Matthew Wine says goodbye to WDHN and the Wiregrass
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) — After four years at WDHN, Chief Meteorologist Matthew Wine is leaving the Wiregrass.
Matthew recently announced he would be moving back to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, to be closer to family. His last day at WDHN is Friday, April 26th.
To say goodbye to his friends and Wiregrass family, Matthew prepared this message:
“To my coworkers, church family at First Presbyterian, and all my friends and viewers across the Wiregrass, you are the reason that making the move to Louisville has been one of the hardest decisions I have made in my entire life. Moving down here was so easy. I had the full support of my family and was welcomed by the open arms of true Southern hospitality and the love of Jesus shown to me through human hearts. It is such a blessing to go back home to my friends and family in Kentucky, but that doesn’t make leaving my friends and family in the Tri-state much easier. I will never forget the way you have loved, supported, and trusted me over the past 4 years. Hopefully, you know that I truly love you too.”
Matthew joined the WDHN team on April 27, 2020.
Hired initially to be Channel 18’s Morning Meteorologist, a young, bright-eyed Matthew was thrown into the fire on his first day after then Chief Meteorologist Ted King announced he would be out of the office. Matthew stepped up to the plate to work the coveted evening shift for his first TV appearance on WDHN.
“Honestly, I didn’t mind working both the morning and evening shift on my first day. I was just thankful to be hired and have a job at the beginning of the Covid-era,” said Matthew.
That 15-hour-long first day would be nothing foreign to the young meteorologist.
Over the years, Matthew has covered numerous severe storms, tornadoes, floods, and tropical systems. However, he didn’t spend these long hours alone.
“I had some solid teammates who helped keep the Wiregrass safe over the past four years. Andrew, Jordan, Bryan, and Oscar all deserve a lot of credit for the effort they put in day-to-day, especially during severe weather coverage. I genuinely could not have done this job without them.”
Despite his love for the job and the science of meteorology, Matthew says the people of the Wiregrass made his time at WDHN even more enjoyable.
During his time here, Matthew served the community in various roles, from visiting schools and senior centers to serving as a Board Member for the House of Ruth.
“Teaching other people about the weather brought me so much happiness. But being on the Board of the House of Ruth is truly one of the highest honors of my life,” Matthew said. “The members I served alongside truly have hearts of gold. Their work to protect people from sexual and domestic violence saves lives and creates a space for the healing process to begin.”
“On behalf of The House of Ruth Staff and Board of Directors, we will miss OUR Chief Meteorologist, Matthew Wine. He has supported our mission as a Board Member, served our cause, and assured us we were safe throughout the storms. We will miss him, but we wish him the best in all his endeavors,” said Angela Underwood, Executive Director of the House of Ruth.
Matthew made professional and personal connections through his work that he hopes will last a lifetime.
Houston County EMA Director Mark Powell praised Matthew for his service to the Wiregrass and professionalism during weather events, severe or minor.
“I have only known Matthew Wine since August 2023, when I took the job as the Dothan-Houston County EMA director. Matthew is a tremendous person with numerous good qualities. For me, he has been a source of professional knowledge in meteorology,” said Director Powell. “He has been a dependable resource during severe weather events. After each National Weather Service briefing, I would consult with Matthew Wine. He would always offer his expert insight on any event.”
And it won’t only be the citizens of the Wiregrass that miss him. During his time at WDHN, Matthew became like a brother and even a mentor to several people at the station.
“It’s been an absolute honor to work with one of the best meteorologists who has come along in a long time. He has been like my brother since arriving here four years ago. I will never forget spending my weeknights running cameras in the studio for Matthew, Paige Weeks, and Mike Gurspan,” said Cameron Conrad, WDHN’s Assignment Editor.
“Matthew is without a doubt one of the best co-workers I’ve had the pleasure of working along side. As someone with Storm Anxiety, his calming demeanor and straightforward facts about what’s happening in the moment (regarding severe weather) always put my nerves at ease. To know him is a blessing and I’m proud to call him my friend,” said Katie Hanners, WDHN’s Creative Services Producer.
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