From the little ol’ town of Bethlehem where Katie Fehlinger got her start in TV, the CBS3 meteorologist has since become the voice from which everyone, from the Lehigh to the Delaware Valley, gets their daily forecast.
The new mom of two beautiful twin girls experienced some heat from online haters while pregnant on air. But with a few choice words shared via Facebook, Fehlinger put that to rest and stood up for herself and all pregnant women out there. After all, you wouldn’t be here without your mother!
Fehlinger is an inspiration to all women, and we’re proud that she calls Philadelphia home. For this month’s interview, we got the inside scoop on her daily life. She manages to get up wayyyy before dawn, perform all of her motherly duties, and provide the community at large with updates on the weather forecast. We were so glad to talk to her about her career and experiences!
Philly PR Girl: When did you first become interested in meteorology? Where did you go to school, and how did your career start out?
Katie Fehlinger: My broadcasting career began in Bethlehem, PA where I was a Reporter/Producer for a newsmagazine show at PBS 39. However, I eventually turned my focus to weather when I took an on-air job at AccuWeather, Inc. That’s where my passion for forecasting really blossomed. I went back to school (Mississippi State University) to obtain my meteorology degree, and had the good fortune to train with some of the most well-respected mets in the field. I also hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Cedar Crest College.
Philly PR Girl: What hobbies and activities do you enjoy outside of work? (We hear you are a big Philadelphia Union fan!)
Katie Fehlinger: When I’m not immersed in forecast models, I turn into a Netflix binge-watcher, bookworm, general homebody, and passionate DIY’er! But the rumors are indeed true – I am a die-hard Philadelphia Union fan and serious tailgater, ha! When I landed the CBS3 gig 4 years ago, one of the first things my husband and I did was become season ticket holders. Union soccer has become a family tradition for us. Our girls went to their first match when they were 8 weeks old!
Philly PR Girl: Describe to us a typical day in the life of a local meteorologist!
Katie Fehlinger: A typical day starts long before the sun comes up! For now, I’m rolling out of bed at 1:30 a.m. to attend to overnight feedings for the babies, then it’s on to full hair and makeup (which I do myself). Once we hit the airwaves at 4:30 a.m., I’m off and running! Along with multiple TV hits on Eyewitness News, I’m also in and out of the radio booth checking in with our sister stations, KYW Newsradio, 92.5 WXTU, 1210 Talk Radio WPHT as well as WJBR. Forecast tweaks are made between shows, and I wrap up my work day with the updated weather forecast on Eyewitness News at noon. I get home around 1 p.m., and begin my new full-time job as a mom! Then it’s off to bed as soon as the girls finish their 7 p.m. feeding, and we start the process all over again!
Philly PR Girl: Can you give us any hints into what kind of snowfall and temperatures to expect this winter?
Katie Fehlinger: The Eyewitness Weather Team is calling for a milder beginning to the season and eventual colder spells toward winter’s end. As far as snow, we expect a general 18-24″ of snow this winter, most of which will likely fall in a few larger storms (as opposed to multiple smaller systems). We factored a lot of weather drivers into what’s become a very complex seasonal outlook, but El Niño in particular will have a prominent role.
Philly PR Girl: Congratulations to you and your husband on the birth of your beautiful twin girls! You remained at your job up until (and including) the morning your girls were born. Did the negative comments you received have any effect on your feelings about continuing on air through your last trimester?
Katie Fehlinger: First off, thank you! No matter what, I planned to work through my pregnancy right up to the end or as long as my doctor would allow. I’ve always understood that image comes into play in my line of work and that people have opinions. However, I was not about to let anyone to shame me into hiding, more than anything because I didn’t want to eat away at precious time off with my girls!
But really, my situation’s FAR from unique. I was just an expecting mom trying to do my job leading up to maternity leave. And while I knew my appearance would eventually become distracting, you can’t hide a baby bump. So, I tried to make it as easy on our viewers as I could, purposely zooming out on weather maps so my belly wouldn’t cover up any systems we were tracking, setting the alarm 20 minutes early just to be on time to work (I was moving very slowly toward the end!). I’m proud that I could perform my job just as effectively with 2 stowaways hanging out with me every day!
Philly PR Girl: During that time, you inadvertently became an inspiration for other pregnant women. Who inspires you? Do you have any mentors?
Katie Fehlinger: I still feel so honored and humbled that anyone would look to me as an inspiration for new moms. But, I think that infamous Facebook post struck such a nerve because it’s the most relatable thing out there! Everyone on the planet is here because a woman went through the rigors (and joys!) of pregnancy to bring them into the world. Why should anyone be shamed for that? I have newfound inspiration and respect for other moms of multiples and also my female colleagues who have gone through the same experience of carrying a child while on the air. As beautiful as pregnancy is, it still comes with very uncomfortable and less-than-flattering symptoms. I applaud any mom who keeps her chin up and powers through morning sickness, swollen ankles, ever-changing clothing sizes, shortness of breath, and fatigue because she’s got a job to do.
Philly PR Girl: What has been the biggest surprise of motherhood thus far? The biggest challenge?
Katie Fehlinger: The biggest surprises for me are also the biggest challenges of motherhood! Finding out we were having twins (a surprise in itself!) just made it a completely new ballgame. You can read all the books, scour all the baby websites, and seek all the advice you can. But navigating the care of 2 newborns at once is challenging! At the same time, you surprise yourself when you just figure it out. I was also surprised at how LITTLE I really knew about parenting. You learn a whole lot really quickly!
Wish Katie congratulations on her nomination by the Pen & Pencil club for Best Broadcast Personality of 2015 in the comments section, or by connecting with her on Twitter and Facebook! Don’t forget to vote!
A very cool interview. Sometimes without a television I feel like I live in a small bubble, but it was great to hear some of Katie’s story and learn more about her. Also, after visiting her Facebook page, she’s even cooler. Thanks for sharing!