Jesse Hawila: WFAA, Education, Age, Height, Wife, Mother and Salary
Jesse Hawila – Biography and Wikipedia
Jesse Hawila is an American Meteorological Society Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) currently working as a weather forecaster for WFAA in Dallas, Texas. Over the years, his career has taken him through Lafayette, Indiana; Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Kansas City, Missouri—covering some of the country’s most intense and dramatic weather events.
Education: High School and College
After graduating from high school, Jesse pursued his passion for weather at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Meteorology.
Age and Birthday
Born on December 4, 1977, in Texas, Jesse Hawila is 46 years old as of 2025. He celebrates his birthday every year on December 4th.
Jesse Hawila Nationality and Ethnicity
Jesse is a proud American by birth and heritage. He was born and raised in Texas and is of White-American descent.
Height and Weight
Jesse stands at an average height of 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 meters) and weighs approximately 68 kilograms (150 lbs).
Family Background
Jesse was raised in Texas by his parents, the late Karen Hawila and Ali Hawila. His parents were married on July 25, 1985, in Houston, Texas. He also has a stepbrother, Michael Ray Wolfe, who was born in August 1973.
Mother: Karen Lee Hawila
Jesse’s beloved mother, Karen Lee Hawila, was born on February 12, 1956, to Francis (Polston) Pennycuff and Wendell “Ken” Pennycuff. She passed away on June 16, 2020, at the age of 64 in New Castle, Indiana, after a battle with chronic illness.
Jesse Hawila Marriage and Wife
Yes, Jesse Hawila is happily married. He tied the knot with Elisabeth Rentschler Hawila on October 8, 2016, in South Beloit, Illinois. The couple met while both were working in journalism—Elisabeth as a reporter at WLFI and later KCTV5 in Kansas City.
Today, Elisabeth works in real estate as part of the Meleese Hoss Group at Keller Williams Realty, Inc. in Dallas, Texas. She graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and is a proud member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority.
Is he Still Married?
Jesse is married to Elisabeth, with whom he celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary over three years ago.
The couple has two young children—a daughter and a son named Finn, born in mid‑2023.
Daughter
Jesse and Elisabeth are the proud parents of a daughter, Sloane Rylee, born on January 22, 2021.
Jesse Hawila WFAA and Meteorology Journey
He currently delivers weather forecasts across WFAA’s TV and digital platforms. His deep-rooted passion for meteorology began when he was just five years old. That childhood fascination turned into a lifelong mission: to understand and communicate the power of weather.
As a CBM-certified meteorologist, Jesse holds the highest distinction offered by the American Meteorological Society. He’s also a seasoned storm chaser, having tracked tornadoes, massive hailstorms, damaging winds, and even blizzards across the country. He’s experienced it all firsthand—logging thousands of miles to witness nature’s fury up close.
Before joining WFAA, Jesse worked in Lafayette and Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Kansas City, Missouri—covering tornadoes, ice storms, and snow events in every market.
Outside the Weather Studio
When he’s not chasing storms or forecasting the weather, Jesse is a passionate music enthusiast. His tastes span from death metal and progressive rock to blues, folk, indie, and classic country—anything with heart and honesty. He’s also a drummer and a big supporter of the local music scene.
A lover of stand-up comedy (with Bo Burnham being a favorite), Jesse also enjoys gaming—he’s a self-proclaimed Nintendo nerd. He and his wife share their home with two spoiled bulldog/boxer mix dogs. In his downtime, you’ll often find him fishing, biking, hiking, or enjoying a pot of coffee—daily
Weight Loss
Recent viewer feedback and Jesse’s noticeably trimmer appearance on-air suggests he’s undergone a successful weight loss—noted by online comments
Health
No credible reports suggest Jesse has faced serious health issues like kidney disease or diabetes. In fact, he recently appeared noticeably trim on-air, prompting viewers to comment:
“It looks like Jesse has lost weight! U looked great!”
Salary
As a meteorologist at WFAA in Dallas, Jesse earns an estimated annual salary of around $65,000.
Jesse Hawila Net Worth
Jesse Hawila has an estimated net worth of $1 million, accumulated through his long-standing career in broadcast meteorology.
