Heidi Butler

Heidi Butler is an award-winning journalist who worked in the broadcast industry for over a decade. During this time, she served as a meteorologist, a lifestyle host, a reporter, an anchor and a content creator. Her writing background includes parenting, motherhood, health, food and wine, travel, cooking, fitness, gift recommendations, and of course, weather-related topics.  Once she had kids, she transitioned into a freelance writing role to allow for more time with her family. With a focus on parenting and lifestyle subjects, Heidi has written for Nexstar Media, Texasliving Magazine, Townsquare Media, FamilyEducation.com, SmarterHomemaker.com, and ExperiencedMommy.com.

Expertise

Family & Relationships,Parenting,Lifestyle,Weather & Meteorology

Occupation

  • Journalist
  • Meteorologist

Education

  • Texas A&M University: Bachelor of Science, Meteorology

Certifications and Awards

  • 1st Place Fresno County Farm Bureau Journalism Awards [2014] — Heidi received this award for her work on "High and Dry", a four-part series that highlighted the devastating hardships that California faced during the historic drought of 2014 as well as her work promoting agriculture in the area. The California State Senate and Legislature also recognized these efforts.
  • Weather Ready Nation Ambassador of Excellence [2018] — This is an award given by the National Weather Service. It is a distinction given to individuals and organizations for their work in educating the public on weather and safety topics. Only 50 organizations out of over 8,000 participants recieve this recognition each year.
  • Local and Regional Isaac Cline Award Winner [2019] — This is an honor given by the National Weather Service to individuals who go above and beyond to promote this government agency's mission to protect life and property. Heidi created the "Weather Ready Nation" franchise, a weekly segment dedicated to teaching the public about weather phenomena and ways to prepare for inclement weather. It aired for over two years on KLBK News. 

Detailed Experience

Throughout her career, Heidi has interviewed hundreds of industry experts, illuminating the answers to the burning questions that arise during these times of constant change. She served as a Women's and Children's Health Reporter for two years, as well as a lifestyle host covering family, health, and community topics, for five years, while working in broadcast news. Since leaving television in 2020, she has focused on her work as a pregnancy, parenting, and family writer for an array of publications. She is also the mom of two boys, which means that she is devoted to researching topics to help moms, like herself, navigate the world of parenting. Every person's journey is unique, and every child has different triumphs and tribulations. Heidi strives to provide readers with the information that they need to make the most out of these moments.

Meteorology

Heidi is a meteorologist by trade. She worked at eleven television stations across the United States throughout her decade-long career under the pseudonym Heidi Waggoner. She has extensive experience forecasting all types of weather, including tornadoes, haboobs, blizzards, hurricane-force winds, wildfires, drought, flooding, and other severe weather situations.

Why does this matter? Weather impacts every single person on earth, every single day. It brings joy and growth. It also brings loss. By knowing more about the world’s atmospheric phenomena, parents can better prepare for their day-to-day activities and for inclement weather that threatens their family’s life and property.