Eric Garlick Bio, Age, Wife Lauren, WBTV Charlotte Meteorologist Career, Net Worth & 2026 Update
Eric Garlick is an American broadcast meteorologist who has forecast weather across the Midwest, the Southeast and the Carolinas for more than a decade. He is currently a meteorologist on the WBTV First Alert Weather team in Charlotte, North Carolina, after serving as chief meteorologist at WGXA in Macon, Georgia. This biography covers his Michigan roots, his station stops, his family and his work in 2026.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Eric Garlick |
| Nick Name | Eric |
| Profession | Broadcast meteorologist |
| Birth Date | Private |
| Age | Private |
| Birth Place | Southeastern Michigan, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Known For | Meteorologist at WBTV Charlotte; former chief meteorologist at WGXA Macon |
| Ethnicity | Private |
| Zodiac Sign | Private |
| Height | Private |
| Weight | Private |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Qualification | BS in Meteorology, Central Michigan University (2011) |
| Religion | Private |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Lauren Garlick (m. 2018) |
| Relationships | Private |
| Children | Two: daughter Georgia and son Porter |
| Family Tree | Wife Lauren; children Georgia and Porter; grew up in southeastern Michigan |
| Hobbies | Golf, cooking, trying new restaurants, fitness |
| Current Work | Meteorologist, WBTV First Alert Weather, Charlotte, NC |
| Years Active | 2010–present |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
Related Names: Lauren Garlick, Ryan Stinnett, Jason Myers, Leigh Garofalow, Al Conklin, Ben Evans, Eric Chilton, Margaret Wright, Nick Nino, Mike McCloud.
Early Life & Education
Eric Garlick grew up in a small town in southeastern Michigan, where lake-effect snow and severe thunderstorms gave him an early fascination with weather. He has said the changing seasons of the Great Lakes region sparked his interest in meteorology as a child.
He graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in meteorology in May 2011, also completing a mathematics minor. The program meets American Meteorological Society requirements, and while there he produced campus weather forecasts and took part in the National Weather Challenge forecasting contest.
Central Michigan’s meteorology program emphasizes hands-on forecasting, and Garlick has said the experience taught him to trust the data even when a storm looks uncertain on a model. That habit — letting the atmosphere, not the hype, drive the forecast — carried with him to every station he has worked at, from small-market Evansville to Tornado Alley and now the Charlotte market.
Career Journey
Early Stops: Grand Rapids, Davenport and Evansville (2010–2018)
Garlick began in local television as a weather department intern at WXMI in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2010, then spent roughly two years with the Independent News Network in Davenport, Iowa, producing forecasts for stations in markets from Florida to Massachusetts. He landed his first on-air job at WFIE in Evansville, Indiana, where he worked as a weekend meteorologist and primary fill-in from 2013 to 2018, reporting live on breaking weather stories in the studio and in the field.
KOCO 5 Oklahoma City (2018–2021)
In March 2018 he moved to KOCO 5, the ABC affiliate in Oklahoma City, as a weekday and weekend meteorologist. Forecasting in Tornado Alley gave him extensive experience with severe thunderstorms and tornado coverage — some of the most demanding weather a broadcast meteorologist can face.
WGXA Macon: Chief Meteorologist (2021–2023)
Garlick joined WGXA-TV in Macon, Georgia — the ABC/FOX affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group — in August 2021 as chief meteorologist. He led weather coverage for Middle Georgia for nearly two years, including severe storm and tropical weather events, before leaving the station in May 2023.
Being chief meteorologist meant more than presenting the forecast. Garlick was responsible for the station’s overall weather strategy: deciding when to break into programming, how to word severe weather alerts, and how the weather team covered major events as a unit. He led coverage of Middle Georgia’s spring severe weather season and watched the tropics closely during hurricane season, knowing that storms making landfall on the Gulf Coast often bring heavy rain and spin-up tornadoes deep inland.
As chief meteorologist in Macon, Garlick oversaw weather coverage for a 30-plus-county region that sees everything from spring tornado outbreaks to summer heat waves and the occasional winter ice storm. Viewers relied on him for school closings, severe weather alerts and hurricane-tracking updates when Gulf storms pushed inland. Colleagues and viewers described his delivery as calm and direct — the tone you want when a tornado warning is on the screen.
WBTV Charlotte (2023–2026)
In May 2023, Garlick joined the WBTV weather team in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he contributes to the station’s First Alert Weather coverage. As of 2026 he remains an active member of the team, appearing on air and online with forecasts for the Charlotte region, including severe heat, winter storms and flooding events across the Carolinas.
WBTV’s First Alert Weather operation covers one of the fastest-growing regions in the Southeast, and Garlick’s role includes weekday forecasts, severe weather cut-ins and digital weather content for the station’s website and apps. In 2026 his on-air work included tracking dangerous heat advisories across the Carolinas, severe thunderstorm risk through the spring and summer, and winter storm coverage in January that brought snow and ice to parts of the Charlotte viewing area.
Charlotte weather can change quickly: cold air damming against the Appalachians can turn a rainy forecast into an ice storm, and Gulf moisture can send summer heat indexes well past 100 degrees. Garlick’s job is to translate those shifting patterns into clear, actionable advice for viewers — when to leave early, when to take shelter, and when it is safe to go about the day.
He has also spoken on air about the importance of having multiple ways to receive warnings — a weather radio, phone alerts and local TV — especially during overnight severe weather events when many people are asleep. That public-safety emphasis is standard for broadcast meteorologists, but it is the part of the job Garlick treats as most important.
Charlotte weather can change quickly: cold air damming against the Appalachians can turn a rainy forecast into an ice storm, and Gulf moisture can send summer heat indexes well past 100 degrees. Garlick’s job is to translate those shifting patterns into clear, actionable advice for viewers — when to leave early, when to take shelter, and when it is safe to go about the day.
