CLEVELAND, Ohio — Mark Johnson, longtime WEWS Channel 5 meteorologist, is returning to the airwaves — just not in Cleveland, at least not yet.

Johnson has been hired by TEGNA, the parent company of WKYC Channel 3, to deliver weather forecasts for its network of 64 television stations across the country.

“We’re excited to welcome Mark Johnson to TEGNA, where he will be supporting meteorologists across several stations with weather forecasting and broadcasts,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “He’s an industry veteran and we believe his unparalleled weather forecasting and reporting experience will be an asset to our teams.”

In an industry where non-compete clauses are common, Johnson’s new role doesn’t include an on-air role at WKYC. Still, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Kent State University graduate eventually lands at the local NBC affiliate.

A message sent to WKYC’s general manager requesting comment was not returned. The TEGNA spokesperson, however, said the company doesn’t comment on the specific terms of its contracts.

Johnson’s hiring role comes two and a half months after his abrupt exit from WEWS, where he spent more than three decades as chief meteorologist. The station did not offer a specific reason for his departure. Instead, it described the situation as a “personnel matter” and suggested his conduct may not have met the “highest ethical standards” of the station and its parent company.

“Mark is a model professional. Of conduct that would be deemed inappropriate, there’s none of that,” his agent, Dan Levin, responded at the time.

In his time off the air, Johnson has kept his fans engaged by sharing updates on social media, posting photos of sunsets, family time and his gardening projects.