Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Weather Forecaster

🎯 Role Definition

A Weather Forecaster (Operational Meteorologist) is responsible for producing accurate, timely weather analyses and forecasts using observational data, numerical weather prediction models, radar and satellite imagery, and ensemble guidance; issuing watches, warnings and advisories; communicating risk to the public and stakeholders (media, aviation, transportation, emergency management); and supporting decision-making during hazardous weather and special events. This role blends technical meteorological expertise with clear public-facing communication, rapid operational decision support, and continuous verification/improvement of forecasting methods.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Meteorology or atmospheric science internship (broadcast, government, or research).
Weather observer / meteorological technician at an airport or national weather service.
Graduate or undergraduate researcher in atmospheric sciences or related discipline.

Advancement To:

Lead Forecaster / Senior Operational Meteorologist.
Warning Coordination Meteorologist or Incident Meteorologist.
Chief Meteorologist (broadcast) or Forecast Office Operations Manager.
Research Meteorologist or Model Developer (NWP/ensemble specialist).

Lateral Moves:

Broadcast/Television Meteorologist.
Aviation or Marine Forecaster.
Hydrometeorologist or Climate Analyst.
Emergency Management Liaison / Decision Support Scientist.

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Produce and disseminate accurate short-, medium-, and long-range public forecasts by synthesizing observational data (surface, upper-air, satellite, radar), model output (global and mesoscale NWP), and ensemble guidance to support municipal, regional, and national stakeholders.
Monitor real-time meteorological observations and model tendencies to detect rapid changes and evolving hazards (severe convection, flash flooding, blizzard conditions, tropical systems) and update forecasts and messages accordingly.
Issue, maintain, and coordinate watches, warnings, advisories, and other hazard products in accordance with agency policy and National/Regional guidelines to protect life and property during high-impact weather events.
Interpret and operate specialized meteorological systems and software (AWIPS, WSR-88D/WSR-88D products, radar velocity/reflectivity products, satellite imagery, model post-processing tools) to perform storm-scale analyses and forecasts.
Provide operational decision support and briefings to emergency managers, public safety officials, transportation authorities, utilities, event organizers, and aviation stakeholders for pre-incident planning and during active hazardous-weather incidents.
Produce concise, audience-tailored weather statements, impact-based messaging, probabilistic forecasts, and media briefings for TV, radio, print, social platforms, and web portals while maintaining technical accuracy and plain-language clarity.
Conduct forecast verification and post-event analysis to evaluate model performance, forecast skill, and warning lead times, documenting lessons learned and implementing improvements in forecasting procedures.
Apply ensemble and probabilistic techniques to quantify uncertainty and convey risk in forecasts, enabling stakeholders to make informed, risk-based decisions (e.g., probability of severe thunderstorms, chance of >1" rainfall).
Maintain situational awareness across regional and neighboring forecast offices; coordinate forecast products and warnings to ensure consistency across county/state lines and neighboring responsibility areas.
Perform mesoscale and synoptic pattern analysis using upper-air soundings, stability indices (CAPE, CIN), vertical wind shear calculations, and thermodynamic profiles to assess convective potential and severe-weather threats.
Run, troubleshoot, and post-process numerical model output, perform bias correction and MOS interpretation, and select best-available guidance for the forecast period while documenting rationale for model selection and adjustments.
Communicate with storm spotter networks, cooperative observers, and partner agencies to collect ground-truth observations, validate warnings, and rapidly adjust messaging or issuance of products as additional information is received.
Lead or participate in shift rotations that ensure 24/7 coverage; manage handoffs between shifts and maintain clear operational logs, checklists, and event timelines during high-impact episodes.
Prepare and deliver internal briefings and external presentations (press conferences, community meetings, stakeholder briefings) explaining forecast confidence, potential impacts, and recommended protective actions.
Support aviation forecasting by issuing terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAFs), SIGMETs, and aviation weather advisories and by collaborating closely with airlines, air traffic control, and airport operations to address safety and scheduling impacts.
Maintain and calibrate observational and forecasting equipment (surface observing systems, AWOS/ASOS, remote sensing, data ingest feeds), report outages and coordinate repairs with technical support teams to ensure uninterrupted operational capability.
Document forecast methodologies, create and revise standard operating procedures (SOPs), and contribute to office manuals and training materials to strengthen institutional forecasting practices.
Perform rapid hazard assessments and scenario modeling for special events (sporting events, mass gatherings) and critical infrastructure operations to recommend mitigation measures and staffing adjustments.
Engage in continuous professional development by evaluating new data sources, tools, and research (satellite products, dual-polarization radar fields, high-resolution models) and integrating improvements into operational workflows.
Conduct quality control of ingest data streams, identify anomalous or bad sensor data, and apply corrections or flag data sources while communicating data integrity issues to operations and modeling teams.
Produce climatological and hydrometeorological summaries and forecasts for agricultural stakeholders, water resource managers, and flood forecasting applications; coordinate with hydrology teams during prolonged precipitation events.
Support incident command systems and multi-agency coordination centers during emergencies by embedding forecasters, providing frequent updates, and tailoring product formats for emergency response use.
Mentor junior forecasters, interns, and meteorological technicians by providing structured training, feedback, and operational shadowing to build forecasting skills and institutional knowledge.
Maintain professional certification and currency (e.g., American Meteorological Society Certified Broadcast Meteorologist, NWS operational qualifications, or equivalent professional credentials) and complete required training courses.

