GRAND RAPIDS, MI – FOX 17 chief meteorologist Rick Mecklenburg no longer is with WXMI-TV in West Michigan.
Chief meteorologist at Channel 17 for the past two-and-a-half years, Mecklenburg issued a statement Sunday night through Facebook and Twitter.
Related: FOX 17 names Rick Mecklenburg as chief meteorologist, succeeding Peter Chan
"I just wanted everyone to know that I am no longer with FOX 17 in Grand Rapids. They decided they wanted to go in a 'different direction' with their weather department, and I completely respect their decision," Mecklenburg announced Sunday evening on Facebook.
"I had a wonderful three years there and only hope for the best for the station and my former co-workers," he said.
WXMI Creative Services Director Travis Henkaline confirmed this morning that Mecklenburg no longer is with FOX 17.
"We're currently considering our options as far as his replacement is concerned," Henkaline said.
Mecklenburg, 46, debuted on WXMI-TV FOX 17 in 2011, first as a temporary replacement for longtime WXMI chief meteorologist Peter Chan who was sidelined with a torn Achilles tendon .
Chan, who was one of the original staffers when WXMI-TV debuted FOX 17 News at Ten in January 1999, suddenly disappeared from FOX 17 in March 2012.
Related: FOX 17 chief meteorologist Peter Chan is no longer with WXMI-TV
Two months later, Mecklenburg was appointed chief meteorologist, succeeding Chan.
Mecklenburg was on the air weekdays for FOX 17 News at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. and at 10 p.m.
Prior to arriving at FOX 17, Mecklenburg worked at WSBT-TV in South Bend, Indiana, for 14 years until July 2011.
The Michigan native of Marshall also formerly worked as a meteorologist in Huntsville, Alabama, as well as in the meteorology department at NASA-MSFC in Huntsville.
Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk covers arts and entertainment for MLive and The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at jkaczmarczyk@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.