Blake Mathews announced he is leaving the Spectrum News 1 Texas weather team where he has been since September 2023. It was later announced that Mathews was joining the Texas Division of Emergency Management as a media and communications officer.
For those keeping score, Wes Rapaport also works there after leaving Austin TV.
Here is a small portion of what Mathews posted on X when leaving TV news:
"The time has come. After 17 years in television news, I’ve decided to switch the mic off on my broadcast meteorology career. Next Friday, October 11th, 2024 will be my last day in this field.
{snip}
My decision to step away from television has been years in the making. I’ve laid awake many-a-nights thinking about what makes me happy along with the volatility of the industry—and no matter what angle I approached from, I arrived at the same conclusion: it was time to go. It was time to take a bold step in a new direction, teeming with exciting opportunity, challenge, and growth. William Faulkner said, “you cannot swim for new horizons unless first you have courage to lose sight of the shore.” So when the opportunity came along to take the bold step forward, I leaped.
As far as where I’m going or what I’ll be doing, I can’t say quite yet. I’ll reveal that in the next few weeks—but it won’t be at another tv station, that much I can tell you. The new opportunity will be full of opportunity, adventure and challenge. Exactly what I need.
To all those who trusted me over the last 17 years, thank you. It really has been a dream come true and the honor of my life to serve those who also call this great state home."
In an accompanying graphic, Mathews says he has been with six television stations in five cities.
Before Spectrum, Mathews worked freelance for CBS News Texas KTVT from October 2021 to April 2022.
Before moving up I-45 to the Metroplex, Mathews worked in the KHOU 11 Houston weather department from 2016 to 2021. He was at the Allen Parkway studio when Hurricane Harvey's flood waters took over and eventually wrote the book "Harvey Hell: Off the Air and on the Ropes."
Mathews previously worked for:
- WJXT 4 Jacksonville, Florida as a meteorologist/weather producer
- KPRC 2 Houston assignments editor
- KBTX 3 Bryan/College Station morning and weekend meteorologist
CAREER UPDATE 🚨
— Blake Mathews (@BlakeMathews08) October 3, 2024
The time has come. After 17 years in television news, I’ve decided to switch the mic off on my broadcast meteorology career. Next Friday, October 11th, 2024 will be my last day in this field.
Helen Keller reminds us that life is either a daring adventure or it… pic.twitter.com/MYAdlWLSNG
