By mid-February 2026, Matt Devitt’s name keeps popping up in Florida news circles, and for good reason. The longtime Chief Meteorologist at WINK News landed in the headlines after the station abruptly fired him in January, ending a ten-year run on local TV.
Devitt broke the news himself on social media, telling his followers that WINK let him go on January 10, 2026. He didn’t mince words about how stunned he felt. But that wasn’t the only surprise. Soon after the firing, Devitt’s Facebook page, home to a staggering 1.3 million followers, vanished without warning. He said Meta offered no explanation, and the frustration was clear in his posts. Fourteen years of weather updates, audience engagement, and hurricane coverage vanished overnight.
Then, suddenly, he was back. On February 11, Devitt returned to Facebook with a victory post: “I’M BACKKKKK! I’m happy to share that my Facebook page has been restored after it was deleted a couple weeks ago. A big thank you to the Attorney General of Florida, James Uthmeier, for stepping in to help and assist. As a result, my weather updates will now start back up again!” The reaction was immediate and overwhelming. Within half an hour, his announcement racked up more than 1,500 comments and 14,000 reactions. Clearly, he hadn’t lost his audience.
Devitt’s disappearance from Facebook started back on January 26. He says the trouble began when he tried to remove “WINK News” branding from his page, only to find himself locked out for good. “I woke up this morning to my Facebook Page deleted. 1.2 million followers over the course of 14 years gone,” he wrote at the time. “Meta Support did nothing and can’t even tell me why it happened.”
Now, with his page restored, Devitt is back to what he does best: weather updates. But he’s not just forecasting the next thunderstorm. He’s building something new. Instead of returning to local TV, Devitt is turning his massive online following into an independent weather platform. He’s looking for local business sponsors, offering paid subscriptions for exclusive content, and spreading his reach across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. “A new chapter begins, let’s get it started!” he told his followers.
All of this, the entrepreneurial pivot, the growing social media presence, is at the heart of why WINK News says it fired him. The station’s management pushed back hard against Devitt’s claim that the firing was a “complete shock.” In a memo to staff, General Manager Jamie Ricks laid out the station’s side: Management and HR met repeatedly with Devitt over the past year about “off-air conduct,” issued written warnings, even suspended him. He knew the risks, according to them. And, they allege, he broke his contract by developing a competing weather business, using company resources, and trying to recruit WINK employees for his new venture.
So where does Devitt stand now? As of February, he’s fully active online, still commanding more than 1.2 million followers on Facebook alone. He’s already posted fresh weather commentary, breaking down radar “ground clutter” for his fans, even though a non-compete agreement keeps him off local TV for now.
As for WINK News, the backlash from viewers has been sharp and vocal. Many longtime fans have sworn off the station entirely, frustrated by Devitt’s exit and the way it unfolded. Whatever comes next, one thing’s clear: Matt Devitt’s story isn’t fading from Florida’s weather scene anytime soon.
Public records show that Matt The Weatherman Inc., a Florida for-profit corporation, was filed on April 9, 2024, with Devitt listed as president. Federal trademark filings reveal the same company applied for the name “WEATHERVIEW,” covering services in meteorological forecasting, weather news, and broadcast production; everything from digital and TV to radio and podcasts.
The paperwork doesn’t say when the business actually started operating or if it made any money while Devitt was still at WINK.
Devitt hasn’t responded to the memo’s specific accusations. Still, after his firing, his actions make it clear he’s not stepping away from independent weather work.
He’s already back online. “Now that I’m back, I’m excited to reconnect with all of you again,” Devitt told his followers. “Thank you to everyone who has reached out over the past month with your kindness. It means a lot to me and my entire family.”
