Kathy Sabine is a mom, wife, meteorologist, journalist and long-time Parker resident.
While several people have watched her on 9News for the last 33 years, many don’t know that she developed a love for journalism and weather by chance.
Kathy was the first person in her family to go to college. She started out studying veterinary science at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo before switching to journalism.
Her first journalism job was in production, where she ran the camera and teleprompter for an NBC affiliate in San Luis Obispo. Kathy befriended the station’s meteorologist, Sharon Graves, who encouraged her to audition for the weekend weather position. Sharon taught Kathy about meteorology, and Kathy taught Sharon to ride horses.
Kathy has gone from a weekend weather reporter in California to one of the first female chief meteorologists in the Western U.S.
“I love teaching people about the weather,” she says. “Talking about the weather is one thing that really connects all of us. No matter where I go every single day for the past 33 years, someone will come up to me and want to talk about the weather and their experience with the weather or their child who’s afraid of the weather.”
Outside of work, Kathy can be found horseback riding (she has three horses), hiking, skiing and going to the gym. She loves living in Parker because it reminds her of her hometown near Lake Tahoe, California.
“It’s like a one-horse town. You can go into any of the restaurants or bars and everybody knows everybody,” Kathy says of Parker. “It is such a great community to raise a family in and to feel like you’re a part of something. And these people have horses. These are my people…I feel comfortable here. Parker feels like my home.”
Skin cancer journey
Kathy is also a skin cancer advocate and educator, often posting on social media about her skin cancer experience.
In 2022, she was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, two of the most common types of skin cancer. She had two surgeries to remove the cancer from her nose and forehead.
“Once you are diagnosed with skin cancer, it becomes part of your life,” she says. “...But if people go to their dermatologist and they find it early, it is treatable.”
Kathy goes to the dermatologist every three to six months. Earlier this year, she had another cell removed from her shoulder.
Sharing her experience on social media has allowed her to connect with more people, too. “Every day, someone will come up to me and say something about their journey or experience, or that they got checked because they say my story,” Kathy states.
Kathy says it’s important to educate everyone about skin cancer and prevention because not taking care of one’s skin at a young age can lead to skin cancer appearing later in life.
“Skin cancer in Colorado is an epidemic, and if you get checked, you can be vigilant about your own health,” Kathy says. “It’s equally important to put sunscreen on yourself and your kids and to wear hats.”