Meteorologist Sam Champion, who has been at ABC News since 1988, has announced today that he is leaving the network to join the flailing Weather Channel.

According to CNN Money, Champion -- who won a Peabody Award for his coverage of Superstorm Sandy -- parted amicably with the station. He said that he will become the managing editor of The Weather Channel, as well as host an upcoming morning show for the network. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to do what I love most at a network that lives and breathes the weather," Champion said. Ginger Zee, who has filled in for Sam Champion periodically for the past two years, has been tapped take over the chair on ABC.

According to The New York Daily News, Champion will definitely be missed by his colleagues and executives alike. ABC News's president David Sherwood called him "a vital part of our team." "There's no replaciing Sam," said Sherwood in a memo Monday. "While he is leaving ABC News, he will always be part of our family."

Weather Channel President David Clark told The Daily News that negotiations for Champion began "several months ago," as the Weather Channel was developing plans for a rebranding that will include a new look and a new morning show. "Sam was our dream choice" for mornings, said Clark. "He has equity in the weather area and he's a known personality. People like him."

Champion's new show on The Weather Channel will debut in the first quarter of 2014. ABC has said that they will begin Champion's going-away party in this coming week.

Champion began his career at ABC 25 years ago, at the New York City affiliate of the network -- WABC-TV. Seven years ago, he was tapped for "Good Morning America," and he became one of five anchors that were instrumental in helping the morning show topple NBC's "Today Show" in the top of the ratings.