The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia

Kathy Orr
KYW-TV Official Photo
2008

Emmy award winning Meteorologist Kathy Orr joined CBS 3's Eyewitness News team in January, 2003. She currently provides forecasts weekdays on Eyewitness News at 4, 6, and 11p.m. She also provides forecasts for CBS 3's sister radio station, SportsRadio 610 WIP.

Orr came to Philadelphia in 1998 as the first female Meteorologist in the Philadelphia television market. Named "Rookie of the Year" by the Delaware County Times in 1999, Orr's forecasting and reporting earned her four consecutive Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards for "Best Weathercaster" in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. She joined CBS 3 from NBC 10 in Philadelphia. Previously, she was chief meteorologist at WTVH-TV in Syracuse, New York.

As a member of the American Meteorological Society's Board of Broadcast Meteorology, Orr serves as one of 11 board members who select candidates to receive the coveted AMS Seal of Approval. In addition, Orr is a mentor for the American Meteorological Society's DataStream Project in the Delaware Valley, educating teachers in the field of Meteorology so that it can be added to the curriculum in local schools.

Orr received her Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology from the State University of New York at Oswego. She also holds a dual B. S. degree in Broadcast Journalism and Marketing from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and School of Management at Syracuse University. She has held the AMS Seal Of Approval in Meteorology since 1994.

Orr is devoted to serving the community through local charities including the Philadelphia chapters of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. A former board member of Literacy Volunteers, Orr was awarded the New York Governor's Award for community service in 1998.

Orr enjoys sharing her knowledge of and passion for weather as demonstrated by her most recent community project, "Kidcasters," that gave local students a rare opportunity to audition for a live appearance on a CBS 3 weathercast.

In 2003, Orr was recognized by New Jersey Governor's Office for her "Orr At The Shore" series of summer reports that highlighted environmental awareness along the Jersey shore – an issue dear to her heart given her family vacations "down the shore" for more than 30 years. Orr resides in South Jersey with her husband and daughter. In September of 2008, Kathy Orr again won an Emmy, this time for "individual achievement for a weathercaster."

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com