Aug 27, 2025 3 min read

Just in time for the last few days of August, a very pleasant cold front swept through and dropped our temperatures into the 70s to start this week, which has been about 10 degrees cooler than average for this time of year in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Lows in the lower 50s and upper 40s may have you reaching for your sweatshirts, fleeces and (yes) pumpkin spice lattes, if you must!

You all know how I feel about rushing the seasons. We still have Labor Day weekend ahead of us, after all, with temperatures recovering back up to near 80 degrees by the weekend. I talk about the weather all the time and for good reason: I’ve been forecasting it for the past 37 years. That all ends today – well, at least on television.

Today will mark my final day on air at KDKA before I head off into retirement bliss starting tomorrow. My forecast? 100 percent chance of joyfulness, relaxation, adventure and no more being tied to a full-time job or working nights, weekends or holidays. Ever.

Don’t get me wrong: I love my job. I love my work and always have. I was fortunate enough to realize what I enjoy doing, where my talents lie and what sparks my interest for a career where I could make a living, be successful and enjoy it. I have done all of that in television, radio and print journalism and meteorology and am absolutely glad and grateful that I did. It’s been a wonderful working life that has taken me to places I never imagined, afforded me the opportunity to experience things I never thought I would, meet people from all walks of life and challenge myself to go back to college years after graduation to study a different field. I’m proud of myself for taking that challenge and achieving my goals.

When I was a kid, I wanted to be Terry Bradshaw and, later, Howard Cosell. Then I opted to go into news rather than sports. Eventually, I fell into doing the weather and loved it. The journey has taken me to five states and eight TV stations with the final 13 years at home here in Pittsburgh. I always wanted to move home and work in the Pittsburgh television market, and it has been an honor and a blessing to end my broadcasting career here.

Now, it’s time for the next segment, story or chapter that will not involve an alarm clock unless it’s for an early flight, tee time or scuba diving trip or to get a full day out on the ski slopes.

I’ll still be writing this column, health stories, features and travel stories as long as the good folks here at the Observer-Reporter will allow me. We have a lot of adventures planned!

For everyone who ever watched my weather forecasts or television news stories, thank you. It has been my pleasure!

Kristin Emery can be reached at kristinemery1@yahoo.com.