By Roberta Gonzales, Governor NATAS/SF

Longtime KTVU Meteorologist Bill Martin Announces Retirement After 33 Years!

After more than three decades as one of the Bay Area’s most familiar faces, Bill Martin, KTVU’s chief meteorologist, is stepping away from the Spotlight.

Martin revealed his upcoming retirement during Thursday’s broadcast before delivering his trademark weather forecast.

“When I started here, I was just a kid, and I think we’ve all grown up together,” Martin said, addressing viewers while standing in front of the weather map. “You out in the audience, and me.”

Martin’s journey at KTVU began in 1992 when he joined as a weekend meteorologist after working at KRON-TV and KFTY-TV (now KEMO-TV) in Santa Rosa. Over the years, he became a trusted figure in households across the Bay Area, guiding viewers through critical weather events with poise and empathy.

“From his early coverage of the Oakland Hills fires to the San Bruno gas explosion, the Oroville Dam evacuations, and the devastating Camp Fire in Paradise—where he heartbreakingly lost his childhood home—Bill has been a steady, compassionate voice during some of Northern California’s most challenging times,” KTVU Vice President and News Director Simone Aponte said in a memo to staff.

Martin said he’s “stoked” to retire and is looking forward to the next chapter in his life.

His retirement marks another significant change for KTVU, which has seen several prominent departures recently. In June 2024, longtime anchor Julie Haener retired after 27 years at the station, with former anchor Dennis Richmond making a surprise appearance on her farewell broadcast.

Martin, however, is embracing his final weeks with enthusiasm. “I have a whole month to retire and say goodbye,” he joked with anchor Mike Mibach. “So it’s going to be like Bill-a-palooza.”

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