Katie Horner is an American television meteorologist who serves on the First Alert Weather Team at KMBC 9 News in Kansas City. She is widely recognised for spending nearly two decades as the chief meteorologist at KCTV5 before her career took her to St. Louis and Topeka. Beyond broadcasting, Katie is an author, a public-affairs strategist, and a long-time fixture in Kansas City weather coverage.
Katie Horner Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Catherine Florence Stockdale Horner |
| Nickname | Katie Horner |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 26 May 1973 (reported) |
| Age | 52 years old (as of May 2026) |
| Place of birth | St. Louis, Missouri, United States |
| Current residence | Kansas City, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Zodiac sign | Gemini |
| Religion | Christian |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) approximately |
| Weight | Around 128 lbs (58 kg) |
| Hair colour | Blonde |
| Eye colour | Blue |
| Marital status | Married |
| Spouse | Alan Kovar (architect) |
| Children | 4 daughters — Chelsea, Hannah, Anna, Ava |
| Pets | Two black labs — Harry and Stella |
| Profession | Meteorologist, author, public-affairs director |
| Current employer | KMBC 9 News (First Alert Weather Team) |
| Net worth | $1 million – $5 million (estimated) |
Who is Katie Horner?
Katie Horner is one of the most familiar faces on Kansas City television weather. She joined the First Alert Weather Team at KMBC 9 News in April 2018 and has covered storms, tornadoes, and seasonal forecasts for the metro area for over three decades.
Her name is closely tied to severe weather coverage in Missouri and Kansas, including her early reporting on Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
How old is Katie Horner? Age and birthday
Katie Horner’s exact age is not publicly confirmed by the meteorologist herself. Public records and biographical databases cite her birth date as 26 May 1973, which would make her 52 years old as of May 2026.
Other profiles place her between 51 and 53 years old, with her birthplace being the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri.
Katie Horner’s height, weight, and body measurements
Katie stands around 5 feet 7 inches (approximately 170 cm) tall and weighs an estimated 128 lbs (around 58 kg).
She has long blonde hair and blue eyes, and her on-air look has been a consistent part of her television presence for years. Information on her other body measurements has not been publicly disclosed.
Education
Katie attended high school in the St. Louis area before pursuing higher education in broadcasting and meteorology.
Public profiles list studies at the University of Maryland (Radio, TV and Film) followed by a transfer to the University of West Florida, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Marketing in 1989. She later expanded her training in atmospheric science to qualify as a working broadcast meteorologist.
Career
Katie launched her on-air career in 1989 at WEAR-TV 3 in Pensacola, Florida, where she presented evening weathercasts and covered major hurricanes, including Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
In 1994 she moved to Kansas City and joined KCTV5, rising to chief meteorologist and holding the role for roughly 17 years. She became one of the most recognised weather voices in the metro during severe-weather seasons.
After leaving KCTV5, she travelled weekly to St. Louis to deliver forecasts at KMOV and later, all while caring for her terminally ill father.
After his passing, she relocated west to take on a non-broadcasting role as Public Affairs Director for the Kansas Adjutant General in Topeka, also acting as spokesperson for the Kansas National Guard and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management.
In April 2018, KMBC 9 News invited her to return to the air as part of its First Alert Weather Team, where she remains in 2026.
Other ventures
Beyond the weather desk, Katie founded Seal of Approval Consulting to mentor new meteorologists. She has also authored a children’s book titled Brainstorming: A Creative Guide to Help Parents and Children Through Severe Weather, and served on the Broadcast Board of the American Meteorological Society. Local readers have voted her one of Kansas City’s most influential women.
What is Katie Horner’s net worth and salary?
As of 2026, Katie Horner’s net worth is estimated to fall between $1 million and $5 million, built from her long broadcasting career, her consulting business, and her published work. Some earlier profiles place her wealth in the $500,000 to $1 million range.
Salary and income sources
Her annual salary at KMBC 9 News is reported to range from approximately $45,000 to $110,500, in line with senior market-31 broadcast-meteorologist pay scales. Her main income streams include:
- On-air work at KMBC 9 News (First Alert Weather Team)
- Seal of Approval Consulting (mentoring new meteorologists)
- Royalties from her children’s book on severe-weather education
- Speaking engagements and public appearances
- Past compensation from KCTV5, KMOV, KSDK and the Kansas Adjutant General’s office
Is Katie Horner married? Husband and children
Katie is married to Alan Kovar, a Kansas City-based architect. The couple lives in the Kansas City area and shares a blended household of four daughters — Chelsea, Hannah, Anna, and Ava. They also have two black Labrador retrievers named Harry and Stella, who frequently appear on her social media feeds.
In May 2025, Katie publicly congratulated her eldest daughter Chelsea, who was named to Ingram’s Magazine “40 Under 40” list of Kansas City standouts. She welcomed her first grandchild, Lucy, in July when Chelsea and her husband Quentin became parents.
Hobbies and lifestyle
Katie is a long-distance athlete who has completed three half-marathons, the Dublin Marathon, and the Chicago Marathon.
She has finished more than three dozen short triathlons and a 500-mile bike ride through the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Today she leans into yoga, scuba diving, and road biking.
Social media presence
As of May 2026, Katie Horner has more than 25,000 followers on her Facebook page and over 3,100 on X (formerly Twitter) at @KatieHornerKMBC.
She uses both platforms for severe-weather alerts, lifestyle updates, family milestones, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of life at KMBC.
Fast facts about Katie Horner
- Her birth name is reported as Catherine Florence Stockdale Horner.
- She covered Hurricane Andrew in 1992 from Pensacola, Florida.
- She was the chief meteorologist at KCTV5 Kansas City for around 17 years.
- She joined KMBC 9 News in April 2018.
- She authored a children’s book about severe weather safety.
- She founded Seal of Approval Consulting for emerging meteorologists.
- She has run the Dublin Marathon and the Chicago Marathon.
- She once worked as Public Affairs Director for the Kansas Adjutant General.
- She has four daughters and two black Labradors.
- She became a grandmother in 2025 when her daughter Chelsea welcomed baby Lucy.
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Wrapping up
Katie Horner remains one of Kansas City’s most trusted weather voices in 2026, blending decades of broadcast experience with a parallel career in public affairs, consulting, and authorship.
At KMBC 9 News she continues to deliver First Alert forecasts to the metro while balancing family life with her husband Alan Kovar, four daughters, and a new grandchild. Her path from WEAR-TV in Pensacola to chief meteorologist in Kansas City is a story of steady reinvention.
References
- KMBC. “Katie Horner – First Alert Meteorologist”.
- Listal. “Katie Horner – Stats and Biography”.
- Facebook. “Katie Horner KMBC – Official Page”.
- X (Twitter). “@KatieHornerKMBC”.
Disclaimer: The information on Star Vistiq is collected from trusted public sources. We strive for accuracy but cannot guarantee completeness of celebrity profiles, net worth estimates, or biographical data. Readers should verify information independently. For corrections or inquiries, contact: info@starvistiq.com.
