Over the years, meteorologists have had different approaches to understanding the weather. From looking at the sky and determining the direction of the wind to just reading computer models. However, when it comes to making predictions today’s scientists have daily routines.
Meteorologists at the Accu-Weather station in State College, Pa sit before a vast array of screens.
A typical day at the Accu-Weather station located in State College, Pa., begins with a group of meteorologists who discuss the stories that they will cover for the day. From the discussion, decisions are made and the forecasts are prepared.
In an e-mail interview, meteorologist David Murphy, of WPVI-TV in Philadelphia said, “Meteorologists rely on satellite images, radar images, measurements taken every hour at surface weather stations around the country and the world.” Meteorologists use a method called sounding, in which weather balloons are released twice a day to collect data on temperatures and air pressure.
Alex Sosnowski, a meteorologist at Accu-Weather in State College, said, “We have the satellites and radars but we also rely on the experts. The research that our experts gather from around the world-they share with other researchers, which help form accurate weather.” The experts are from all over the world and work very closely with one another to come to a conclusion on the weather.
Debates occur regularly when one meteorologist has a different prediction from another. For instance, three meteorologists might study the radars and see white dots that tell them that a thunderstorm could be coming, while three other meteorologists may believe that it is just overcast. When predicting the forecast, anything could happen.
However, the data is not always correct since there is not a way for all points to be seen at once, Sosnowski said.
There are not enough people who work in one station to look at every point that is mapped out. There are patterns in making accurate predictions, but there is also unexpected weather that could be caused by anything such as a sea breeze meeting hot air.
Predicting the weather takes time, patience and team effort, Sosnowski also said. When the meteorologists at Accu-Weather come together they present the weather by simply presenting the facts. Unlike the local TV stations who sometimes give out percentages along with their predictions.
Senior meteorologist Bernie Rayno, who has worked at Accu-Weather for 19 years, said, “People don’t remember you when you’re right. They only remember you when you’re wrong.”