If you’ve turned on CBS New York lately, you might have noticed things felt a little... different for a while. One of the most energetic faces in local news, Lonnie Quinn, suddenly vanished from the evening forecast. No fanfare, no big retirement party. Just an empty space where a lot of hand-waving and weather enthusiasm usually lives. It sparked a wave of "what happened to Lonnie Quinn" searches from fans who’ve grown accustomed to his "Lonnie-isms" over the last two decades.
The truth is much more serious than a simple vacation or a contract dispute. In early 2025, Lonnie Quinn didn't just step away for a break; he was fighting a health battle that nearly took him out for good.
The "Wallop" That Changed Everything
It started with what seemed like a minor accident. Lonnie, being Lonnie, didn’t think much of it at first. He told viewers later that he simply "took a wallop" to his head in March 2025. We've all been there—you bang your head on a cabinet or a car door, see stars for a second, and keep moving. That's exactly what he did. He even went to the hospital right after it happened, but the initial CT scan came back negative. No brain bleed. No immediate danger.
He went back to work. He did the news. He lived his life.
But the human brain is a funny, fragile thing. A few days later, while preparing for the 11 p.m. newscast, the wheels fell off. Suddenly, Lonnie couldn't see out of his left eye. Imagine standing in a high-pressure newsroom, minutes before going live to millions of people, and half your world goes black.
Naturally, he tried to push through it. He actually did the newscast. But his news director at WCBS-TV saw right through the "consummate professional" act. She stepped in and told him point-blank: "You're not driving home. We’re getting you a car. You’re going to the hospital."
From Concussion to Traumatic Brain Injury
This second trip to the ER was the game-changer. While the first scan was clear, a follow-up MRI revealed the scary reality. It wasn't just a mild concussion. Doctors diagnosed Lonnie Quinn with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
The medical team was blunt. They told him he had to stop. Not just for a few days, but for a solid two months. He was ordered into a regimen of total rest and relaxation. For a guy who seems like he’s powered by a thousand espresso shots, being told to sit in a quiet room and sleep was probably the hardest forecast he's ever had to deliver.
"When you bang your head, your brain recovers nicely, but it only recovers while the body is sleeping." — Lonnie Quinn on his recovery process.
The Long Road Back to the Green Screen
Lonnie was off the air for about eight weeks. During that time, Rob Marciano—who many know from ABC—stepped in to fill the void at CBS New York. It was a weird time for viewers. You realize how much you miss a specific personality once they aren't there to tell you if you need an umbrella tomorrow.
Lonnie finally made his emotional return to the station on May 5, 2025. The video of him walking back into the newsroom is honestly pretty moving. His colleagues were cheering, someone was waving a giant foam finger, and there were a lot of hugs.
He didn't just jump back in and pretend nothing happened, though. He used his first broadcast back to educate people. He was incredibly transparent about the fact that he tried to "tough it out" and how dangerous that was. He admitted that the doctors told him he could have been "dead in the morning" if they hadn't caught the potential for a brain bleed or complications early on.
Where is Lonnie Quinn Now?
As of 2026, Lonnie Quinn is back in his rightful place as the Chief Weathercaster for CBS News New York. You can catch him at 5, 6, and 11 p.m. on weekdays. He’s also still a regular fixture on the CBS Evening News and CBS Saturday Morning.
He’s 61 now, but he hasn't lost that signature spark. If anything, the health scare seems to have given him a bit more perspective. He still lives in Connecticut with his wife, Sharon, and their kids, and he continues to be a massive advocate for the foster care system—a cause near to his heart because his parents were foster parents for years.
Lessons from Lonnie’s Health Scare
If there's one thing to take away from what happened to Lonnie Quinn, it's that "just a bump on the head" isn't always just a bump. Here is what we can learn from his experience:
- Symptoms can be delayed: You might feel fine right after an impact, but TBI symptoms can show up days or even weeks later.
- Vision is a red flag: Lonnie losing sight in one eye was the definitive sign that his brain was struggling. Never ignore sensory changes.
- Listen to the "News Directors" in your life: Sometimes we are too close to our own work to realize we're hurting. When a friend or spouse tells you that you look "off," listen to them.
- Sleep is the only medicine: Modern medicine is great, but for a TBI, the primary treatment is often just giving the brain the literal downtime it needs to knit itself back together.
Lonnie's story ended well because he eventually listened to the experts. He’s back to predicting snowstorms and heatwaves with the same theatrical flair as always, proving that even a "traumatic" setback doesn't have to be the end of the story.
If you or someone you know hits their head and starts experiencing headaches, light sensitivity, or vision issues, don't try to be a "professional" like Lonnie tried to be at first. Get an MRI, find a neurologist, and take the rest. Your "broadcast" can wait.
Next Steps for Your Health:
If you’ve recently suffered a head injury, monitor yourself for the "Quinn Symptoms"—specifically sudden vision changes or extreme fatigue. Consult a medical professional immediately if symptoms persist beyond 48 hours, even if an initial scan was negative. Recovering from a TBI requires cognitive rest, meaning no screens and no high-stress environments until cleared by a doctor.