Nick Bender
First Alert MeteorologistNick Bender is an Emmy Award–winning meteorologist and a trusted member of the KMBC 9 First Alert Weather Team, known for his accurate forecasting, calm communication, and dedication to keeping Kansas City safe during severe weather.
With more than 20 years of severe weather forecasting and storm-chasing experience, Nick brings both scientific expertise and firsthand field knowledge to every forecast.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from The Pennsylvania State University, one of the nation’s leading atmospheric science programs. Originally from Pennsylvania, Nick has spent his career forecasting in some of the country’s most extreme weather regions — including Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Amarillo — gaining invaluable experience tracking tornadoes, blizzards, floods, and wildfires across the Southern Plains.
Nick’s expertise and commitment to public safety have been recognized with numerous professional honors from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), including a 2014 Heartland Regional Emmy Award; 2017 Mid-America Regional Emmy Awards for News Weathercast and for On-Camera Talent – Anchor, Weathercast; and multiple nominations across the Heartland and Mid-America regions between 2013 and 2023. He was also a contributor to a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award–winning breaking news special, “Tornado on the Ground.”
Nick’s field experience and scientific training give him a unique perspective on the weather systems that shape the Midwest. In 2010, he participated in VORTEX2, the largest tornado-research field experiment in history, designed to advance understanding of tornado formation and improve national warning times.
Before joining KMBC 9 News, Nick worked for KWTV in Oklahoma City, KOTV in Tulsa, and KVII in Amarillo, reporting from the front lines of historic tornado outbreaks — including the May 24, 2011, EF-5 tornado near El Reno and Piedmont, and the 2013 Moore, Oklahoma, EF-5 tornado that devastated the region.
Nick’s reporting from StormTracker 9 during the March 6, 2017, Oak Grove EF-3 tornado provided residents with the only live images of the storm before it struck — coverage that earned a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Breaking News. He was also in StormTracker 9 for the May 28, 2019, Linwood, Kansas, EF-4 tornado. Known for his signature red polo shirt during severe weather coverage, Nick has become a visual signal of trust and preparedness for viewers across the Kansas City area. His work exemplifies the mission of KMBC 9 First Alert Weather: to deliver precise, reliable information when it matters most.
Nick and his wife live in the Kansas City area with their children and their black Standard Poodle, Nimbus. Outside of forecasting, Nick enjoys being active in his local church community and sharing his love of weather and science with students across the region. Nick is also an avid fisherman.
STORIES BY NICK BENDER
