WTVO's chief meteorologist doesn't forecast leaving the Rockford area anytime soon
Candice King developed an interest in studying the weather while growing up on a dairy farm in the tiny Stephenson County village of Ridott.
However, King, the chief meteorologist at WTVO/FOX 39, had other career plans until she was mesmerized by an epic disaster movie.
“Honestly, I wanted to be a nurse,” King said. “My mom was a nurse and my grandmother was a nurse, so I just thought nursing was a good career path. But when I was in junior high, the movie ‘Twister’ came out and that was it for me. I saw that movie and thought that’s what I want to pursue.”
After graduating from Freeport High School, King earned her Associates of Science Degree at Highland Community College in 2002, and her Bachelor of Science Degree in Meteorology from Northern Illinois University in 2004.
She also was an intern for the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities between her junior and senior years at NIU.
While her passion for the weather was evident, King was not comfortable in front of people or a tv camera.
“I was a very shy kid and I hated public speaking,” King said. “I got so nervous getting up in front of people. Believe it or not, there are some aspects of my adult life where I am still shy.”
After graduating college, King interned at 13 WREX, where she grew more confident while honing her craft.
She was hired by WREX in 2005 and joined WTVO/FOX 39 four years later. These days, King is firmly entrenched as chief meteorologist for what WTVO calls its “First Warn Weather Team.”
King said despite her title as chief, it's a collaborative effort.
"Honestly, to me, that chief role is just a title because I look at me, (and fellow meteorologists) Joey (Marino), Savanna (Brito) and Jordan (Wolfe) as being equals. We all rely on each other. We discuss the forecast. I never put anyone above anyone else. We’re all equals and we’re all in it together.”
While King wants to downplay her position as the chief, it's certainly not common. According to Zippia, only 13 percent of chief meteorologists across the country are female. King is the only female chief meteorologist in the Rockford area.
More than just a forecast
King said her job is not only to deliver a forecast but to inform her viewers about the various factors that contribute to changing weather patterns.
Her role takes on heightened importance in the event of pending storms.
“You have to have a sense of calm when you’re talking about severe weather and giving that information,” King said. “I think people have a little more respect for the meteorologist who says ‘This is what I know and this is what I don’t know right now.’”
More:WTVO/Fox 39 morning anchor Elliot Grandia to leave Rockford
In the aftermath of the deadly tornado that devastated Fairdale, Illinois in April 2015, King worked with the DeKalb County Long Term Recovery Team to purchase and distribute hundreds of First Alert NOAA radios to Fairdale residents.
Home life
When she's not studying weather models or putting together forecasts, King is focused on family time.
She has been married for 17 years to her high school sweetheart, Tim King, who is a partner at an Elgin accounting firm.
The couple has three daughters ages 15, 8 and 6.
“The last couple of years have been harder,” King said. “It was easy to work a little more when you have one kid, but when you add a couple more to the mix, it becomes a little more challenging. Working an opposite shift from your significant other adds another element to it. There’s a balance I think you can find with that and I’ve been very fortunate to have support from my co-workers.”
Not going anywhere
King's co-workers include veteran news anchors Eric Wilson, Mimi Murphy and Whitney Martin and longtime sports director Scott Leber.
"Candice is amazing at what she does — both the science and presenting the message to viewers," Wilson said in a text message. "She's passionate about the weather, but maybe more importantly, she really cares about sharing weather information with the community. That can be something as simple as what the kids should wear before heading to school in the morning, or if there's severe weather on the way that could threaten your family."
While Rockford is often considered a steppingstone for journalists and meteorologists to move to large television markets, King is content to remain in the Stateline and continue to inform her viewers about the often-volatile weather in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.
“This market isn’t the biggest market, but I don’t want to move to any other one,” she said. “This is where I grew up and this is where I want to stay for as long as they’ll have me.”
Ken DeCoster covers business news and features. Contact him at 815-987-1391, kdecoster@rrstar.com or @DeCosterKen.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: WTVO meteorologist Candice King cherishes Rockford area roots
