Belinda Jensen is an American meteorologist, news anchor, and children’s book author best known as the longtime chief meteorologist at KARE 11, the NBC affiliate in Minneapolis–St. Paul. She spent more than three decades on Twin Cities television before retiring in 2025. Beyond forecasting, she co-created the popular Grow With KARE gardening segment with Bobby Jensen and authored the Bel the Weather Girl book series for kids.
Belinda Jensen Bio
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Belinda Jensen |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 22 July 1969 |
| Age | 56 years old (as of June 2026) |
| Place of birth | Apple Valley, Minnesota, United States |
| Hometown | Prescott, Wisconsin |
| Current residence | Edina, Minnesota |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Zodiac sign | Cancer |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | Approximately 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
| Weight | Approximately 132 lbs (60 kg) |
| Hair colour | Blonde |
| Eye colour | Hazel blue |
| Marital status | Married |
| Spouse | David Hopkins |
| Children | 2 (Tanner and Tori) |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Madison; University of Utah |
| Profession | Meteorologist, news anchor, author, brand ambassador |
| Net worth | Around $1 million (estimated) |
| Social media | Instagram, Facebook, X |
Who is Belinda Jensen?
Belinda Jensen is a retired American broadcast meteorologist who became a household name in Minnesota during her 32-year run at KARE 11.
She first appeared on the NBC affiliate’s air on 7 September 1993 as a weekend meteorologist and Saturday morning co-host. She rose to chief meteorologist in late 2005 and stayed in that role until her on-air goodbye in 2025.
After stepping away from the anchor desk, she took on a new role as brand ambassador for Kowalski’s Markets, a European-styled grocery chain rooted in the Twin Cities.
She also continues to write children’s science books and speak publicly about STEM education for young girls.
How old is Belinda Jensen? Age and birthday
Belinda Jensen is 56 years old as of June 2026. She was born on 22 July 1969 and will celebrate her 57th birthday in mid-2026.
Her zodiac sign is Cancer, a water sign often linked to empathy and intuition, traits viewers say came through every time she walked them through a Minnesota storm season.
Where is Belinda Jensen from?
While some sources list her birthplace as Apple Valley, Minnesota, she grew up across the river in Prescott, Wisconsin, near the St. Croix River.
She has described herself as a self-proclaimed tomboy and one of five children. Her childhood spent outdoors first sparked her interest in weather science. She has lived in Edina, Minnesota since moving back from Utah in 1994.
Belinda Jensen’s height, weight, and body measurements
Belinda Jensen stands approximately 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) tall and weighs around 132 lbs (60 kg). She has blonde hair and hazel-blue eyes.
Her exact body measurements have never been publicly disclosed, but she has shared in interviews that she stays in shape through tennis, downhill skiing, and paddle boarding on Twin Cities lakes such as Lake Bryant and Bde Maka Ska.
Belinda Jensen’s education
She attended Prescott High School in Wisconsin, where her physics teacher first encouraged her interest in science. She later studied at Minnesota State University, Mankato, before transferring to the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
There she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology. She then moved to Utah, where she completed graduate work in secondary education at the University of Utah.
Belinda Jensen’s career
Early career and KTVX Utah
Her on-air career began almost by accident in Utah. While doing graduate work at the University of Utah, she noticed the weather maps at Salt Lake City station KTVX looked outdated.
She called the station, sold herself as a mapmaker, and was hired behind the scenes. In December 1990, when a morning co-host abruptly left, she was pulled in front of the camera and given her first live forecast.
Joining KARE 11
In 1993, her former mentor Paul Douglas, then chief meteorologist at KARE 11, urged her to apply for a weekend opening.
She auditioned during one of Minnesota’s wettest summers on record and spoke for 13 unscripted minutes on flooding rains. She got the job that same week and went on air at age 25 on 7 September 1993.
Chief meteorologist and Grow With KARE
She was promoted to chief meteorologist in December 2005, becoming one of the most recognizable faces in Twin Cities television.
With colleague Bobby Jensen (no relation), she co-created Grow With KARE, one of the longest-running sponsored gardening segments in local news history.
She also spent ten years as a feature reporter on Minnesota Bound, covering everything from mountain biking in Moab to sea turtle conservation in Hawaii.
Big-event coverage and awards
Across her career she reported from the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, and Super Bowl LII in Minnesota.
