As a born and raised Floridian, Lauren loves calling Jacksonville home and everything the First Coast has to offer.
She joined the First Coast News team in August of 2016 and is currently the weekday morning meteorologist on Good Morning Jacksonville.
Lauren started forecasting for her Alma Mater, the University of Florida, in Gainesville. Work then took her briefly to Wilmington, North Carolina before she returned to her home state to work at First Coast News. She's been able to track everything from hurricanes to tornadoes to snow and ice. Her passion for weather and broadcast stems from a young age, along with her love for the outdoors and connecting with people.
Lauren has earned her NWA Seal of Approval and holds a Master of Science degree in Applied Meteorology from Mississippi State University. She is a proud alumna of the University of Florida where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications News with a concentration in Meteorology, plus minors in Geography and Communications Studies.
She has a YouTube channel where she uploads science and weather videos, education people on topics such as Hurricane Season, Wind Shear, and more.
When Lauren doesn't have her meteorologist hat on, she's proudly sporting her mom hat. Lauren and her husband welcomed a baby girl to their crew in December of 2020. Her time off is filled with lots of baby snuggles, family boat rides, and trips to the beach with the "fur children" as she calls her two dogs, Maya and Kane. Oh, and she has a rescue kitty, too!
If you ever see her out and about, please say hello! You can email Lauren at lrautenkranz@firstcoastnews.com.