Secondary Functions

Assist in developing and maintaining public education and outreach materials on weather safety, forecasts, and preparedness to improve community resilience.
Support research collaborations with universities and government labs to test and implement emerging modeling techniques, data assimilation strategies, and observation systems.
Participate in forecasting exercises, drills, tabletop scenarios, and after-action reviews to enhance response procedures and interagency coordination.
Maintain and update web and social media forecast content and automated products; measure engagement and adapt communication strategies to reach at-risk populations.
Provide ad-hoc specialized forecasts for industrial partners (energy, construction, utilities), media productions, and agricultural clients requiring tailored timing and spatial resolution.
Contribute to the office’s data management by archiving forecast products, verification datasets, and event logs for later analysis and training use.
Assist in budget planning and procurement for observational and forecasting tools, providing technical requirements and justification for new systems or upgrades.
Coordinate international or cross-border forecast messaging when weather systems impact neighboring countries or regions, ensuring clarity and consistency.
Participate in community science initiatives and educational programs (school visits, public open houses) to promote meteorology careers and increase weather awareness.
Aid in the preparation of formal technical reports, grant applications, and operational impact assessments for senior leadership review.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Strong foundation in atmospheric science and practical experience with numerical weather prediction (NWP) model interpretation, including global models (GFS, ECMWF), mesoscale models (HRRR, NAM, WRF), and ensemble systems.
Proficiency with operational forecasting platforms and visualization tools (AWIPS, IDV, GrADS, GEMPAK, or equivalent), plus experience ingesting and manipulating model and observational datasets.
Operational experience interpreting Doppler radar (WSR-88D), dual-polarization products (Zdr, Kdp, Differential Reflectivity), and radar-based storm analysis for severe weather detection and warning operations.
Skilled in satellite meteorology interpretation (geostationary and polar-orbiting imagery, RGB composites, water vapor channels) to assess convective development, moisture transport, and cloud-top structures.
Familiarity with meteorological data systems and formats (BUFR, GRIB, NetCDF) and ability to work with model output and observational archives for diagnosis and verification.
Applied knowledge of hydrometeorological concepts and tools (QPF, flash flood guidance, streamflow impacts) and ability to coordinate with hydrology teams during flooding events.
Experience with scripting and data analysis using Python (xarray, pandas, MetPy), MATLAB, R, or similar to automate forecast workflows, perform verification, and post-process model output.
Competence in ensemble forecasting techniques and probabilistic product generation (calibration, reliability, and communicating uncertainty to stakeholders).
Working knowledge of aviation and marine meteorological products and regulations (TAFs, METAR/SPECI, SIGMETs), and ability to interpret PIREPs and pilot reports.
Practical experience with observational networks (ASOS/AWOS, surface mesonets, weather balloons) and performing quality control and anomaly detection on incoming data.
Understanding of emergency management and incident command principles, plus experience providing decision support and risk communication during crises.
Ability to prepare and maintain technical documents, SOPs, and verification reports using professional technical writing skills.

Soft Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a proven ability to translate complex meteorological information into clear, actionable guidance for varied audiences (public, media, emergency managers, industry).
Strong situational awareness and calm decision-making under time pressure during fast-evolving hazardous weather events.
Collaborative team-player who can coordinate across multi-disciplinary groups (IT, hydrology, aviation, public affairs) and facilitate consistent messaging.
Critical thinking and problem-solving aptitude with attention to detail and a disciplined approach to verification and documentation.
Adaptability to shift work, irregular hours, and extended operations during severe weather outbreaks, with strong time-management skills.
Leadership and mentoring skills for training junior staff, interns, and volunteer spotters; ability to provide constructive feedback and maintain operational standards.
Customer-oriented mindset focused on stakeholder needs, service delivery, and building trusted relationships.
Public speaking and media presentation skills, including handling live interviews and press conferences with composure.
Cultural awareness and empathy when communicating risk to vulnerable populations and diverse communities.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Meteorology, Atmospheric Science, or closely related physical science.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Meteorology, Atmospheric Science, Hydrometeorology, or Applied Climate Science.
Coursework or certification in data science, computer programming, or emergency management is a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Atmospheric Science / Meteorology
Climatology / Climate Science
Hydrometeorology / Water Resources
Physics, Applied Mathematics, or Environmental Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–8 years operational forecasting experience; entry-level (0–2 years) for assistant forecaster roles up to senior operational positions requiring 5+ years.

Preferred:

3–5+ years of operational forecasting in a government, broadcast, aviation, or private-sector environment with documented track record in severe-weather forecasting and decision support.
Demonstrated experience with AWIPS/operational platforms, radar and satellite interpretation, and NWP model selection/adjustment.
Experience coordinating with emergency management, aviation authorities, utilities, or media outlets and delivering high-impact briefings during hazardous events.