The meteorologist was on screen for more than three decades.

Matt Hinkin has died aged 62 following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease (Image: WATE)

Matt Hinkin, a meteorologist who spent more than three decades on air, has died aged 62. The beloved presenter passed away on Monday (March 16) following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease. Hinkin worked for WATE-TV’s 6 News as the team’s chief meteorologist from 1990 until his retirement in 2021. Beyond delivering the forecast, the beloved TV host was also known for visiting Knoxville-area schools and appearing on the Saturday morning show New at the Zoo.

He was also a longtime member of the Emerald Youth Foundation Board of Advisors. 6 News anchor Lori Tucker paid tribute to her late colleague, saying: “Matt had a way about him that drew people to him and that’s why I have someone, many of you, asking me about him nearly every day. He passed away yesterday afternoon.

“Matt retired in August of 21. By then he had been living with Parkinson’s disease for several years. Over the span of 31 years at WATE, Matt saw us through storms like the blizzard of ’93 and disasters like the Gatlinburg wildfires.

“He also flew into the eye of a hurricane, took us camping, took us to Africa for ‘New at the Zoo’ and visited countless classrooms to share the science behind the weather.”

Tucker added: “Despite his declining health, Matt kept advocating for people with Parkinson’s. He did it all with grace and joy and that is how we will remember our friend.”

Hinkin began his career at KSNF-TV in Joplin, Missouri and KSNT-TV in Topeka, Kansas. He earned several accolades throughout his time as a meteorologist, including being named ‘Best Meteorologist’ in the Knoxville News Sentinel’s Best of Knoxville contest in 2000.

Hinkin worked for 6 News from 1990 until his retirement in 2021 (Image: Facebook)

Hinkin’s friends and colleagues have shared their tributes on social media, many of whom expressed their gratitude at being able to work alongside him.

“RIP to our dear friend and former coworker Matt Hinkin,” WATE anchor Tearsa Smith posted on Instagram. “Thank you for all of your years of service to this community and to our station. You will be missed.”

On Facebook, WATE meteorologist Ken Weathers said: “We spent almost as much time together as we did with our families due to our dedication to making sure East Tennessee was safe. He taught me that work ethic. He also taught me that people weren’t just our viewers, but our community….our friends…our family. We were part of their lives, too.”

Another shared: “I met Matt when he came to our elementary school and talked to us about the weather. He was a very sweet and caring person who loved his job just about as much as anyone could.

Tributes have flooded in for the late presenter (Image: YouTube)

“I also remember when he hosted a show about the zoo on WATE years ago and I never missed an episode. I never missed a forecast of his either. What a blessing he was to our community!!”

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A fourth shared: “Matt was a good friend of mine. Not only did we work together at WATE, but he invited me to go to church with him (which I did), and we played together on the ‘TV-6 Reruns’ softball team for charity games back in the early ’90s. One of the best meteorologists I worked with and an excellent Sunday School teacher.”

Hinkin married Deborah Jack in 1992 and welcomed a son named Joshua in 2000. Debbie died in a car accident in 2020. A funeral will be held on 28 March. Memorial donations can be made to the Matt Hinkin Legacy Donor-Advised Fund at The East Tennessee Foundation.”