Chief Meteorologist Alan Rose leaving NewsChannel 3, Kelsey Gerckens announced as replacement

After nearly 14 years providing unmatched weather coverage to Santa Barbara and the surrounding communities, Chief Meteorologist Alan Rose is saying good bye to KEYT NewsChannel 3 and KKFX Fox 11.

It is with mixed emotions that we bid farewell to our friend and colleague as he moves onto new opportunities and a new role as a forecaster for KOAA, an NBC affiliate in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

During his tenure, Alan was a fixture on televisions as well as in the local community, serving as an in-the-field weather reporter, emceeing community events, hosting charitable fundraisers and broadcasting live every weekday throughout the tri-counties.

“When I first walked through the doors at Channel 3 as the ‘newbie’ nearly 14 years ago, I never could have imagined that I’d be here all these years later. I came in with a passion for the weather, science, the news and community. My time here at the station and in Santa Barbara has fostered all of this, and more. I will miss it dearly,” Alan said.

He has been the go-to source for weather coverage and a trusted voice of knowledge during serious weather events including forest fires, rainstorms, heat waves and powerful weather incidents common to the area.

He says the thing he’ll miss the most is the community and his coworkers.

“One of the things about our team that’s impressed me since day one, and still impresses me today, is the family-like atmosphere of the station. Our little family works hard and cares about what we do: keeping our community safe by being the most trusted team of weather and news anchors on the South and Central Coasts,” Alan said.

His departure will definitely be felt by co-workers and managers at the station. “It’s been gratifying to watch Alan grow as a Chief Meteorologist, nurturing and expanding our weather team into a terrific group of talented individuals,” said News Director Jim Lemon.

“Alan has been the heartbeat of our weather team as we have invested in newer and better technology at a rapid pace, all in an effort to forecast critical and sometimes lifesaving weather information to our viewers,” said NewsChannel 3 General Manager Mark Danielson. “Alan is a great leader for the First Alert Weather team, a great leader in our newsrooms and a leader in our community. He will be missed.”

Alan will be trading in the sandy beaches for the powdery slopes. As an avid winter sportsman, Alan says it’s always been a dream of his to live near the mountains of Colorado.

Taking over in Alan’s stead will be Kelsey Gerckens, a familiar face for fans of The Morning News and one of the countless forecasters Alan has taken under his wing as Chief Meteorologist.

Kelsey says she is excited for the new opportunity and ready to continue Alan’s legacy of tremendous weather coverage.

“Alan Rose has been an amazing mentor to our weather team. I have learned a lot from Alan and now I look forward to continuing his work and the work of my colleagues as I take the reins of the weather team. It is truly an honor, and I can’t wait to get back in front of the green screen and start forecasting for our evening newscasts,” Gerckens said.

Alan says the daily forecast is in good hands with Kelsey taking over.

“Starting out as an intern, Kelsey Gerckens has risen through the ranks by being smart, sweet and really good at every job she’s taken on,” Alan said. “I couldn’t be happier for her and am confident in leaving her behind as my successor.

Kelsey will appear on NewsChannel 3’s 5:00, 6:00, 6:30 and 11:00 p.m. weeknight newscasts. She will share forecasting duties at 10:00 p.m. on Fox 11 with staff meteorologist Jason Stiff, according to Lemon.

“I am thrilled to be diving into my new role as the evening weather anchor. I am beyond blessed to be able to continue to forecast for my hometown and the community I live in,” Kelsey said. “The majority of the time we have weather that the rest of the world is jealous of, but I also know first-hand how important it is to get out vital information when our community is faced with disasters. I am committed to our community and will continue to provide our viewers with the weather coverage they have come to trust and rely on.”

Alan believes Kelsey’s on-hand and in-the-field experience makes her uniquely qualified for the role.

“She has the experience and knowledge to lead our weather team, having covered it all from the back-to-back disasters of 2017-18, to numerous wildfires, wind storms and winter storms. I have complete confidence that she’ll continue to be a trusted source for our viewers, whether it be a severe weather day or a day filled with sunshine and mild weather. I look forward to watching her grow and keeping in touch with her and everyone at the station in the years ahead,” Alan said.

Congratulations to Kelsey Gerckens as she transitions to her new role. And thank you to Alan Rose, for being a tremendous leader, mentor and friend in the newsroom and in the community.

“I’m going to miss the good times, the tough times, the fun times and the hard times. However, I will always keep NewsChannel 3 and Santa Barbara in my heart wherever I go.”