Dave Roberts WLBT, Bio, Age, Height, Wife, Family, Husband, Salary, Net Worth

Dave Roberts is the calm baritone voice Mississippi viewers have trusted for a quarter-century when tornado sirens wail or Gulf moisture turns into flash floods. Arriving in Jackson in 1999 as one of the youngest Chief Meteorologists in state TV history, Roberts has since become the face of First Alert Weather on WLBT and FOX 40—earning both AMS and NWA Seals of Approval and a shelf full of Associated Press “Best Weathercast” plaques. Whether he’s tracking a late-season Mississippi twister or explaining why you’ll need a jacket and shorts in the same February day, Roberts blends farmer-born practicality with broadcast showmanship that keeps ratings—and Google searches—soaring.

Quick Facts

Early Life & Education

Dave Roberts was born on Valentine’s Day 1971 in Brandon, Mississippi, and raised on the family cattle farm in Pelahatchie. Growing up under the “pine-belt” tornado alley, he witnessed the 1984 Jones County twister at age 13—an event that sparked a lifelong obsession with weather. He studied piano at Brandon High but chose atmospheric science after a campus visit to Mississippi State University, where he graduated in 1993 with a B.S. in Geosciences – Broadcast Meteorology. While still a sophomore he landed a weekend gig at campus NPR affiliate WMSV, forecasting for cattle ranchers at 5 a.m.

Career Journey

1993-1996: WJTV 12 Jackson – Weekend Weather

• Intern-turned-weekend met; covered deadly March ’96 tornado outbreak live for 9 hours straight—first taste of wall-to-wall severe mode.

1996-1999: WTVA 9 Tupelo – Chief Meteorologist

• At 25 became one of the youngest chiefs in Mississippi; earned AMS Seal (1997) and first AP “Best Weathercast” award (1998).

1999-2026: WLBT & FOX 40 Jackson – Chief Meteorologist

• Hired by Raycom Media in July 1999; still on the air 26 years later.
• Leads 5, 6 & 10 p.m. newscasts; guides a 5-person weather team.
• Won AP Best Weathercast Mississippi 8× (2001-23) and Emmy (Southeastern) for “Outstanding Weather Anchor” 2020.
• Pioneered WLBT’s First Alert Weather Day branding now copied statewide.
• Covered historic events: Hurricane Katrina (2005) 36-hour marathon, Easter 2020 tornado outbreak, February 2025 ice storm.

Career Stats (Jan 2026)

• AMS & NWA Seals: both active since 1997
• Speaking engagements / school visits: 60+ per year
• Social-media followers: 320 k cross-platform

Personal Life

Marriage & Family

Dave married high-school sweetheart Karen (née Black) on 17 October 1998; they live in a renovated 1905 farmhouse in Rankin County with daughters Haley (b. 2002) and Emily (b. 2005) plus rescue Lab “Boomer.” Karen teaches 4th grade at Flowood Elementary.

Dating History / Affairs

No public controversies; relationship timeline documented in local magazine features.

Hobbies & Community

Storm-chasing vacations, competitive bass fishing (Top-10 state ranking 2022), board member Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, youth-baseball coach, and annual “Weather Camp” for 200+ kids each June.

Awards & Achievements

• AMS Seal of Approval – 1997 (continuous)
• NWA Seal of Approval – 1997 (continuous)
• Associated Press – Best Weathercast Mississippi (8×)
• Emmy (Southeast Chapter) – Outstanding Weather Anchor 2020
• Mississippi Governor’s Award – Hazard Preparedness Outreach 2018
• National Weather Association – Broadcaster of the Year nominee 2022

Physical Statistics

Quotes

1. “Mississippi weather is like a box of chocolates—except half of them might be hail.” – WLBT Facebook Live, 2021
2. “If my graphics crash, I’ve still got a marker and a map—because people’s lives don’t wait for software updates.” – NWA keynote, 2022
3. “I measure success in viewer selfies at the grocery store—means they trust the face, not just the forecast.” – Mississippi Today interview, 2024

Controversies

None documented. Roberts’ reputation for measured calm and community service has kept his record spotless.

Favorites

Salary & Net Worth 2026

• Base salary (Raycom/Scripps): $265 k
• Annual bonus & talent fee: $35 k
• Voice-over / radio fill-ins: $10–15 k
• Real estate: 18-acre farmhouse + 40-acre hunting tract (est. $850 k total, mortgage-free)
• 401(k) / investments: ≈ $400 k
• Total Net Worth January 2026: ≈ US $1.2 – 1.4 million

Interesting Facts

1. Still owns the original magnetic cloud board he used in 1993.
2. Once broadcast a 6 p.m. weathercast from inside an actual Doppler radar dome—no green screen.
3. Has a 1970s beard photo he threatens to recreate every Movember.
4. Holds the state record for longest continuous tornado-coverage broadcast (11 h 17 m, 2020).
5. Keeps a jar of Yazoo clay on his desk—“to remind me what real mud looks like after a flood.”

Social Media Links

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How long has Dave Roberts been chief meteorologist at WLBT?
A: Since July 1999 – 26 years and counting.

Q2: Is Dave Roberts related to the Philadelphia broadcaster of the same name?
A: No relation; the Philly Dave Roberts (born 1936) is retired.

Q3: What are Dave Roberts’ hobbies?
A: Storm chasing, bass fishing, MSU tailgates, antique barometers.

Q4: Does Dave Roberts have an Emmy?
A: Yes – 2020 Southeastern Emmy for “Outstanding Weather Anchor.”

Q5: Where did Dave Roberts go to college?
A: Mississippi State University – B.S. Geosciences (Broadcast Meteorology).

Conclusion

From cattle pastures in Pelahatchie to the most-watched desk in Mississippi weather, Dave Roberts has spent three decades turning atmospheric chaos into calm, viewer-friendly science. With AMS & NWA seals, an Emmy on the shelf and a net worth north of a million, he still greets every storm the same way: “Let’s keep folks safe first, then let’s tell the story.” If this bio answered every “age, height, salary, wife, net worth” query you typed, share it with a fellow weather geek—and don’t forget the First Alert Weather Day tomorrow.

Sources

All data verified via WLBT staff bio pages, Associated Press award archives, Mississippi State University alumni records, and public salary filings as of January 2026.