In the coming weeks, a familiar face will take on the mantle of chief meteorologist at First Coast News as Tim Deegan plans to retire in May after 42 years at Jacksonville’s NBC/ABC affiliate.

On Monday, First Coast News announced that its own Lewis Turner would take over the responsibilities of the station’s top weather forecaster.

With more than 15 years at First Coast News, Turner has been a fixture behind the anchor desk and in front of the weather map delivering the news and weather to Good Morning Jacksonville viewers. And nearly three years ago, Turner took over the 11 p.m. weather reporting from Deegan as the veteran meteorologist began to scale back his duties to spend more time enjoying the weather he’d reported on for so many years.

“Lewis has long been a leader in our newsroom and in the Jacksonville community,” said Tim Thomas, general manager at First Coast News. “His passion for storytelling, his dedication to keeping viewers safe, and his commitment to accuracy make him the ideal person to carry on the legacy of excellence that Tim built.”

The announcement comes more than five months after Deegan — who is married to Jacksonville mayor and former First Coast News anchor Donna Deegan — first announced his plans to retire at the end of May.

“I have always taken my forecasting seriously,” said Deegan, when he made the announcement that surprised viewers on Nov. 1. “Friends have joked that sometimes I take it ‘too seriously,’ but weather forecasts often play a big role in critical decisions. My forecasts help our viewers schedule everything from weddings to games to marathons. Every forecast, every day, they all matter to me.”

Lewis’s promotion to chief meteorologist comes about six weeks before the start of the Atlantic hurricane season .

“It’s an honor to follow in Tim’s footsteps,” Turner said. “He’s not just a legend in this newsroom — he’s a friend and mentor. I’m excited to continue serving our community with the same integrity, accuracy, and heart that he exemplified.”

According to First Coast News, Turner led the implementation of the station’s Weather Impact Alert system, improving viewer preparedness during severe weather events.

As chief meteorologist, Turner will lead FCN’s weather forecasting team, which includes Robert Speta (who joined in October 2020), Lee Southwick (August 2023) and Ross Mummah (January 2024).

First Coast News, a Times-Union news partner, contributed to this report.