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Belinda Jensen signed off from KARE 11 after 33 years of beloved broadcasts in Minnesota. Her final shows brought tears, laughter, and tributes from celebrities and colleagues who shaped her remarkable career in local television.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Career length: 33 years at KARE 11, starting September 7, 1993 as weekend meteorologist
- Chief role: Served as chief meteorologist since 2005, beloved for authenticity and warmth
- Final broadcasts: Emotional farewell on Thursday night and celebratory Saturday send-off with surprise guests
- Legacy: Created iconic Grow With KARE segment with Bobby Jensen, mentored three former interns as meteorologists
A 33-Year Journey Ends With Heartfelt Goodbye
Belinda Jensen made her final regular appearance on Thursday evening, delivering one last weather forecast that left viewers teary-eyed. Her voice trembled as she addressed the Twin Cities audience, saying “You are what made it special” and calling her role an honor she never took lightly. The 58-year-old meteorologist had announced her retirement in February, shocking fans who considered her a family fixture in Minnesota homes.
Jensen’s path to broadcasting stardom began unconventionally. At just 25 years old, she first appeared on KARE 11 after cold-calling Paul Douglas at the station for help with a school paper. Douglas saw something special in her determination, and by 1993, she landed the weekend weather job. From that moment, viewers connected instantly with her authenticity and warmth.
Belinda Jensen says goodbye to KARE 11 after 33 years, wraps final broadcasts in Minnesota
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The Saturday Celebration Nobody Predicted
While Thursday’s broadcast emphasized emotional closure, Saturday morning transformed into a joyful celebration that blindsided Jensen. Governor Tim Walz declared May 2 as Belinda Jensen Day, while surprise guests flooded the studio in a two-hour bash filled with champagne and memories. Kent Hrbek, the Minnesota Twins legend, brought a signed baseball bat. Chef Karl Benson prepared a seafood boil. Former co-hosts burst in for laughs and hugs.
Jensen seemed uncomfortable being the centerpiece, instead focusing on making her mother feel welcome and setting up coffee for guests. Her co-host Chris Hrapsky jokingly called Thursday “the ceremony” and Saturday “the reception,” perfectly capturing the shift from tribute to party. The backyard celebration afterward featured stories from colleagues who praised her superpower, simply being genuinely herself.
What Made Belinda Beloved Across Minnesota
| Moment | Highlight |
| Chief Meteorologist | Led KARE 11 weather since 2005, calm during severe storms |
| Grow With KARE | 30+ years of gardening tips with Bobby Jensen |
| Minnesota Bound | 10 years exploring outdoors, from Hawaii turtles to skiing |
| Charity Coat Auction | Raised $25,000 for ICA food shelf |
What made Belinda Jensen irreplaceable was her authentic humanity. Boyd Huppert, KARE’s longtime features reporter, summed it perfectly: “Belinda and beloved go together.” She interviewed Robert Redford, survived Bill Murray’s shenanigans, and made Jimmy Fallon laugh, yet remained genuine both on and off camera. Colleagues noted she shifted effortlessly from chief meteorologist delivering storm science to Saturday morning cook sharing recipes.
Building Tomorrow’s Weather Team Today
Julie Nelson, Jensen’s closest colleague for 22 years, shared an emotional tribute: “I will miss our late night talks in the lobby, sharing recipes in commercial breaks, and popping into the weather center to ask her opinion on everything.” Their friendship represented what made KARE 11 special across decades. Jensen created a weather team featuring three of her former interns, ensuring her legacy continues through mentorship and excellence. The team released a goofy carpooling video during Saturday’s broadcast, showing Jensen’s influence shaped not just meteorology but camaraderie.
Jensen also landed a new role as brand ambassador for Kowalski’s Markets, continuing her connection to Minnesota communities. She will return as a contributor on Saturday mornings this fall, proving this isn’t completely goodbye. Her decision to mentor the next generation and stay involved reflects her philosophy, as she told colleagues this week: retirement means new adventures, not disappearing.
Why Does Minnesota Feel Like They’re Losing Family?
For 33 years, Belinda Jensen was the constant in Minnesota living rooms. She delivered forecasts through blizzards and heat waves, covered the Super Bowl locally, traveled to the Olympics, and brought gardening advice every week for generations. Alicia Lewis, from the KARE 11 Sunrise team, asked Jensen to sign an autograph she’d wanted since middle school when she was fan-girling at the Minnesota State Fair. Even Jensen’s Bernese Mountain dog Koda became familiar to viewers, adding warmth to the station’s personality.
The Twin Cities community responded with overwhelming affection. Social media flooded with memories of watching her grow up alongside families across Minnesota. Some viewers mentioned Jensen helped them through personal storms, not just weather ones. Her ability to combine meteorological science with emotional connection made weather forecasts feel like conversations with a trusted friend. As News Director Matt Kummer noted after taking over in September, “There’s really no other program in local TV like it, and it’s endured because of her personality.”
“Bel is beautiful inside and out and she’s made me better on air and off.”
— Julie Nelson, KARE 11 Anchor and Longtime Colleague
What Comes Next For Belinda and KARE 11?
While KARE 11 begins its next chapter without Jensen as chief meteorologist, her influence remains woven into the station’s fabric. Rene Sarigianopoulos, a former Saturday co-host, returns to the morning shift next week. Dave Schwartz and Erik Perkins, other former partners, stopped by to celebrate, each bringing stories of how working with Jensen made them better broadcasters. The weather team she built carries forward her commitment to science communication and genuine connection with viewers.
Jensen transitions to new adventures as brand ambassador for Kowalski’s Markets and continues contributing to weekend broadcasts. Her legacy transcends broadcasting, having mentored young meteorologists, raised awareness for charities, and modeled what authenticity means in media. As she told colleagues this week about her 33-year tenure, “Being your meteorologist has not just been a career. It’s been an honor and a responsibility I never, ever took lightly.” Minnesota will never forget the woman who made them smile through every forecast for more than three decades.
Sources
- KARE 11 – Complete coverage of Belinda Jensen’s retirement and career milestones
- Star Tribune – Exclusive reporting on her final broadcasts with celebrity guests and tributes
- Bring Me The News – Community tributes and detailed farewell announcements from colleagues
