By STELLA KIM / SKIM@SOUNDPUBLISHING.com

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA – From a young age, Matt Leach aspired to be a television meteorologist.

“My parents told me when I was about 5 or 6, once the weather came on I would put down my toys, watch the weather, and once the news was back on, I would play with my toys again,” Leach said.

“I remember when I was about 10 years old, I emailed KOMO news and asked if I could get a tour of the station and I didn’t hear back. I got my first tour of the station at the age of 12 and I went back every year since. I kind of made it an annual tradition.”

“It’s kind of something that’s always been in me, I’ve always loved weather.”

Nineteen years later, his dream became a reality.

Leach works as the weekend weather anchor for 21Alive News in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

After graduating from Central Kitsap High School, Leach went on to attend Brigham Young University-Idaho where he studied communications with an emphasis in broadcast journalism.

“I actually don’t have a degree in meteorology. I started studying weather probably as early as 10. I was taught how to read weather data and weather forecast models by the weather producer at KOMO-TV,” Leach said.

From 2009 to 2014 he had a staff blog with the Kitsap Sun. Once or twice a week he would do forecasts for Bremerton Kitsap Access Television. In 2013 he worked for MSN on their weather resource page and wrote several articles about weather. Also in 2013, Leach held a weather internship with KOMO-TV where he prepared daily weather graphics.

“My favorite part of this job is also the hardest part, which is forecasting the weather. There is so much variety here in Indiana. One day it’s sunny and humid; the next day we’re chasing storms.”

Along with his job as the weekend weather anchor, Leach also works as a reporter three days a week.

“I like the reporting side too, and I feel like that has helped fill my desire to do both news and weather.”

Learn more at http://weathermatt.com.