KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Matt Hinkin, the meteorologist who graced WATE’s air for more than three decades, has died, according to a report from the station. He was 62.
Hinkin spent 31 years at WATE, even serving as the station’s chief meteorologist. He was known for his visits to Knoxville-area schools and the “New at the Zoo” Saturday morning show, along with his forecasting.
He had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease prior to his retirement from WATE in August of 2021. His WATE biography says Hinkin began his career at KSNF-TV in Joplin, Missouri and KSNT-TV in Topeka, Kansas before joining WATE in 1990.
Hinkin’s wife, Deborah, was also a WATE alumni. She died in a 2020 car crash.
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