2026: Lifetime Achievement
Paul Huttner began his career in operational forecasting at Chicago’s weather command in 1986, delivering specialized forecasts to radio stations, energy companies and city operations.
In 1998, he started in TV meteorology with WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, where he was the sole anchor for the famed Halloween blizzard of 1991. In 1994, WGN-TV in Chicago hired Paul as the first meteorologist for the launch of WGN Morning News. He also led a weather team of four as chief meteorologist for KGUN-TV, the ABC affiliate in Tucson, Arizona, from 1997-2005.
In 2007, Paul was tapped by MPR News as its first chief meteorologist. For nearly two decades, he has been the voice behind critical weather and climate information for Minnesotans across the state.
He launched daily weather chats on MPR News’ 40-plus station network, created the popular Updraft blog with a focus on the “whys” of weather and climate, and launched Climate Cast — a radio and podcast series featuring the latest climate change research and implications. Climate Cast has won multiple journalism awards over its 13 years on the air.