Shayla Girardin: The California Native Who Conquered LA Weather

Shayla Girardin isn’t just a meteorologist—she’s an Emmy Award-winning journalist who has built her career on the front lines of California’s most dramatic weather events.

From covering life-threatening mudslides in Sausalito to delivering daily forecasts for one of the nation’s largest media markets, her journey is a compelling case study in dedication and adaptability.

A Southern California native, Girardin made the significant leap to ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC-TV) in 2023, stepping up to the challenge of predicting the unpredictable for millions of viewers.

This profile goes beyond the daily forecast, exploring Girardin’s rise from a college journalist to a trusted name in broadcast news.

We look at her early life, her academic foundation, the high-stakes assignments that defined her reporting, and what drives her passion for climate reporting in a state constantly grappling with fire, drought, and extreme heat.

From Pepperdine to Prime Time: Shayla’s Academic Foundation

Shayla Girardin’s path to the weather desk was paved with rigorous academic training and hands-on media experience.

Education and Early Media Roles

A true Californian, Girardin anchored her education in the state before specializing in meteorology:

• Pepperdine University: She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism with an emphasis on Political Science. This background in hard news and governance sharpened her ability to connect weather events to their societal and political impacts—a crucial skill for a climate reporter.

• The Graphic: During her college years, she was deeply involved with Pepperdine’s newspaper, The Graphic, serving as an Assistant Online Editor, Producer, and Writer. She even anchored the weekly online broadcast “G News,” proving her versatility in front of and behind the camera long before her prime-time debut.

• Penn State University: Recognizing the scientific complexity of her chosen field, she earned a certificate in Weather Forecasting from the prestigious Pennsylvania State University, ensuring her on-air credibility is backed by solid scientific knowledge.

This blend of political science, broadcast journalism, and specialized meteorology gave her a powerful and unique voice in the newsroom.

The Emmy-Winning Moment: A Career-Defining Achievement

While many reporters dream of winning an Emmy, Shayla Girardin achieved this milestone early in her career. In 2020, while serving as a weekend weather anchor and reporter at ABC30 (KFSN-TV) in Fresno, she was part of a team that earned significant industry recognition.

“The adrenaline rush of a breaking news event is something you can’t replicate. It reminds you why you do this job—to provide critical, potentially life-saving information when people need it most.”

• The Award: Girardin and her colleagues on the Action News AM Live team were honored with an Emmy Award for “Newscast-Daytime-Medium Markets.”

• The Coverage: The win was for their stellar reporting on a dramatic Sausalito mudslide rescue, showcasing the team’s ability to handle complex, rapidly developing breaking news under pressure.

This award cemented her status not just as a weather expert, but as a top-tier journalist capable of impactful storytelling.

The Path to Los Angeles: From Colorado to the Central Valley

Girardin’s career trajectory shows a steady climb through various markets, building a diverse portfolio of experience across different climates and news environments.

The Foundation in Colorado Springs

Her broadcast career began far from the California sun, at KOAA News5 in Colorado Springs. As a morning reporter, she was thrown into the deep end of general assignment reporting, covering everything from:

• Mountain Blizzards: Learning the nuances of severe, cold-weather reporting.

• Breaking News: Developing her live reporting skills and on-the-spot judgment.

This period was crucial for honing her versatility and adaptability as a reporter.

Three Years in Fresno at ABC30

Following her time in Colorado, Shayla joined ABC30 Action News in Fresno as a weekend weather anchor and reporter, a role she held from August 2019 to January 2023.

• Connecting with the Community: She became a familiar and trusted face for Central Valley viewers, known for her accurate and engaging weather forecasts.

• Pandemic Reporting: Notably, she was often seen reporting from the field during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating a commitment to hands-on journalism when many colleagues were broadcasting remotely.

The Big Move to ABC7 Los Angeles

In January 2023, Girardin accepted a role that brought her full circle—back to Southern California—as a meteorologist and reporter at ABC7 Los Angeles.

This move represents a major step, transitioning from the 50th media market (Fresno) to the second-largest (Los Angeles).

At ABC7, she is now a key part of the team providing detailed weather updates for a massive, diverse region, from the coast to the desert.

The Human Element: Shayla Girardin Beyond the Screen

Fans of Shayla Girardin often look for details that humanize the professional they see on TV. Here are some of the personal facts that provide insight into the person behind the forecasts.

Personal Snapshot (As of 2025)

Hobbies and Passions

When she’s not tracking a storm system or reporting on a major event, Girardin is passionate about her downtime. She enjoys traveling, spending quality time with her family, and is an enthusiastic coffee lover, often sharing her favorite caffeinated adventures on her social media platforms.

A Note on Her On-Air Persona

Shayla Girardin’s voice is often described as clear, warm, and highly professional. Her delivery is approachable, which makes complex weather patterns and technical forecasts easy for the average viewer to understand.

This engaging style has made her a highly effective communicator in the high-stakes environment of Los Angeles news.

Net Worth and Salary: The Economics of LA News

Estimating the net worth and salary of broadcast professionals can be challenging, as exact figures are rarely public. However, based on her experience, major market status, and Emmy award, we can infer her financial standing.

These estimates reflect her current role in a top-tier media market and her established track record of success.

Shayla Girardin: Looking Ahead

Shayla Girardin’s story is a testament to the power of combining a classic journalism background with specialized scientific expertise.

Her move to ABC7 Los Angeles represents the pinnacle of local broadcast journalism, giving her a platform to address the most pressing environmental challenges facing Southern California.

She continues to be a trusted resource, whether she’s breaking down the mechanics of a severe storm or sharing a simple picture of her dog, Elsa. She remains a dedicated journalist committed to informing and engaging her audience.

Colleagues at ABC7 Los Angeles

Shayla Girardin works alongside a distinguished team in the KABC-TV newsroom, contributing to the station’s reputation for comprehensive coverage. Her colleagues include:

• Anchors: Marc Brown, Rachel Brown, David Ono, Jovana Lara, Michelle Fisher
• Meteorologists: Leslie Lopez (Morning Meteorologist)
• Sports: Rob Fukuzaki

Sources

• ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC-TV) Official Bio

• Pepperdine University Alumni News/The Graphic Archives

• National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Award Listings

• KOAA News5 Archives (Colorado Springs)

• KFSN-TV (ABC30) Past Staff Profiles