Elyse Smith
Growing up in the Chicagoland area, Elyse's interest in weather was sparked by a tornado siren that was next to her backyard at her childhood home. Her curiosity for the weather never ceased, eventually leading her to Valparaiso University in Northwest Indiana from which she graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology with minors in Mathematics & Theatre in 2017. While attending Valpo, Elyse gained experience through her internships with James Spann and Tom Skilling, and served as the Social Chair, Vice President, and President of the Northwest Indiana Chapter of the AMS/NWA. After graduation, she stayed involved with both the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and National Weather Association (NWA), volunteering on several boards and even presenting at national conferences. Elyse is currently serving as the Program Chair of the AMS Early Career Leadership Academy, from which she is a graduate of as well.
And when she's is not at the office or out in the stormy weather, Elyse enjoys yoga, reading a great book, and attempting new recipes. Her favorite sport is football, but don't blame her if her NFL team loyalties lie outside of Texas. And as an avid cruiser, she's ready to plan a vacation from Galveston! Elyse is looking forward to exploring Houston and discovering what this part of the world has to offer.
Elyse's Stories
Warm, dry week continues with a glimmer of hope for rain next week
These beautiful drought-building days continue until a pattern change next week brings hope for some rain.
Tropical Storm Oscar impacting the Bahamas
The Tropics remain active, though there are no signs that Oscar will impact the US.
Texas Forest Service prepares for wildfire risk as Houston drought worsens after month without rain
While much of the region, including all of Harris County, is experiencing dry to moderate drought conditions, you can take steps at home to reduce the risk of wildfires spreading.
Rice University launches new coalition, aims to help front-line communities across the Gulf Coast
As sea levels rise, Houston faces an increasing flood risk in the coming years. That's why Rice University is launching a new center to help coastal communities better weather future storms and become more flood-resilient.
October is about to begin, what does this mean for the end to hurricane season for southeast Texas?
Several named systems are in the Atlantic, and areas in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico are being monitored while a La Niña emerges in the Pacific. Here's what active tropics mean for the rest of the hurricane season.
California lawsuit against ExxonMobil states that plastic is not as recyclable as company claims
The California lawsuit also accuses the Houston area-based gas company of deception, as ExxonMobil claims recycling is a viable option for managing plastic waste.
What are oak galls, and why could there be more in Houston this fall?
They are tiny, fuzzy, and yellow or brown in color. You'd know what oak galls look like if you see one, but are they dangerous? And what does it signify in nature?
Tropical expert weights in on rapid intensification process and notes 2 areas of future research
Several storms intensified when they entered the Gulf of Mexico this hurricane season, and tropical experts say climate change could impact the strongest storms.
Surfside Beach faces 4th high-water event since June in Francine: 'Mother Nature dealt us bad hand'
You may have heard a lot about Surfside Beach on ABC13 in recent months, especially during storm events. The mayor says they wouldn't have to deal with flooding if a state project started on schedule.
Galveston officials still assessing extent of beach erosion after Hurricane Beryl
ABC13 Meteorologist Elyse Smith shows how officials are repairing Galveston beaches and preparing for future storms.