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A member of the KUTV 2 News team, Debbie Worthen is a triple threat.

She is a meteorologist, reporter and an anchor. And when she's not juggling those three tasks at work, she's at home with husband Brandon and their two daughters, Liv, 4, and Ava, who is almost 2.

At KUTV, Worthen handles the weather forecast during the KJZZ TV 4 p.m. news hours on weekday afternoons. Right after that news segment, she goes out to do a story for the evening newscasts.

"I go in at 2 [p.m.] and I start working on the forecast immediately with Roland Steadham; he's our chief meteorologist," Worthen says. "He's taken me under his wing and really taught me a lot."

From 5 to 8:30 p.m., she works on stories and prepares for her on-air appearances at 9 and 10 p.m. on nightly news. On those rare occasions when she anchors, Worthen reads over the script and edits the copy before delivering the news.

Worthen was a reporter in Las Vegas when she decided to become a meteorologist.

"After I had Liv, I just decided to go for it," she recalls.

Going for it meant returning to school to earn a Certificate of Broadcast Meteorology and getting a second bachelor's degree, from Mississippi State University. It is a three-year part-time program, and Worthen must complete three more courses before she is certified. She previously received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Utah.

Steadham, who has known Worthen for two years, says she is already a great meteorologist.

"My goal from the very beginning was to take Debbie and try and help her to become the type of on-air meteorologist who can actually not just talk about the weather, but who can actually prepare their own forecast," Steadham says.

To do that, Steadham taught Worthen the weathercasting basics. That, combined with her education, provided her with the skills she needed for the job.

"Debbie puts forth the time and makes the effort to not just prepare to go on the air, but to understand what Mother Nature is doing," Steadham says.

Worthen is just as dedicated at home, where she recently prepared daughters Liv and Ava for a Saturday of baking and play. Worthen says she loves living in Riverton.

"We chose Riverton because we like being in the suburbs and we love the southwest end of the valley," she says. "There is a lot of amazing growth out here and a lot of really nice families."

Worthen moved to the area five years ago, when she returned to Utah after the 2002 Winter Olympics. She and Brandon, a freelance photographer for a TV station in Pocatello, Idaho, have been married for nearly seven years. Worthen was evening anchor there at the station.

Now, Worthen's daily routine consists of being "up around 8 a.m. and we have until 1:30 p.m. to clean, play or do whatever." And then her husband watches the children while she is at work.

"We just do what [every other] couple does," Worthen says. "We're a great team and we try to sacrifice, show each other respect and not yell when we're sleep-deprived. It's great to have family around. It's busy."

In their spare time, members of Worthen's family enjoy dancing and taking trips. They are hoping to go to Disneyland this year.

"We make life with kids and work succeed like every other working couple does. It just takes a lot of work and commitment and a lot of sacrifice."

And, of course, great weather helps the busy family get everything accomplished.

The Salt Lake Tribune has a news-sharing partnership with KUTV.