Shake-ups are in the forecast at one Texas TV station.
Meteorologist Kristin Walla is leaving Corpus Christi’s KIII on Sunday, May 10, after a little more than four years on air. She announced the update in a May 5 Facebook post, giving special thanks to the station for giving her her first meteorology position and to former Chief Meteorologist Alan Holt for being “an incredible mentor.”
“I’m grateful for our newsroom full of kind, caring, and helpful individuals who have become like a second family to me,” she wrote. “I could always count on them, whether it was last-minute help loading a freight container or rides to work when my car was in the shop. Selfishly, I wish I could bring them with me.”
In the post, she also reminisced on the day she toured the station and met her fiancé, Brandon.
“I’d been considering another job offer – but when literally every single person in the newsroom came out to meet me, I felt so welcomed,” she said. “That moment is what made my decision to come to KIII. He was the first to step forward and said something to the tune of, ‘Hi, I’m Brandon. I swear we’re not crazy, we’re just excited to meet you!’ Four years later, I can’t imagine my life without him and am blessed to call him my fiancé.”
As for her next steps, Walla will be joining KIII’s Austin sister station, KVUE. She told MySA in an email, “I’m sad to be leaving the Coastal Bend, which has become like a second home and family to me, but I’m also very excited for this new chapter in Austin. I can’t wait to get started and am looking forward to the challenges of a new climate and weather patterns. KIII will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Walla came to KIII in December 2021 as the weekend evening meteorologist and quickly made her mark at the station. According to KIII, she made “major contributions to projects such as our yearly Hurricane Special and our Water Woes series, which was nominated for an award by the Texas Association of Broadcasters.” And during Tropical Storm Harold, Walla and the team were on air for almost eight hours straight.
“Kristin played a big role in the KIII weather team,” Chief Meteorologist Carly Smith said in a release. “She was a reliable source for your weekend weather, and this is a well-deserved promotion. Austin is lucky to have her! We will miss her greatly here at 3NEWS.”
News Director Jonathan Munson said, “It’s always bittersweet saying goodbye to a member of our team, especially one as talented as Kristin. She joined us just out of college and has done an amazing job ever since. We’ll all miss Kristin, but we’re excited to see what’s next for her.”
The station has undergone significant changes in recent months. Longtime Chief Meteorologist Alan Holt announced his move to a Maine sister station in November, making way for Smith to move into that role in January. Additionally, the station added Emmy-winning meteorologist Kellianne Klass in mid-March,