When KCRA 3 Meteorologist Mark Finan was seven years old, he received a barometer for Christmas—and was thrilled. “Ever since I can remember, I was curious about the weather,” Finan recalls with a laugh. 

For over two decades, Finan has been an on-air weather reporter, and he’s seen plenty of wild weather patterns in his day. During one hurricane in North Carolina, he was forced to drive in high winds and heavy rain in order to report on the storm and its aftermath. “I was amazed by the sheer power of the weather,” he says. “I could also see the impact of weather on people.” As a result of such experiences, Finan works hard to make his weather forecasts as accurate as possible. His primary goal is to give people plenty of warning—and advice about what to do—in the case of an extreme weather event. 

When he isn’t in the studio, Finan plays golf, cycles, and pursues his interest in photography. He also volunteers his time as an emcee for area charity events and is a frequent guest speaker at local schools. His favorite part is seeing kids get excited about the weather—in much the same way he did as a child. “It’s fun,” Finan shares. “Kids have an incredible curiosity.”

 — Amber Foster