BELOVED FORMER KNOXVILLE METEOROLOGIST MATT HINKIN PASSES AWAY Former WATE Chief Meteorologist Matt Hinkin, who spent over three decades providing weather coverage for East Tennessee, has died at the age of 62. Hinkin retired from WATE Channel 6 in August 2021 after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Born in Lawton, Oklahoma, Hinkin earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas State University and later pursued an Atmospheric Science Degree from the University of Kansas. His broadcasting career began with KSNF in Joplin, Missouri, and KSNT in Topeka, Kansas, before he joined WATE in Knoxville in 1990. Hinkin and his wife, Deborah, met while both worked at WATE. The couple married and spent 28 years together before Deborah’s untimely death in a car crash in November 2020. Details about Hinkin’s funeral arrangements were not disclosed, though plans are expected to be announced soon. Throughout his career, Hinkin became a familiar face to viewers in East Tennessee, known for his expertise and dedication to weather forecasting. His retirement in 2021 marked the end of a career that spanned more than three decades, leaving a lasting impact on the community he served.#knoxville #matt_hinkin #parkinsons_disease #wate_channel_6 #deborah_hinkin
FIRST ALERT: Above Average Temperatures Kick In Mid to Late Week Chief Meteorologist Spencer Denton reported that temperatures will rise above average starting midweek, with rain chances remaining low but not entirely absent. The forecast highlights a transition from mostly cloudy conditions to partly to mostly cloudy skies, with scattered showers possible each day from Wednesday through Friday. Tonight’s weather will feature mostly cloudy skies and a few early showers, with overnight lows expected to range from the upper 40s to near 50 degrees. Winds will be variable, blowing at 5 to 10 miles per hour. On Tuesday, the weather will remain mostly cloudy with a few morning showers, and high temperatures will climb into the mid to upper 60s. Winds will shift to the southwest at 5 to 15 mph. The week’s most significant weather event will be a total lunar eclipse early Tuesday morning. Denton warned that clouds may hinder visibility for some areas, particularly on the Cumberland Plateau where showers are likely. However, viewers east of Knoxville and along I-75 have the best chance of brief clearing skies to witness the eclipse. From Wednesday to Friday, partly to mostly cloudy conditions will dominate, with a stray shower possible each day. Highs will gradually increase, reaching the low to mid 70s on Wednesday and climbing to the upper 70s by Thursday and Friday. Lows will stay in the 50s throughout the period. The weekend forecast calls for partly cloudy skies on Saturday, with a passing shower or storm in the afternoon. Sunday will see a slightly higher chance of showers or storms, though high temperatures will remain in the 70s. Denton also noted that near-record warmth is expected ahead of the weekend, with temperatures nearing 80 degrees before the next round of rain.#lunar_eclipse #spencer_denton #cumberland_plateau #knoxville #i_75
