Lee Born

Staff Meteorologist

Lee’s career in weather began while he was in the Navy, working as a weather observer aboard a U.S. Naval ship. He has a B.S. in Meteorology from San Jose State University. Over the years Lee has worked in a broad range of weather fields including climatology, aviation meteorology and, most recently, as a broadcast meteorologist. From 2001-2008, Lee was Chief Meteorologist at KNAZ, Flagstaff’s NBC affiliate, and he worked as a reporter and weather anchor for KPNX, in Phoenix. Lee has also made several appearances on The Weather Channel during some of Flagstaff’s biggest snowstorms. He collaborated with KNAU for many years before coming on in 2013 as the station’s in-house meteorologist. Lee is also Chief Meteorologist and student advisor for NAZ Today, Northern Arizona University’s TV news station.

Ways to Connect

Hurricane Rosa Headed Our Way

By Lee Born • Sep 28, 2018

Forecast focus remains on Hurricane Rosa tracking north near the Baja peninsula. Sunday expect increasing clouds through the day as the storm grows nearer, though it will be a pleasant afternoon. Sunday night into Tuesday will be a very wet period across the region as the remnants of Rosa move into Arizona. Notice Rosa is forecast to remain at tropical depression strenth near Yuma on Tuesday morning, which is quite rare. The storm will pack strong winds and heavy rain on Tuesday as the core crosses the State.

Solid Monsoon Numbers as the Season Winds Down

By Lee Born • Aug 27, 2018

It has been an above average monsoon season for the majority of locations across Arizona. The summer rain has helped relieve the drought stricken land, coming out of one of the driest periods (fall '17 - spring '18) ever recorded. Here is a list of selected city rainfall totals and how it compares to normal (1981-2010 average).

Much Needed Moisture On the Way

By Lee Born • Apr 30, 2018

A spring storm will enter by Tuesday evening delivering rain and snow showers to our desperately parched region. In the midst of one of the driest fall through spring seasons ever recorded for the area, fire season has begun much too soon. The Tinder Fire burning near Blue Ridge in southeastern Coconino County has been an early indication of just how dry our forests are.

Strong Winds Set to Usher in Dangerous Fire Weather Conditions

By Lee Born • Apr 10, 2018

Following a very dry fall and winter season it was just a matter of time before the spring winds ushered in dangerous fire weather conditions. Wednesday through Friday this week a storm will move through the West doing just that. Winds will increase initially on a warm Wednesday ahead of the approaching storm, with winds gusting near 45 mph from Flagstaff north and westward. Thursday even windier conditions will accompany a dry cold front, with portions of the region experiencing wind gusts near 60 mph. Strong winds continue Thursday night into much of Friday.

Why So Warm and Dry in December?

By Lee Born • Dec 8, 2017

Here we are entering the holiday season and it feels more like October. Arizona along with much of the West is experiencing some of the driest and warmest fall weather in record keeping history, in some cases that's nearly 120 years! Over the next couple of weeks we can expect more unseasonably pleasant weather thanks to a remarkably strong and persistent area of high pressure anchored over the region. This may seam like a familiar forecast, that has become much more common in recent years.