KRGV Chief Meteorologist Tim Smith is one of the most recognized faces in South Texas. As part of the CHANNEL 5 NEWS team for more than 30 years, Tim’s work off camera has been even more significant than his work on camera.
While growing up in Batesville, Indiana, Tim was already practicing for his broadcast career by being a PA announcer for high school sporting events and a sideline reporter for the local newspaper during football and basketball games. Tim earned a Broadcast Journalism degree from Indiana University in 1981.
After graduation, Tim served as News Director at WRBI-FM. In December of 1981 when KRGV News Director Rick Diaz (2004 Silver Circle Inductee) called Tim to offer him a weekend weather job, Tim jumped at the opportunity. Falling quickly in love with weather, Tim found his niche. He was promoted to Chief Forecaster in 1983 and in August 2004, Tim completed Mississippi State’s Broadcast Meteorology Program, changing his title to Chief Meterologist.
Tim has led CHANNEL 5 NEWS’ weather coverage through hurricanes, tornadoes, freezes and even a rare Christmas 2004 snowstorm.
Tim has always been very active in the community. He visits with thousands of school children each year making presentations about weather. For more than ten years, his “Kids You Should Know” feature, highlighted special young people of our community. His “Tim’s Coats” project has helped bring in more than 100,000 coats for the less fortunate of the Valley over the last 30 years. And, for more than three decades, along with Letty Garza and the Channel 5 Toy Drive, Tim delivers Christmas gifts to every child in every hospital in the Valley during the Christmas season.
Tim has served numerous community and professional organizations across South Texas, the Urban Science Initiative (VP), American Red Cross, Intl. Museum of Arts and Sciences, and Edinburg Rotary to name a few. He’s also Co-founder and Coordinator of the National Tropical Weather Conference.
In addition to the Lone Star EMMY Silver Circle, Tim has been named the Easter Seal Society’s Volunteer of the Year. He’s received the Hispanic Excellence Award from the Mission School District, and the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Texas – Pan American.
The Texas Associated Press Broadcasters have called Tim’s weathercasts “The Best in Texas” and he awarded a Lone Star EMMY in 2013 award for his work.
Tim and his wife Nora have three children, Justin, Maya and Taylor and one beautiful grandchild.