Lindsay Riley, a longtime meteorologist at 12 News, has left the Phoenix station.
"I am officially stepping away from the mic and stepping into retirement to be with my boys," Riley said in an Instagram post on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
"It was right here in the desert where life truly happened for me," Riley said in the post. "I met my husband on the plane ride moving here, and today, we have three beautiful boys together.
"While I have loved every second of fulfilling my childhood dream as a meteorologist alongside the absolute best in the business, I am choosing to gain the greatest gift of all: TIME. Time with my boys and my family is what I am most excited about in this next chapter."
In her on-air farewell earlier in September, Riley elaborated on her decision.
"I'm just excited to have the evenings with them and my husband too, just have some margin and spend some time with the little kids, because I know I can't get these years back," she said. "It's just been a joy, and the team that we have here is just amazing. And it feels like home. This was a tough decision."
It was also something of a lifetime goal, it sounds like.
"I was 4 years old, and I wanted to be a meteorologist, so I'm thankful I got to do it for 19 years, 8 1/2 here," Riley said.
In her Instagram post, Riley expressed her appreciation to 12 News viewers.
"Thank you, Phoenix, to those who invited me into your homes each night, to those who have followed along since the beginning, and to my 12 News family — who are truly family to me," she said. "I cherish these years. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart."
Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com.Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Subscribe to the weekly Watchlist newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Longtime Phoenix meteorologist leaves 12 News. 'I cherish these years'
