Growing up in Southern New Jersey, just outside of Philadelphia, Brian Monahan knew he wanted to be a TV weatherman for as long as he can remember.

Brian’s interest in the weather was sparked by the occasional big snowstorms that struck his area -- which makes Southwest Florida an interesting destination for this self-described winter weather lover.

Brian say he is excited about forecasting the tropical weather our region has to offer, and doesn't mind trading his heavy winter coat for sandals and shorts!

A graduate of Penn State University, Brian holds both B.S. and M.S. degrees in meteorology and is a huge Nittany Lion fan. He's also a long-suffering fan of all of the Philadelphia professional sports teams.

Before coming to WINK, Brian worked in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Penn., first at WYOU, then as the weekend morning meteorologist at WBRE, while still attending PSU.

Email Brian Monahan: brian.monahan@winktv.com