Meet the WCCO NEXT Weather team

Director of Meteorology Mike Augustyniak was drawn to Minnesota by a love of active weather, and the opportunity to forecast for some of the most weather-savvy television viewers in the country.

Since joining the WCCO team in 2008, his forecasts have helped you prepare for several of the snowiest and coldest winters on record, the largest single-day tornado outbreak in Minnesota history, the launch of a fleet of next-generation weather satellites, how climate change is impacting Minnesotans, and all of the small-but-important moments between.

In addition to watching him on WCCO, you may have also seen Mike appear nationally on shows like the Ellen DeGeneres Show, CBS Sunday Morning (where he serves as the show's meteorologist), and many other CBS News outlets. His work has been recognized with multiple Emmy Awards for broadcast excellence.

Mike's interest in weather began at an early age.

"I think my curiosity about the weather was fueled by the fact that, as a little guy, I was absolutely petrified of thunderstorms!"

In time (and with the help of a book called "Hippo Thunder"), Mike outgrew his fear, deciding in eighth grade that he wanted to study meteorology in college.

"The answers I gave on a 40-question 'interest survey' were fed into a computer, and the computer returned several careers that I might enjoy," Mike explained. "'Meteorologist' was one of the jobs the computer returned, and right then I knew it was the job for me."

In college, Mike studied meteorology under several of the world's leading research scientists at the University at Albany. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Atmospheric Science, is an AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist, one of only 250AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologists in the world, and is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

In May of 2008, Mike received his Master of Science degree in Atmospheric Science, also from the University at Albany. Findings from his master's thesis — original research on a local terrain effect called Mohawk-Hudson Convergence — is currently in use to help meteorologists make more accurate forecasts around the region.

Today he continues to support lifelong learning, science, and scientists by serving as the Commissioner on Professional Affairs for the American Meteorological Society and it's 12,000 members. He is active in local and national non-profit organizations such as Be The Match, Twin Cities Pride, Twin Cities United Way, and more.

In his free time, Mike stays active by going to the gym, biking, mixing cocktails, and playing with his Boston Terrier named Lola. He and his husband also enjoy traveling, both around the U.S. and around the world.

Joseph Dames joined the WCCO team during the winter of 2022. He is currently the weekend morning meteorologist. You can also catch him putting together weather, science, and other environmental stories during the week.

Born and raised in Illinois, just outside of Chicago, Joseph grew up in the small community of Plainfield. Plainfield is notorious for the 1990 F5 tornado, which started Joseph's interest in weather. Joseph stayed in the state of Illinois for his education and attended Eastern Illinois University with a concentration in broadcast meteorology.

Joseph spent seven years covering wildfires, ice storms, and atmospheric rivers in Portland, Oregon. As a fan of snow, he is excited to trade those in for winter forecasting.

You better believe he has a love for Chicago sports and, of course, that deep dish pizza. In his down time, Joseph spends his days and nights hitting the outdoors, enjoying live music, and trying all the different restaurants around the area.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, weather has been a passion for Adam for as long as he can remember! Whether it was thunderstorms or winter storms, Adam has always been geeking out. After earning his meteorology degree from Penn State, he made his way to the Ohio Valley to forecast for WTOV. 

From there, he went to WAND to cover the elements in Central Illinois. One of his most memorable days was rushing from a Christmas parade to the studio to help cover Illinois' largest December tornado outbreak when an EF-3 tore through Taylorville, IL. 

Most recently, he was the host of AccuWeather Prime for the AccuWeather Network covering storms coast to coast and interviewing notable guests like Neil DeGrasse Tyson & NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins.

In his free time, you can usually find Adam on the tennis or volleyball courts, at a concert or out exploring local restaurants and breweries. You may even see him at your local airport since he recently earned his private pilot's certificate. Wherever you see him, be sure to say hi!

Lisa has been fascinated by the weather all her life. She grew up watching Midwest thunderstorms in her hometown in northwest Indiana. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology with a minor in mathematics from Valparaiso University. She also obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, and has the American Meteorological Society Certified Broadcast Meteorologist designation, as well as a NWA Seal of Approval from the National Weather Association.

While at Valparaiso, she was the founding Chief Meteorologist for their college TV station VUTV, President of the Northwest Indiana American Meteorological Society/National Weather Association, and active member of the Valparaiso University Storm Intercept Team (VUSIT). Part of her involvement with the storm chase team included a 10-day convective field study in which she chased storms across the plains traveling 5,626 miles through seven states seeing her first tornado!

Before making it back to the Midwest, Lisa previously worked for CBS affiliates in Sacramento, West Texas and Central Illinois.

Chris Shaffer was raised in Stillwater, Minnesota and left our great state for four years to attend the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, where he earned degrees in Meteorology and Mass Communications.

Chris is an Emmy award-winning meteorologist and a proud member of the American Meteorological Society. He has been awarded the AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) designation. You may have seen him over the years doing the weather on television at KMSP FOX9 and WFTC/UPN 29. You may have also heard him back in his radio days on KOOL108, BOB100 (as Blaze Bodean), 104.1 The Point (as Cheeks), Cities 97, K102 (as Jack Wilde and himself) or KTLK.

It is no wonder why Chris is so passionate about Minnesota weather. His great uncle Wilbur was struck and killed by lightning while farming in southern Minnesota in the summer of 1952.

His family vehicle was once chased by a tornado near Maplewood, Minn. and one December on the way to Grandma and Grandpa's house, his family spent the night snowed in at a church in Winthrop, Minn., praying the blizzard would let up so they could get to Redwood Falls and open their presents the next morning.

Chris and his wife have family members all around the Twin Cities. And it's natural to forecast for the entire region with family in Pipestone, St. Cloud, Willmar, Sartell and Blooming Prairie just to name a few.

Chris loves the weather because it is always changing and is a constant challenge, much like raising his three daughters, who are as loud as a thunderstorm, pretty as a sunset and strong as a straight-line wind.

And who can forget the family pets? They've had guinea pigs, a hermit crab, a turtle, a salamander, a frog and several fish. They currently have two goldfish and their awesome Boston Terrier, Bailey.

Katie Steiner loves everything about her home state of Minnesota, and considers forecasting for Minnesota and Western Wisconsin such a privilege. Katie joined the WCCO team in the fall of 2018 and has loved every moment since.

Prior to coming home, Katie worked at the CBS affiliate in New Orleans, LA where she covered hurricanes, tropical storms, massive flash flooding events, and even a rare snowfall. She has also worked in Spokane, WA and Columbia, MO.  

Katie is passionate about Minnesota weather, and received her certificate in Meteorology from Mississippi State University.  

Katie's roots in Minnesota run deep, and she grew up surrounded by veterans. Her grandpa was an Army Reserve General based at Fort Snelling, her dad was a Navy pilot, and her uncle was an Air Force navigator. They made such an impact, her little sister was a Navy nurse, her little brother is a Navy jet pilot, and two of her cousins are in the Air Force and Marine Corps respectively. You can say the 4th of July is a pretty special day in the Steiner family.  

Katie, her husband, and children are active in the Twin Cities community. They love to be outside: skiing at the cabin, tennis in the summer, cross country skiing in the winter just to name a few. You will most likely find Katie and the kids watching local sports at night…Katie's daughter is obsessed! Her family is also very involved in their local church, where Katie sings regularly at mass.