E-mail Natasha

Natasha tries to have fun with the weather. After all, it’s supposed to be “easy” and “predictable” as many people will say when discussing her job. When she gets into “weather nerd mode”, she‘ll have debates with people using terms like Anvil Zit or Haboob. Sometimes she’ll whip out her NWA membership card.

“That’s probably why I got into weather. You can answer the all important questions like, why is the sky blue? (answer: Rayleigh scattering). Or where does wind come from? (answer: pressure gradient force). Oddly enough, I had a fear of flying at one time, even though I practically grew up in a Cessna. It wasn’t until I started learning more about what triggers turbulence, etc., that I could take a commercial flight without grabbing on to a stranger’s arm. Yes, I was an arm grabber. Now I just worry about a plane’s nuts and bolts.”

When she’s not grabbing strangers, she likes to volunteer at Birch Aquarium at Scripps. After two seasons of whale watching Natasha has some pretty good sea legs.

“If you spend four hours on a boat once a week; you learn how to prevent motion sickness. You also learn how to dodge flying debris. It’s all worth it because grey whales are amazing to watch.”

She also dives in BAS’s giant kelp tank. “I am an underwater janitor of sorts. I get to hang out with the fish, a few sharks, and two very friendly eels. Hey, it’s the best dive you’ll find in San Diego”.

In case you’re interested in a little Natasha history, here you go….

She left the burbs of Sacramento shortly after high school.

“I found Malibu and the heavens opened up, ahhhhh. Thanks mom and dad!”

She graduated from Pepperdine University with a B.A. in Telecommunications-Broadcasting.

“I had to get my hands dirty after college so I worked at a few restaurants to prove something to myself. Okay, I tried the whole wannabe actor/waiter gig. It clearly did not pan out.”

Natasha paid her dues auditioning for everything young and blonde in L.A. You may have seen her as bachelorette # 2 on The Dating Game with Chuck Woolery. That is, if you were watching syndicated TV in 1999. She ran from L.A. and began her career as a radio reporter, giving the people of San Diego their news, weather, and traffic.

“Thank goodness for Metro Networks. How they ever let me on the radio, I’ll never know. Oh, I can’t forget Chrissy Russo. You know, the other weather babe. We worked together at Metro in 2001. She is the most down to earth chic you will ever meet. I don’t know what I would do without her friendship.”

Not only was Natasha “living the radio dream” in ‘01, she also worked as an intern at KSWB and volunteered at KSDS Jazz 88.3.

“Some very important people helped pave the road to where I am now. Renee - my weather mentor. Jeff - my news mentor. Joe K. - Jazz aficionado & music director. Fred L. - the man with a velvet voice.”

Natasha got her first TV job as a General Assignment Reporter at KRCR-TV in Redding, California. It didn’t take long to combine her fascination with weather and fresh broadcasting experience to become KGET-TV’s Reporter/Weather Anchor in Bakersfield. She is thrilled to be back in San Diego. You’ll find her snow skiing every winter, scuba diving year round, and now she wants to skydive…..again. She says you can’t forecast the weather without testing the elements too.

“Sometimes you have to conquer your fears by going overboard. I was afraid of flying, so I figured I better learn how to jump out of the plane if it breaks down mid air. I would like to meet more people who skydive. Oh, did I mention I’m going to get my pilot’s license? Watch out below!”

You can find her in print in San Diego Magazine (Best of June ’06) & Ranch and Coast (June ’06). If you don’t see her out and about, she’s probably studying to get the American Meteorological Society Seal of Approval. You will see the AMS logo next to her name by late 2008. If you’re an early riser, you can catch her forecasts from 5-9am and again at Noon on News 8.

In case you were wondering…….
(Haboob- A severe sandstorm or dust storm with violent winds, occurring chiefly in Arabia, North Africa, and India during period of dry weather.)
(Anvil Zits- Slang for frequent (often continuous or nearly continuous), localized lightning discharges occurring from within a thunderstorm anvil.)