Home / WINK News Team / Matt Devitt

Chief Meteorologist Matt Devitt is Southwest Florida’s #1 most trusted meteorologist. In fact, over half a million on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram follow him for his accuracy and guidance through all types of weather. He is a Florida native with extensive experience across the state – especially covering hurricanes.

Matt graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Meteorology in 2010. He then soon began his professional career in Tornado Alley with KTEN-TV. After forecasting in Arkansas and Georgia for several years, he joined WINK News back in his home state in 2016. The following year, Southwest Florida turned to Matt and the Weather Authority Team to guide them through Hurricane Irma’s landfall on Marco Island.

Matt heads the WINK weather department and mentors our team of meteorologists, along with interns from across the country. He is a member of the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. In addition to hurricane and school talks, he is an active member of the community, especially with the American Cancer Society, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Southwest Florida.

Matt had wanted to be a meteorologist ever since he was 7 years old and says he's grateful he gets to do what he loves every day. He is supported by his wife Elizabeth, who was born and raised right here in Southwest Florida. In their free time, they love traveling, going to the beach, keeping in shape, and hanging out with family.

Matt not only loves the weather but dogs too. That’s why he created Southwest Florida’s favorite weather segment “Dog of the Day,” which highlights viewers' dogs on-air along with the weather forecast to help plan their day.

Matt’s goal will always be to look out for his viewers the same way he looks out for Elizabeth and his own family. No hype, just the facts and that will always be his calm approach if any storms decide to come our way. Trust Matt and WINK News to always guide you through it all.

Not a UFO: High altitude balloon seen floating over SWFL

WINK News received numerous reports of a possible UFO floating through the skies of Southwest Florida, so we looked into it and learned that it was not an alien spacecraft. Chief Meteorologist Matt Devitt confirmed that the mysterious object was a balloon belonging to the company World View, floating at 65,000 feet in the stratosphere. […]

New technology is helping reshape storm surge forecasting

Storm surge is historically the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths in the united states, however, new technology and better forecasting are helping to re-shape that statistic. That surge refers to the rise of water generated by a storm’s winds, and it’s typically measured in feet. It can travel several miles inland from the coast, rivers, […]

NATIONAL HURRICANE CONFERENCE

National Hurricane Conference is underway in Orlando

Hurricane season is right around the corner, the perfect time for the National Hurricane Conference to be underway in Orlando. With hurricane season a month and a half away, you should be thinking ahead about your and your family’s safety, and many different ways to protect your home and new technology are on display in […]

Friday’s chilly start gives way to a temperate weekend

Beautiful weather on tap for your Friday after our cold start. Highs will gradually rebound into the lower 70s with a mostly sunny sky. Saturday will start chilly with temperatures in the 40s & 50s by sunrise. Bring the jacket! By the afternoon highs in the mid 70s with a mix of sunshine and clouds. […]

Cold morning starts mild, sunny day with no rain

After our chilly start with 40s and 50s across Southwest Florida, expect a nice rebound and swing by the afternoon. A beautiful, sunny day, as highs will reach the lower to mid 70s, with no rain thanks to low humidity. We dip back down into the 40s and 50s by Wednesday morning, as high clouds […]

Sunny MLK Day brings warmer weather, still below 80 degrees

On Martin Luther King Day morning, clouds will give way to mostly sunny conditions this afternoon; absolutely beautiful, with temperatures higher than over the weekend, in the lower to mid-70s. Tonight will be quiet but chilly, with lows in the 40s for many, as cold as the upper 30s inland. Bundle up by sunrise on […]

No rain likely until Christmas Eve, then a Christmas Day cold front

After a pleasant afternoon, another chilly night ahead for SW Florida with lows falling down into the 40s & 50s. With drier air in place no rain is expected, at least until Christmas Eve. Our rain chances for Thursday are due to a powerful cold front sweeping across the state. The best timing for rain […]

Chilly Night Ahead!

Grab the sweaters! A chilly night is ahead for SW Florida, with lows falling down in the 40s & 50s, with mostly clear skies! Our next cold front and chance of rain is going to be on Christmas Eve with a stronger front. That’ll usher in chillier weather just in time for Christmas Day! Lows […]

Know your Zone: Storm surge is the deadliest part of a storm, not wind

Systems like Tropical Storm Laura in the tropics can bring storm surge, which is salt water from the Gulf of Mexico that is pushed toward the shore by the force of winds swirling around a tropical system. And that is the most deadly part of a storm. Jamie Rhome is the Storm Surge Specialist/Team Lead […]