Ashley Ruiz is the Chief Meteorologist at WVLA/WGMB. She joined the StormTracker Team in October 2019. You can catch her on NBC Local 33 at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. and FOX 44 at 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. She is no stranger to Baton Rouge — Ashley grew up in Metairie, Louisiana and she even attended Louisiana State University for a short while.

Her passion for meteorology sent her to Mississippi State University, where she earned her degree in meteorology. After graduation, she moved down the highway to Columbus, Mississippi, and was a meteorologist at WCBI-TV. Then, Ashley was a meteorologist at WEAR ABC 3 in Pensacola, Florida, where she gained experience tracking tropical systems, severe weather, and even winter weather. She is happy to be back home in Louisiana!

In her free time, Ashley likes to watch movies, do yoga, help animals, cheer on the Saints and LSU, and spend time with her husband and two dachshunds, Cappie and Comet the “Weather Weenies.”

Ashley has combined her two loves — animals and weather — to develop #Furcast, a sponsored feature during the newscasts Monday through Friday. Furcast features a viewer’s pet and the forecast for the day. If you’d like to see your pet featured on #Furcast, email her at aruiz@brproud.com. You click here to view the #Furcast of the day!

As of 2023, Ashley is a board member of Cat Haven in Baton Rouge. Additionally, she hosts a segment called Whisker Wednesday on the morning show. Each week, she is joined by Cat Haven to feature a cat in need of a loving home.