Houston meteorologist Matt Lanza said he is relocating to be closer to family but will remain a key voice behind Space City Weather.
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One of Houston’s favorite meteorologists is saying goodbye to Texas, but not to his work in sharing forecasts and answering our questions about the weather.
Matt Lanza, managing editor of Space City Weather, told readers Monday he will be leaving the state after more than a decade in Houston. But he made one thing clear from the start: “I’m not leaving Space City Weather.”
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In a post that reads as both an update and a love letter, Lanza explained that the decision to move is rooted in family—specifically, a desire to be closer to his aging parents.
“This is a personal decision for my family,” he wrote. “We want to be closer to our parents as they get older.”
Even so, the tone of the post is not one of detachment but appreciation of the city he has called home and the role it has played in his life and career.
“I’ve been in Houston for almost 15 years now, half of which have included children, a process that in and of itself was full of challenges and changes in expectations,” Lanza wrote. “Did I think I’d live in Houston when I graduated college? Nope. Am I glad I did? Yes.”
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Over the years, he has become a steady, trusted voice for readers navigating everything from hurricane season to sudden cold snaps. That trust was built not just on accuracy, but on a philosophy he has long embraced: no hype, no fear—just clear, honest forecasting.
“I care deeply about getting the forecast right and communicating it clearly,” he wrote.
That approach helped define Space City Weather, a site he has helped shape alongside co-founder Eric Berger. It has also extended to other projects, including The Eyewall, a hurricane-focused site aimed at delivering straightforward coverage across the Atlantic basin.
Lanza also took time to acknowledge the broader Houston ecosystem he has worked within, including his role as a forecast meteorologist in the energy sector.
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“I’ve had the privilege of working with great people,” he wrote, including colleagues at CenterPoint Energy like former FOX 26 meteorologist Lena Dziechowski, who he described as a “rockstar meteorologist.”
“I don’t think anyone in the area can fully comprehend how much work is being done across the region by CenterPoint, both in response to 2024’s disasters and in anticipation of the absolutely insane growth in power demand coming to Texas,” Lanza continued. “I got to build something [sic] really cool stuff that is built to last and will continue to help further their preparation and resiliency to disasters.”
Chron has reached out to Dziechowski and CenterPoint Energy for comment.
The appreciation has not gone unnoticed; in a social media post, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) thanked Lanza for his years of keeping Texans informed, highlighting the reach and reliability of his work during major weather events.
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We will miss @mattlanza and we wish him well as he embarks on his next chapter. He has been a great friend to TxDOT – always being available for forecast advisement, even giving thoughts on just how far the freeze line may drop during a winter storm. 🥶 https://t.co/oePT6PNrIW
— TxDOTHouston (@TxDOTHouston) March 30, 2026
And then there is the weather itself—something Lanza has spent years studying, explaining, and, at times, enduring alongside readers.
Houston’s climate, with its dramatic swings and high-stakes storm cycles, has long been central to Space City Weather’s mission. It’s also something Lanza reflected on with a sense of respect rather than frustration.
“This place teaches you a lot about weather,” he wrote.Â
Despite the move, Lanza emphasized that his day-to-day work with Space City Weather will remain the same. Readers can still expect his forecasts, his Friday posts, and his deep dives into Houston’s weather history.
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“Nothing about my role with Space City Weather is changing,” he wrote.
In a response to the overwhelming support, Lanza shared the following statement with Chron:Â
“I’ve been kind of floored by the comments and well wishes. But our audience has always been so supportive,” he said. “I’m grateful to Eric for supporting this, and sometimes life just happens. I’m fortunate that we can do this and remain connected to Houston in a way that helps keep people still informed. Houston deserves the best, and that’s what we strive to provide every day. That will continue!”
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