Frankie Katafias, KIRO 7 News

I’m Frankie Katafias, an award-winning journalist and weather anchor for KIRO 7, join me on KIRO 7 News every weekend at 5, 6, 7, and 11pm and KIRO 7 News during the week at 5, 6, and 7pm 7 Questions with Frankie: Where did you grow up? I was born in Vancouver, WA. Lived in Marysville and then Black Diamond before the age of seven before living the rest of my childhood and teenage years in Orange County, CA. Why do you love forecasting weather? As a kid I used to be absolutely terrified of natural disasters. Thanks to movies like "Twister" I always worried about whether my family and I would be "ready" for a major weather event. While I've always been curious about the "whys" behind certain weather phenomena, it wasn't until I hit the green screen for the very first time in Boise, Idaho that I caught the "weather bug". I began pursuing my degree in Meteorology and was eager to not only know "how" and "why" certain phenomena occur but also have the proper knowledge to help the communities I serve prepare for whatever the weather that day, month or season may bring. From telling you to bring a jacket to putting on your snow tires. Packing your winter driving kits to having a wildfire evacuation plan. Or simply reminding you to secure your holiday decor before a big wind advisory, I find joy in helping you prepare for the weather, so you don't have to worry about it. What cities have you worked in during your journalism career? I started my career working multiple freelance and part-time gigs in San Diego, Long Beach, and Orange County. Then moved to Boise, Idaho where I was hired as a multimedia journalist, finding my love for weather and forecasting. Four years later and I'm back home in Washington. What’s the most memorable story you’ve ever covered? Seattle's ice storm in 2022!! What are you most proud of in your career in news? The versatility of what I know and what I have done. From running teleprompters to shooting and editing my own news stories, to picking up weather forecasting. Saying "yes" to everything was scary. But it was worth it! What’s something people don’t know about you? I played DII tennis in college on a scholarship and... I'm a HUGE Britney Spears fan. I own every album and EP she's ever done on collector vinyl. What do you like to do when you’re not working? Cook, bake, and binge-watch trending reality TV shows or documentaries!