners hear his radio reports on 880, “every 10 minutes on the 8’s” each weekday morning from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and evenings from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. “It is the perfect occupation for someone who loves to watch the forces of nature,” Craig says.
Craig prepares his own forecasts. He scans the tremendous (sometimes overwhelming) amount of atmospheric data and ponders all the possibilities before typing out a forecast which so many people will rely upon. “If there is severe weather, I’ll try not be overly grim but I’ll make sure to get the sense of urgency across to the listeners and viewers,” he says. Your safety always comes first!
Here are some of Craig’s accomplishments over the years:
> Meteorologist for WCBS880 since 1981. It is estimated in his 40+ years, he has given over 350,000 weather forecasts!
> On TV since 1991, part time on CBS2, FOX5 and PIX11 and News12. Was the national meteorologist on CBS This Morning from 1996-1999.
> Member of American Meteorological Society. Radio Seal of Approval since 1985; TV Seal of Approval since 1991
> FOLIO Award for the Blizzard of 2013 and team FOLIO award for Tropical Storm Isaias coverage in 2020 and Ida in 2021.
> 2012 NY Emmy Award with PIX11 for “Sandy: The Making of a Superstorm”
> Emmy nominee, News12, LI Tornadoes. 2021
> New York AP Award for Best WeatherCaster in 2016, 2018 & 2021
> Press Club of Long Island. 1st place, 2021
> 2017 Marconi Award winner with WCBS-AM/880 for Legendary Station of the Year
> Speaker at many schools, seminars and conferences (including AMS) concerning weather and safety
> Member of New York Press Club and A.F.T.R.A. Honored with many civic awards.
> Volunteer voiceover and video work for Autism Speaks, Island Harvest, and huge advocate for animals.
What does Craig do in his limited free time?
I cherish it! Sitting outdoors, watching the weather with my family and you’ll almost always find me out there doing all gardening and landscaping around my home. In fact, I’m a member of the South Merrick Civic Association and have adopted several plots of land to garden and beautify the community. In winter, I’m out there with the snow blower, going up and down the block to help neighbors. It’s just who I am! But when warm and dry indoors, I’m a big New York Islanders fan and owner/lover of many different pets.