You see her every night. Belinda Jensen is basically the face of Minnesota weather, a KARE 11 powerhouse who has navigated us through blizzards, heatwaves, and those weird "is it spring yet?" April afternoons for over three decades. But while she’s talking about dew points and cold fronts, there is a whole other side of her life that stays largely out of the studio lights. Specifically, her marriage to David Hopkins.
People are nosy. It’s natural. When someone is in your living room every evening, you feel like you know them. Yet, David Hopkins remains a bit of a mystery to the casual viewer. He isn’t a media personality. He’s not chasing the cameras. Honestly, that’s probably why their relationship works so well.
Meeting in the Mountains
The story doesn't actually start in the Twin Cities. Even though Belinda is a Midwest icon, she met David Hopkins while she was living in Utah. At the time, she was working for KTVX in Salt Lake City.
David is originally from California. Think "surfer vibes" but with a professional edge. He’s an outdoorsy guy through and through. When they met, it wasn't about TV ratings or fame; it was about a shared love for the environment and being active. When Belinda eventually decided to move back to the Midwest to join KARE 11, David didn't just come along for the ride—he embraced the "lake life" transition.
He moved from the Pacific coast to the land of 10,000 lakes. That’s commitment.
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Who is David Hopkins?
David isn't just "the guy standing next to the meteorologist" in Christmas card photos. He has built a life in Minnesota that revolves around his own passions. While Belinda is the Chief Meteorologist, David has often been described as a "California surfer at heart."
In Edina, where they’ve lived for years, you’re more likely to see David on the water than on a red carpet. He’s a massive fan of paddleboarding and wake surfing. In fact, he’s the reason the whole Jensen-Hopkins family took up wake surfing a few years back. He’s the guy who heads out early to Lake Bryant or Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) to catch the calm water before the crowds arrive.
A Private Professional Life
David keeps a low profile. You won't find him engaged in Twitter feuds or posting "day in the life" vlogs. He’s a professional who values his privacy, which provides a necessary balance to Belinda’s highly public career. In an industry where marriages often crumble under the pressure of local celebrity status, their partnership has remained rock solid for over 25 years.
The Family Dynamic
Belinda Jensen and David Hopkins have two children: Tanner, born in 2003, and Tori, born in 2007.
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Raising kids in the spotlight isn't easy. Belinda has mentioned in various interviews, including a deep dive with The Catholic Spirit, that their faith and family are the anchors that keep them grounded. They attend Our Lady of Grace in Edina. For David and Belinda, Sunday isn't just a day before the work week starts; it’s a time to reconnect with the community.
- Tanner Hopkins: Now a young adult, Tanner has largely stayed out of the public eye, following his father’s lead on privacy.
- Tori Hopkins: Like her brother, she’s grown up with a mom who everyone recognizes at the grocery store, but a dad who keeps things "normal."
- The Dogs: You can't talk about this family without mentioning the Bernese Mountain Dogs. Koda and Kenai are fixtures in their lives. David is often the one trekking through the snow with these giant fluff-balls while Belinda is at the station tracking a storm.
Retiring Together?
As of early 2026, the conversation around Belinda Jensen has shifted. After 32 years at KARE 11 and over 35 years in the business, she’s eyeing the exit door.
Retirement is a big word. For a couple like Belinda and David, it means more time for the things they actually like doing. She’s expressed a desire to travel more, focus on STEM education for kids, and—most importantly—spend more time with David.
They’ve spent decades coordinating schedules around the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. news cycles. That’s a lot of missed dinners. David has been the one holding down the fort during those late-night severe weather cut-ins when the sirens are going off and Belinda has to stay at the station for twelve hours straight.
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Why Their Relationship Still Matters
In the world of "celebs," we usually hear about the drama. We hear about the divorces or the "leaked" scandals. Belinda Jensen and David Hopkins are the opposite of that. They represent a very "Minnesota" kind of success story.
They’ve navigated the "Super Bowl of weather" (as Belinda calls the Midwest) together. David’s role as the supportive, private husband has allowed Belinda to become the most trusted weather voice in the region.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you’re looking to follow in their footsteps—not necessarily as a meteorologist, but as a couple—there are a few takeaways from how they handle their lives:
- Protect Your Privacy: You don't have to share everything. David Hopkins is proof that you can be married to a public figure and still maintain a private, fulfilling life.
- Shared Hobbies are Glue: Whether it's wake surfing or hiking, find the thing that gets you both outside.
- Support the "Grind": If one partner has a high-pressure job (like predicting a blizzard for 2 million people), the other needs to be the "calm in the storm." David has clearly mastered this.
Belinda Jensen might be the one telling us when to wear a coat, but David Hopkins is clearly the one making sure the home fires stay burning while she’s out there doing it. It’s a partnership that has stood the test of time, and as they move into this next chapter of retirement and travel, it’s only getting stronger.