Career Stats
- Weather intern, WXMI Grand Rapids (2010)
- Meteorologist, Independent News Network, Davenport, Iowa (2011–2013)
- Weekend meteorologist, WFIE Evansville (2013–2018)
- Weekday/weekend meteorologist, KOCO 5 Oklahoma City (2018–2021)
- Chief meteorologist, WGXA Macon, Georgia (August 2021–May 2023)
- Meteorologist, WBTV Charlotte (May 2023–present)
- AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal holder
Personal Life
- Wife: Lauren Garlick, married in 2018.
- Children: Daughter Georgia and son Porter.
- Home base: Charlotte, North Carolina.
- Interests: Golf, cooking, exploring restaurants, working out.
Dating History and Affairs
Garlick has been married to Lauren since 2018, and they have two children together. No previous relationships have been publicly documented, and he keeps his family life out of his on-air presence beyond the occasional off-hand mention.
Outside the station, Garlick’s social media shows a typical family man’s interests: weekends on the golf course, meals at Charlotte-area restaurants, and time at home with Lauren, Georgia and Porter. He has described golf as a way to unwind after a week of watching storms, and he has said he enjoys working out to stay fit for early morning shifts.
On social media, Garlick posts radar loops, severe weather outlooks and reminders to check the forecast before heading out — the same practical, safety-first approach he brings to the WBTV newscasts. He has said the best compliment a meteorologist can get is a viewer telling them the forecast helped keep their family safe.
Controversies
None through 2026. Garlick has no public controversies or disciplinary actions on his record. Like every forecaster, he has issued predictions that did not pan out, but he is regarded as a straightforward, credentialed meteorologist.
Awards & Achievements
- AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal
- Chief meteorologist at WGXA Macon (2021–2023)
- Member of WBTV First Alert Weather team in Charlotte (2023–present)
Physical Statistics
- Height: Private
- Weight: Private
- Hair Color: Brown
- Eye Color: Brown
- Build: Average
Quotes
No verified direct quotations from Eric Garlick are available in public sources, so this biography does not invent any. His public statements appear through his weather forecasts and station coverage.
Favorites
- Activity: Golf and working out
- Food: Trying new Charlotte-area restaurants
- Weather: Severe weather and winter storms
Earnings
Eric Garlick’s salary and net worth are not publicly disclosed. WBTV and its parent company do not publish individual contracts, and any dollar figure attached to his name online is an estimate rather than a verified record.
Garlick’s approach to forecasting is straightforward: show the data, explain what it means, and tell viewers when to act. In an era of weather apps and automated alerts, he has said the human element still matters — a meteorologist who knows the local terrain, knows when a model is overdoing it, and can tell a grandmother in Lincolnton or a farmer in York County what the storm actually means for her.A mid-market television meteorologist’s income typically comes from a station salary plus occasional appearances, but specifics vary widely by market size, experience and contract terms. Charlotte is the largest market Garlick has worked in, and his more than a decade of experience — including chief meteorologist duties — puts him in an experienced bracket, but without a published contract any net worth figure is pure guesswork.
A mid-market television meteorologist’s income typically comes from a station salary plus occasional appearances, but specifics vary widely by market size, experience and contract terms. Charlotte is the largest market Garlick has worked in, and his more than a decade of experience — including chief meteorologist duties — puts him in an experienced bracket, but without a published contract any net worth figure is pure guesswork.
Interesting Facts
- He grew up in southeastern Michigan and was drawn to weather by lake-effect snow.
- He forecast in Tornado Alley during his years at KOCO 5 in Oklahoma City.
- He was chief meteorologist at WGXA Macon for nearly two years.
- He and Lauren were married in 2018 and have two children, Georgia and Porter.
Did You Know Already?
- He left WGXA in May 2023 to join WBTV Charlotte.
- He holds the AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal.
- His daughter is named Georgia, after the state where he previously worked.
Social Media Links
- X (Twitter): @EricGarlickwx
- Facebook: Eric Garlick Wx
- Station: WBTV Charlotte
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Eric Garlick?
He is an American broadcast meteorologist currently working for WBTV in Charlotte, North Carolina.
How old is Eric Garlick?
His birth date has not been made public, so his age is listed as private.
Where did Eric Garlick work before WBTV?
He was chief meteorologist at WGXA in Macon, Georgia (2021–2023), and previously worked at KOCO 5 in Oklahoma City and WFIE in Evansville, Indiana.
Is Eric Garlick married?
Yes. He married Lauren in 2018.
Does Eric Garlick have children?
Yes. He and Lauren have two children: a daughter named Georgia and a son named Porter.
What is Eric Garlick’s net worth?
It is not publicly disclosed, and no verified figure exists.
Is Eric Garlick still at WGXA?
No. He left WGXA Macon in May 2023 and is now a meteorologist at WBTV in Charlotte, North Carolina.
What certification does Eric Garlick hold?
He holds the American Meteorological Society’s Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal, the highest certification awarded to broadcast meteorologists.
Does Eric Garlick have social media?
Yes. He posts weather updates on X (Twitter) as @EricGarlickwx and on Facebook as Eric Garlick Wx.
Why did Eric Garlick leave WGXA?
Neither Garlick nor the station has publicly explained the move. He joined WBTV Charlotte in May 2023 and has remained there through 2026.
Conclusion
Eric Garlick has spent more than a decade forecasting weather from Indiana and Oklahoma to Georgia and the Carolinas, building a reputation as a credentialed, no-nonsense meteorologist. Now at WBTV Charlotte, he continues to help viewers navigate everything from summer heat waves to winter storms. If you found this biography helpful, please share it with fellow weather and Charlotte news fans!
