Chris Wright - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Chris Wright
SkyTrak Weather

In June of 2012 Chris Wright was inducted into the Silver Circle of the Lower Great Lakes Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS). The Silver Circle Award is reserved for an elite group of professionals recognized by the chapter for making a significant contribution to television for 25 years or more. He is the first, and only African-American in the Indianapolis market to receive this honor.

Chris joined the SkyTrak Weather Team in September 1999. He came to WTHR from WISH-TV in Indianapolis where he served as the primary meteorologist for the 5, 6, and 11 p.m. weeknight newscasts.

Chris studied broadcasting and meteorology at Portland State University and at the University of Memphis where he graduated in 1983. While in Indianapolis, he has been honored with numerous awards. He was named National Weather Association Broadcaster of the Year in 1994 and has been awarded ten Emmys from the Lower Great Lakes Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

He holds the National Weather Association Seal of Approval and in 2005 became the first African American to be designated a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) by the American Meteorological Society. The CBM Seal supercedes the AMS Seal of Approval and requires successful completion of a very comprehensive examination on theoretical meteorology, operational meteorology, forecasting, and general science. In 2006, the Indiana Associated Press began presenting a Best Weather Operation Award, with Chris Wright as our Chief Meteorologist WTHR-TV won this honor in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2012. Chris has also served as a member of the American Meteorological Society's, Board of Broadcast Meteorology. In that role he evaluated the meteorological knowledge, technological skill and on-air abilities of candidates for the American Meteorological Society's coveted, Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval.

Chris began his career in his hometown of Memphis where he worked as a weather assistant for WMC-TV. In 1987, he became the morning meteorologist for WBRC-TV in Birmingham and moved to WLWT-TV in Cincinnati a year later. Chris made his central Indiana television debut on WXIN-TV in 1991. He left the market in 1995 to work at KOVR-TV in Sacramento, California, but returned to Indianapolis in 1996. In each of those cities, Chris was the first African-American meteorologist in market history.

Chris currently anchors "SkyTrak Weather" on Eyewitness News weeknights at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. In addition to his on-air duties, Chris also prepares forecasts for the weather page in the Indianapolis Star and the Eyewitness News website at WTHR.com. As if that's not enough, Chris also hosts "The Brain Game," a high school quiz show promoting the values and benefits of a solid education.

In his spare time Chris is an accomplished author. He has written ten mysteries and two children's books. Chris and his wife Megan have three daughters and make their home in Indianapolis.

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