About

John Dissauer is an award winning multi-media meteorologist who has spent over 23 years presenting science and technology information to the public.

He was most recently the Chief Meteorologist at KLKN-TV, the ABC affiliate in Lincoln, Nebraska.  While in Lincoln, he covered everything from record snow storms, wildfires, to thunderstorms producing 90+ mph winds and tornadoes including a day producing more than 20 tornadoes.

Viewers took notice.  Monday-Friday evening newscast ratings doubled in the two years John was on the air in Lincoln.

Prior to KLKN, John worked at the CBS4 and FOX59 duopoly in Indianapolis where he primarily anchored weather for CBS4 News at 6pm and 11pm on the weekends.  John also was the weekend meteorologist for WDCW-TV in Washington D.C., at the time the country's 6th largest television market.  While at CBS4, he earned multiple Emmy nominations including one for coverage of a December tornado in 2015.

John is originally from the Columbus, Indiana.  His love for weather started at an early age.  As a child he remembers staying up late into the night watching thunderstorms.

His interest in meteorology and media took him to Ball State University.  While at Ball State, he studied meteorology from one of the best severe weather and storm chase forecasters around, Dr. David Arnold.

He also spent time in the Telecommunications Department at BSU learning about the world of media.  While at Ball State, John took an active role in the on-campus student television, WCRH.  At WCRH, he did just about everything from being a weathercaster, general manager, broadcast director, sports producer, camera operator and at times field engineer.

John learned the art of forecasting from Chief Meteorologist Brian Wilkes at WXIN-TV in Indianapolis, Indiana during a two year weather internship, which turned in to an apprenticeship.

He worked for KFVS-TV, the CBS affiliate in the Cape Girardeau, Mo-Paducah, Ky-Harrisburg, Il television market, from 1999 to 2011.  At KFVS, John delivered the weather forecast on Heartland News at 5, Heartland News at 6, Heartland News at 9, Heartland News at 10 Saturday and Sunday and on Heartland News at Noon Monday-Wednesday.  He was also the the lead severe weather and winter storm forecaster.

John also served as the Director of Internet Development for the station.  He had oversight of the designing and implementation of new technologies on the station's website, mobile device applications and internet integration in to the newsroom.  In 2004, John designed and produced the first podcast for a television station and/or news organization on the internet.

John is a member of the National Weather Association and in 2003 was awarded the NWA Seal of Approval.

John has received several awards and citations from the Illinois Broadcasters Association, the Missouri Broadcasters Association and in 2001 he earned an Emmy for the weather special "Weathering the Storm".

John enjoys storm chasing, when he gets the chance.  He has spent several weeks chasing storms across the Great Plains with the Ball State University Storm Chase Team.  During the summer of 1999, John managed to "catch" six tornadoes over a three week period.

In 2004, KFVS sent him out to the Plains to produce a two-part series on storm chasing.  During the nine day trip he drove over 5,600 miles while driving through ten states.  To date, John has spent 32 days and 18,200 miles chasing storms through the Plains and the Midwest.

In 2005, he was asked to be a consultant for the public television documentary "Tornado Alley: Bach Home Again in Indiana" produced by Ball State University.  The documentary was seen on PBS television stations around the country and is also used for emergency management training.

John moved to the mountains in 2013 working for KOAA-TV, the NBC affiliate in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  While there, he covered historic wildfires, flash flooding, blizzards and tornadoes.


Certifications:

You can find John on these various media outlets.

Example of John's television work: