Melissa Frey
Chief Meteorologist
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Forecasting the weather is not only Melissa’s career, it is her passion, hobby and was her dream to do professionally since before she could drive. She dreamed of understanding the weather, but also to tell others about it. Melissa knew with this knowledge she could help keep people safe, informed, and prepared for whatever weather would come their way.
While studying journalism, communication and public speaking at Whitworth University, Melissa hosted a weekly radio show and took just about every calculus, physics, and earth science class she could fit in. Melissa then went on to Oregon State University where she earned a master’s degree in Atmospheric Science and taught undergraduate classes on meteorology and conducted cutting-edge research on atmospheric flow patterns.
Before landing in Alaska in 2016, Melissa was a broadcast meteorologist for the ABC affiliate in Eugene, Oregon for nearly 9 years. The American Meteorological Society certified her as a broadcast meteorologist in 2010, the highest credential awarded to TV meteorologists.
Melissa loves adventuring across this great state with her husband and two young children. She still finds herself pondering the clouds over Alaska and in awe of the amazing sunsets. If you ever have a weather question, weather story idea or weather photo, don’t be a stranger! She loves to talk about the weather anytime. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
(Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photography)
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Wednesday weather update from Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey, including the many signs of the changing seasons showing up all over Alaska.
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Temperatures will stay about 5 degrees below normal over the next week, but we only have one storm that will deliver rain to the area in the next seven-day stretch.
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One year ago, people in Western Alaska were waiting for the water to recede and the winds to calm so they could clean up from one of the most destructive storms to ever hit that region.
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The skies are clearing across Southcentral Monday night as we’re entering a break between storms, but those clear skies also will mean a chilly start Tuesday. Be ready for temperatures in the 30s across Anchorage, with below-freezing temperatures likely in the Susitna Valley, near Soldotna, and across the Copper River Basin.
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The Begich Middle School science lab was transformed into a weather lab with a visit from Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey for this week's Weather Lab.
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The Weather Lab is back in session! Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey kicked off the new school year and new weather lessons by visiting Northern Lights ABC School.
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It was a beautiful end to Labor Day weekend across Southcentral with sunny skies and temperatures near 60°.
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WINDY! This storm is producing winds of 40 to 70 mph across the Anchorage Bowl, with winds higher than 50 mph near Palmer and gusts over 40 mph on the Kenai Peninsula.
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With less than a week left in August, a storm is bringing the first significant fall-like conditions to much of Alaska.
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Monday was the fifth dry day in a row in Anchorage, with temperatures at or above 65 degrees for the last four. If you spent any time in Southcentral last August, you know this is quite a change.
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New research released this week now shows the areas of Anchorage, Turnagain Arm, and Knik Arm that may need to evacuate during a tsunami alert.
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The Port of Alaska, which sits near sea level and on the edge of the water, is vulnerable to tsunami damage.
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After decades of speculation, it is no longer a question of it, but when a tsunami floods portions of Anchorage. New research proves tsunami waves can reach Anchorage following a large mega-thrust earthquake.
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The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning that was later downgraded to an advisory for the Southern coast of Alaska.
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Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey's Monday weather update.
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Despite the cooler temperatures, we’ll see a break from widespread rain Tuesday and Wednesday morning before the next storm moves in Wednesday afternoon.
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A record 0.51 inches of rain fell in Anchorage as of 10 p.m. Wednesday, beating out the previous record of 0.50″ set in 2000.
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High temperatures will likely climb back to near 60 degrees Wednesday, which is still about 5 degrees below normal, but much warmer than Monday and Tuesday. Despite the slight warm-up, we’ll continue to see rain likely Wednesday with showers lingering into Thursday.
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We’ll continue to see cool conditions Tuesday, with chances for light rain in Anchorage. Heavier rain is likely in Seward, Whitter, and across Prince William Sound. More widespread and heavier showers are likely in Anchorage and the Valley Wednesday and Thursday.
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High pressure is moving in, bringing warm and sunny weather to Southcentral and Southeast.
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Our normal high temperature for mid-June is now 64°, and although it’s been almost 10 days since we’ve seen anything that warm, we will see even warmer conditions this weekend. But before the big warm-up, we’ll continue to see clouds, and a chance for showers lingering Friday, especially in the second half of the day.
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The calendar says it’s mid-June, but we’re not seeing the 70-degree days and clear blue skies that we saw last year. Should we be?
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The advantage to cooler weather across Alaska so far? Active fires are down from this time last year, and that is a very good thing. Anchorage is still seeing the below normal daytime highs. The highest possibility for rain in southcentral goes to Prince William Sound and the Kenai Peninsula heading into Wednesday.
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The Alaska's Weather Source Mobile Weather Lab is still making its rounds before the school year ends, checking out Oceanview Elementary School this week.
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Our Roadtrippin’ crew is showing that you don’t have to travel far to have a good time and try some great Alaskan food.
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The spa is nestled under the forest canopy, adjacent to the Alyeska Tram. It proved to be a destination for relaxation and healing with a time to connect.
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Warming temperatures mean rivers are opening up and breakup season is underway.
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They’re learning how to be prepared for life and that includes being prepared for the weather. In this week’s Weather Lab, we meet Alaska Scout troops 20 and 2026 who are working on earning their weather merit badges.
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Temperatures have consistently been below normal this month, making this the coldest April-to-date we’ve seen in ten years in Anchorage
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An area of low pressure will move in from the north and a cold front will slide down the east side of the state Friday through Saturday. This will bring snow to the Slope and the eastern Brooks Range Friday, to the eastern Interior and portions of Southcentral Saturday.
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Temperatures are slowly climbing across most of Alaska as high pressure builds across the state, but most areas still remain unseasonably cool.
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The first step to the scientific method — after knowing what problem you’re solving — is making observations. In this week’s Weather Lab Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey visited Bear Valley Elementary School where making observations comes naturally to third graders.
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Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey brought the Weather Lab into their classroom and the students were ready to take notes and learn how the weather can be predicted.
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High pressure is building in from the west. This will block additional storms from moving in, while also helping to clear the clouds. Most of the state will see mostly sunny skies by mid-week with temperatures climbing back to the upper 40s by the end of the week.
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From wind patterns to satellite and radar, and weather observations, the group saw all the tools Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey uses in the weather center.
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It wasn’t just meteorology day at Spring Hill, it was also Lorax Day as the students were celebrating The Lorax author, Dr. Seuss all week. With their bushy and colorful mustaches, and eyebrows attached, the students learned what causes extreme weather and even worked to make the sounds of a thunderstorm in their cafeteria.
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Local drivers recommend staying out of Turnagain Pass until the snow clears and avalanche forecasters recommend avoiding the backcountry until the snowpack stabilizes, which could take several days.
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Inside the Weather Lab Airport Heights, students learned about the extreme weather we see in Alaska like blizzards, flooding, and dangerous wind storms.
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In this week’s weather lab the second graders at Government Hill Elementary were able to translate the weather forecast into Spanish because they are a part of the school’s two-way dual language immersion program.
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In this week’s Weather Lab Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey visited Bowman Elementary School in Anchorage. From earth science to chemistry to engineering, these fourth graders have been working hard on science this year and are now learning more about meteorology.
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The second storm system will send a pair of fronts across the Interior and Southcentral Wednesday and Thursday. Initially, only light snow is likely Wednesday, but heavier snow is likely Thursday from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for the Matanuska and Susitna Valleys for 4-8″ of snow Thursday, with some freezing rain mixing in.
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In this week’s Weather Lab, Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey visited Fire Lake Elementary School in Eagle River.
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Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey stopped by to show these third graders what it’s like to be a meteorologist, including how to present the weather on a green screen.
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In this week’s Weather Lab, instead of Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey bringing the science lessons to the classroom, the students came to the Weather Lab here at our studios.
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In this week’s weather lab, Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey visited Chinook Elementary School in Anchorage.
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These third graders have already learned about the water cycle and will be learning more about clouds later this year, but first, Melissa stopped by to show them what it’s like to be a meteorologist and the instruments she uses to forecast the weather.
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In this week’s weather lab, Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey visited Rogers Park Elementary School in Anchorage. She says it’s obvious these fourth, fifth, and sixth graders have been working hard in science.The students knew all about clouds and the tools used to forecast the weather. This year, they’ve been studying everything from the water cycle, to how Anchorage’s weather compares to the rest of the globe and how the weather impacts ecosystems and watersheds.
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This week the Alaska’s News Source Weather Lab visited Homestead Elementary school. These third graders have been working hard this year to learn all about clouds. They got to share with Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey all that they’ve learned so far, and she got to show them what clouds reveal about the atmosphere and how she uses that information to forecast the weather.
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For only the 3rd time this year, snow fell in Anchorage! As of 4 p.m., 0.7″ of accumulated snow was measured officially in Anchorage, bringing the monthly total up to 2.1″ and the seasonal total to 57.4″. A series of small storm systems will continue to bring in moisture to Southcentral, while also keeping temperatures 5-10° above normal.
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From blizzards to former typhoons, tsunamis to volcano eruptions, earthquakes to wildfires, the weather in Alaska is extreme. The students who live in those conditions are curious about the weather that directly impacts them. Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey meets the students where they are and teaches them a little more about the world they live in.
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