She holds the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Seal of Approval and has won multiple regional Emmy awards. After her on-air retirement, she was inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Author and ambassador
In 2016 she launched her Bel the Weather Girl children’s book series with titles such as Weather Clues in the Sky: Clouds, Spinning Wind and Water: Hurricanes, A Snowstorm Shows Off: Blizzards, Raindrops on a Roller Coaster: Hail, A Party for Clouds: Thunderstorms, and The Sky Stirs Up Trouble: Tornadoes. As of 2026, she works as a brand ambassador for Kowalski’s Markets and continues to speak at schools about STEM careers.
What is Belinda Jensen’s net worth and salary?
As of 2026, Belinda Jensen’s net worth is estimated at around $1 million.
Salary at KARE 11
Veteran chief meteorologists at large-market NBC affiliates such as KARE 11 typically earn between $150,000 and $250,000 per year, although Jensen’s exact paycheck was never made public. Industry estimates place her late-career annual salary in that range.
Income sources
Her wealth has been built through several streams:
- Decades of salary as KARE 11’s chief meteorologist
- Royalties from her Bel the Weather Girl children’s book series
- Paid speaking engagements through agencies such as All American Speakers
- Her current brand ambassador deal with Kowalski’s Markets
- Sponsored appearances tied to Grow With KARE
Is Belinda Jensen married? Husband and children
Belinda Jensen is married to David Hopkins, often referred to simply as David. The two met while she was living in Utah in the early 1990s.
A California native and self-described outdoorsy type, David relocated to Minnesota with her when she joined KARE 11 in 1993. The couple settled in Edina because it was within an eight-mile drive of the KARE 11 studios in Golden Valley.
Belinda Jensen’s children
She and David have two children: a son named Tanner and a daughter named Tori. In a 2025 interview with The Catholic Spirit, she shared that her eldest was graduating from college that spring while her youngest was finishing high school at Benilde-St. Margaret’s in St. Louis Park.
Family background
Jensen is one of five children. She has three brothers and one sister, Rene Jensen. Her father, Ken Jensen, who shared her love of birds and the outdoors, passed away in 2023. The family also includes two beloved Bernese Mountain dogs named Koda and Kenai.
Social media presence
As of June 2026, Belinda Jensen has roughly 19,000 followers on Instagram, where she posts under the handle @belindakare11 as a “Meteorologist-Digital Creator.”
Her feed focuses on gardening, family life, her Bernese Mountain dogs, behind-the-scenes KARE 11 moments, and promotion of her children’s book series. She is also active on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
Fast facts about Belinda Jensen
- She first contacted KARE 11 as a 10th grader, cold-calling meteorologist Paul Douglas for help with a school term paper.
- As a teenager she worked at McDonald’s, Afton Alps ski area, and Red Lobster.
- Before TV, she planned to become a social studies teacher.
- She owned more than 24 signature on-air coats and auctioned them off in 2025 to raise $25,000 for the ICA Food Shelf.
- She is a practicing Catholic and a parishioner at Our Lady of Grace in Edina.
- Her favorite vacation spot is Maui, where her family takes an annual trip.
- She hosts the yearly Humor to Fight the Tumor event, raising money for brain tumor research.
- Her favorite sport is tennis, and she enjoys paddle boarding at sunrise.
- She holds the AMS Seal of Approval, the gold-standard certification for broadcast meteorologists.
- After retiring, she was inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Read more: Geoffrey Fieger Net worth, age, height, wife, family, career
Wrapping up
Belinda Jensen built one of the most beloved careers in Minnesota television, blending sharp science skills with warmth that made viewers feel like she was forecasting from their own backyard.
At 56, she has stepped into a new chapter as a brand ambassador, author, speaker, and STEM advocate, while staying close to her husband David Hopkins and their two children in Edina. Her story continues to inspire young women considering careers in science and broadcasting.
References
- KARE 11. “Belinda Jensen bids farewell as KARE 11 Chief Meteorologist and Saturday host”.
- The Catholic Spirit. “Belinda Jensen nears retirement, leans on faith”.
- Edina Magazine. “Belinda Jensen on Her Life at Home and in the ‘Backyard’”.
- All American Speakers. “Belinda Jensen Biography”.
- KARE 11. “KARE 11’s Belinda Jensen announces retirement”.
- Stars Unfolded. “Belinda Jensen Age, Husband, Children, Family, Biography”.
- Fairmont Sentinel. “KARE11’s Belinda Jensen shares her story”.
- Instagram. @belindakare11 official profile.
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