Matt Zaffino Wikipedia | Biography
Matt Zaffino is a well-known American meteorologist who currently serves as a weather anchor for KGW News in Portland, Oregon. With decades of experience forecasting weather across the Pacific Northwest, Zaffino has earned a reputation as a highly respected broadcaster, particularly recognized for his expertise in meteorology, environmental reporting, and climate coverage.
Matt’s love for weather was ignited by his passion for the great outdoors. A pivotal moment came during a high school German class when his teacher illustrated how weather systems create snowstorms by sketching weather maps on the chalkboard. That lesson sparked a lifelong fascination with meteorology, and he has been crafting weather maps ever since.
He pursued a degree in Meteorology at the University of Utah, where he kicked off his broadcasting journey as an intern and later took on the role of weather producer at KTVX in Salt Lake City. In 1984, Matt landed his first on-air meteorologist job at WGTU in Traverse City, Michigan, before moving to Battle Creek, Michigan, where he anchored both morning and evening weathercasts.
In 1985, Matt made his way back to the West, joining KDRV in Medford, Oregon, as a weather anchor. Just three years later, he transitioned to KATU in Portland, where he provided weekend weather forecasts and produced environmental reports that highlighted his storytelling skills. While at KATU, he played a key role in launching the station’s morning newscast and eventually moved up to the evening broadcasts.
In 1996, Matt became the Chief Meteorologist at KGW, solidifying his status as one of Oregon’s most trusted weather forecasters. Over his impressive career, he has received numerous accolades, including multiple Oregon Associated Press Best Weathercaster Awards and several Northwest Regional Emmy Awards for excellence in weather broadcasting, along with additional Emmy nominations for his outstanding contributions.
In 2016, Matt earned a well-deserved spot in the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Silver Circle, a nod to his impressive 25-plus years of outstanding contributions to broadcasting in the Pacific Northwest.
But Matt’s talents extend far beyond the studio. He’s been on the ground for some of the biggest national and international events, including the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. In 2004, he ventured to the Greenland Ice Sheet to cover climate change research, sharing live radio updates for Portland’s KINK FM. Plus, he made broadcasting history by being the first and only television meteorologist to deliver a live weather report from the summit of Mount Hood. You May Also Like: Tedd Florendo
Matt Zaffino Age
While Matt Zaffino hasn’t shared his exact birthday with the public, we can estimate that he’s in his early to mid-60s as of 2026, given that his broadcasting career kicked off in the early 1980s. His precise age remains a bit of a mystery.
Matt Zaffino Education
Matt Zaffino graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Meteorology from the University of Utah. During his college years, he gained hands-on experience in broadcasting by interning and later working as a weather producer at KTVX in Salt Lake City. This solid educational background has paved the way for his impressive career in television meteorology, which has spanned over four decades.
Matt Zaffino Family
Growing up in the United States, Matt Zaffino developed a love for weather and the great outdoors from a young age. He tends to keep details about his family—like his parents and siblings—under wraps, preferring to keep his personal life away from the spotlight.
When he’s not working, Matt loves to spend time in nature and has been a long-time advocate for environmental awareness and climate education.
Nationality
Matt Zaffino is proudly American, both in nationality and citizenship.
Height
Matt Zaffino is approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall (1.78 m), although he hasn’t officially confirmed this height. You May Also Like: Paul Drewes
Matt Zaffino Wife
Zaffino is married, but he has opted to keep his wife’s identity private. He tends to focus on his professional life as a meteorologist and environmental journalist rather than sharing personal details.
Matt Zaffino Children
While Matt Zaffino is believed to be a family man, he hasn’t disclosed much about his children, choosing to keep that aspect of his life private.
Matt Zaffino KGW News
Matt Zaffino is a seasoned meteorologist at KGW News in Portland, Oregon, and has earned his place as one of the most well-known weather forecasters in the Pacific Northwest. He stepped into the role of Chief Meteorologist at KGW in 1996, after honing his skills at KATU, where he not only anchored weekend weather but also kicked off the station’s morning newscast and produced environmental reports.
Before making his way to Portland, Matt gained experience at KDRV in Medford, Oregon, and worked at various stations in Traverse City and Battle Creek, Michigan. His broadcasting journey began as a weather producer at KTVX in Salt Lake City while he was studying at the University of Utah.
Over the years, Matt has received a plethora of accolades, including multiple Oregon Associated Press Best Weathercaster Awards, several Northwest Regional Emmy Awards, and in 2016, he was inducted into the esteemed National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Silver Circle, recognizing his more than 25 years of exceptional contributions to broadcasting.
Beyond his daily weather forecasts, Matt has covered significant international events, such as the Summer Olympics in Sydney (2000) and the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City (2002) and Vancouver (2010). He even ventured to Greenland to report on climate change research and made history as the first television meteorologist to deliver a live weather broadcast from the summit of Mount Hood.
Matt Zaffino Salary
As one of the seasoned meteorologists at KGW, Matt Zaffino is believed to earn an annual salary that falls somewhere between $120,000 and $200,000. However, the exact figure hasn’t been made public.
Matt Zaffino Net Worth
Matt Zaffino’s net worth is estimated to be in the range of $2 million to $5 million. He has amassed this wealth over a remarkable broadcasting career that spans more than 40 years, complemented by his achievements as an award-winning meteorologist, environmental reporter, and public speaker.
