Lea Zmurko
Storm Track Meteorologist, Good Morning Northland
Lea Zmurko joined the WDIO weather staff in June 2024 after graduating from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology and Atmospheric Science. At college she worked taking weather observations and recording data for the local National Weather Service station. Lea had plenty of opportunities at Penn State to deliver on-air forecasting from the Campus Weather Service, the Meteorology department’s show “Weather World” and the Communications department’s program “Centre County Report.”
Born in Detroit, but having grown up in Vermont, Lea spent winters on ski mountains and enjoying snowy days. Snow was what peaked her interest in weather as she saw how reliant her community was on winter tourism. If you ask her about her favorite place to ski, her answer will be Pico Mountain in Vermont. “Nothing will ever beat the home mountain you grew up on!” she said. She looks forward to exploring Minnesota resorts and carving some turns here at the local hills.
Lea was involved with the Penn State Club Ski Team and has spent the last 16 years involved with alpine racing as both a competitor and a coach. Her collegiate team qualified for Nationals each year, and she made some of her best memories being a part of those journeys.
She enjoys the outdoors in all seasons including mud season and the season of the sticks! On the days where indoor activities are in order Lea loves a good movie, cooking and card games with friends. As for sports teams, you will always catch her cheering on those Nittany Lions!
Lea is very excited for life by the lake here as she spent her summers growing up in the Adirondack Mountains on Schroon Lake, NY with her family. “Lake life is not new to me, but this is the next level!”
If you have story ideas for Lea, or suggestions on how to pronounce some of the trickier Minnesota town names you can email her at lea.zmurko@wdio.com.
Follow Lea on Facebook and Twitter!