Mark Prater

Mark Prater (born in Prattville) is the chief meteorologist for WIAT-TV (CBS 42).

Prater was raised in Prattville and attended Troy University, Auburn University and Mississippi State University on his way to earning degrees in broadcasting and meteorology. He worked as a television reporter in Dothan and Montgomery before moving to WBRC-TV in 1994. Part of his experience was reporting on UN food aid in war-torn Sarajevo.

In 1996 he left to become part of the original news staff at WBMA-TV (ABC 33/40) when it launched on September 1. He did weather segments for "Good Morning Alabama" and for the News at Noon, both of which he later co-anchored with Keisa Sharpe.

Prater was named Alabama's Best Weather Caster by the Associated Press in 1999. His coverage of a tornado in downtown Tuscaloosa in 2000 won him a regional Emmy and a national Edward R. Murrow award. He left 33/40 in 2004.

Prater has been a frequent guest on the Rick & Bubba Show. In 2001 he played the role of a radio announcer in the independent feature film Rustin.

In March 2002 Prater was diagnosed with Type II Hepatitis C. He disclosed the diagnosis to the public and began chemotherapy treatment the next fall. 2005 he co-authored a book, Silent Storm about his successful physical and spiritual battle against Hepatitis. Former co-anchor C. L. Carden collaborated on the writing.

Until 2008 he was Chief and Managing Meteorologist for KLJB-TV and the Independent News Network in Davenport, Iowa. He has also worked for WNCF-TV in Montgomery and WPGA-TV in Macon, Georgia. He returned to Birmingham to replace David Sawyer as WIAT's chief meteorologist.

Prater is married to the former Carol Willis of Prattville and has four children; Madison, Cole, Trinity and Fowler. They are members of the Church at Brook Hills.

Publications

• Prater, Mark with C. L. Carden (2005) Silent Storm: Finding Spritual Shelter. Birmingham: New Hope Publishers. ISBN 1563099004

References

• Stroud, Laurie (February 2003) "Mark Prater: Forecasting a Bright Future." Birmingham Christian Family

External links

• Mark Prater page at cbs42.com