Jay Prater Biography
Jay Prater is an American Meteorologist working for KAKE, serving as a managing meteorologist. He has been working for the station since January 2004, after working as the morning meteorologist at WJHG in Panama City, Florida.
Jay Prater Age
Prater was born on June 17th, but has not disclosed the year in which he was born. However, he might be in his 50s, judging from his appearance. Prater celebrates his birthday on June 17th. On June 17, 2025, KAKE posted him on their Facebook account and captioned “Please join us in wishing Meteorologist Jay Prater, CBM KAKE a happy birthday! 🎂🎈🎉”
Jay Prater Height
Prater stands at an approximate height of 5 feet and 7 inches.
Jay Prater Family
Prater is a native of Birmingham, Alabama, but has managed to keep his personal life away from the limelight; hence, he has not disclosed any details about his parents. It is also unknown if Prater has any siblings.
Jay Prater Wife
Prater is very private about his personal life; therefore, it is not known if he is in any relationship. He resides in Wichita with his daughter and son. He is an avid “Kansas Explorer” who has visited over 50 of the 64 counties of KAKEland, including the “World’s Largest Ball of Twine” in Cawker City, the “daunting” climb of Mt. Sunflower, and standing on the “3 corners” of Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska. Prater has also captured photographs of most of the county courthouses.
Jay Prater Net Worth
Prater has an estimated net worth of between $1 million-$5 million, which he has earned through his successful career as a Meteorologist.
Jay Prater Salary
Prater earns an annual salary ranging from $ 45,000 – $ 110,500.
Jay Prater KAKE
Prater is working at KAKE alongside other famous KAKE meteorologists, anchors, and reporters, including;
- Frank Waugh
- Cameron Venable
- Colton Williams
- Micaela Dea
- Noah Sacco
- Kate Devine
- Chris Earl
- Johan Marin
- Deb Farris
- Pilar Pedraza
- Jack Cooper
Jay Prater Career
Prater is working for KAKE, serving as a managing meteorologist. Additionally, he appears on weekdays at 4, 5, 6, and 10 p.m., or whenever tornadoes loom. He devotes himself to educating people about severe weather, as personified by his life-saving coverage of the May 2007 tornado in Greensburg, Kansas.
The American Meteorological Society honored him with the Broadcast Meteorology Award in 2010. That same organization granted him its Certified Broadcast Meteorologist™ Seal(certificate number 4).
Prater received both Television and Radio Seals of Approval from the American Meteorological Society® before the CBM™ replaced them. He also has Television and Radio Seals of Approval from the National Weather Association.
Prater was a member and Chairman of the AMS Board of Broadcast Meteorology. He also worked as an NWA Councilor, Recertification Chairman for the NWA Seal of Approval, and Chairman of the NWA Broadcast Meteorology Committee. Moreover, he is a long-standing member of the NWA Subcommittee on Standards and Ethics.
Before joining KAKE, Prater was the morning meteorologist at WJHG in Panama City, Florida. He was also the managing meteorologist for WSMV in Nashville and WAFF in Huntsville. While in Huntsville, he was a weather consultant to the contractor of the Unity Module. He began his career in 1987 at WVTM in Birmingham, Alabama, where he did weekends.
Besides being a broadcaster, Prater is a Commercial Pilot and FAA-certified Advanced Ground Instructor. He teaches aviation meteorology to future pilots and flight instructors.
Prater co-owns a 1974 Piper Arrow, which allows him to quickly travel to the several National Weather Service offices across KAKEland, host NOAA weather radio programming events, and visit schools. Away from the KAKE newsroom, he is an Extra Class Amateur “Ham” Radio operator, working with volunteer storm spotters.
Awards
Prater has earned numerous awards during his career, including the 25th Anniversary Special Award from the National Weather Association. He was nominated for The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences(NATAS) Regional Emmy Award in 2005 for Interactivity for Technical Achievement.
NATAS also nominated him for Weathercast in 1998, 1997, 1996, and 1995, as well as for the Regional Emmy® Weather Anchor Award in 2013, 2007, 2006, and 2004. He received a 1996 nomination for a NATAS Regional Emmy® Award for Engineering Achievement.
Prater won 1st Place honors from the State Press Associations for Weathercast in 2023, 2019, and 2009. In 2020, 2010, and 2007, he received the organization’s 2nd Place honors for Weathercast. Moreover, he won the 1999, 1997, 1996, 1994, and 1993 State Press Association’s Best Weather Anchor Award.
Prater earned a State Press Association’s Best Spot News Award in 1998 for “Birmingham Tornado.” That same year, that coverage earned him a nomination for a Regional Emmy® Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He won a NATAS Regional Emmy Weathercast Award in 1999 and a NATAS Regional Emmy® Award for Set Design: “The KAKEland WeatherPlex” in 2006.
“Beyond the TV Screen” earned him an RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award in 2023. He had won that award in 1993 for “Hurricane Andrew,” 1995 for “The Doppler Dilemma,” and 1998 for “Rainsville Tornado.” He won a State Press Association’s Best Spot News Award for “Huntland Tornado” in 1996 and for “Ice Storm ’94” in 1994. Kansas State Fair chose him as the Grape Stomp Champion in 2007 and 2006.
Jay Prater Social Media Platforms
He is active on his social media accounts and often posts on his Instagram, Facebook, and X(formerly known as Twitter). He has over 24K followers on Facebook, over 800 on Instagram, and over 6K on X.