Inside the NWS: Roles, Responsibilities, and Diverse Work Environments of Meteorologists

National Weather Service Careers

Highlighting the Faces Behind the Forecast

Explore how NWS meteorologists are pivotal in safeguarding lives and properties worldwide, ensuring accurate weather predictions that play a crucial role in disaster preparedness and response.

A Brief Overview of Meteorology

Meteorology is an interdisciplinary science dedicated to understanding atmospheric conditions on Earth. A meteorologist utilizes both observation and predictive analysis techniques to forecast the weather, providing valuable insights for public safety, transportation, agriculture, and more.

Roles and Responsibilities

NWS employs over 2,000 meteorologists across various offices nationwide. Their duties vary based on specific roles and locations but generally involve analyzing data from diverse sources like satellites, radar systems, and ground-based observations to prepare forecasts, warnings, and advisories for hazardous weather conditions such as severe storms, high winds, flash floods, marine issues, winter storms, and more.

Meteorologists also collect data, offer guidance to federal, state, local agencies, conduct research, develop new methods integrating advanced science and technology into the forecasting process. Hydrometeorological technicians HMTs support meteorologists in gathering critical information by collecting weather data.

General Forecaster roles often include:

• Analyzing data

• Preparing forecast products

• Issuing advisories and warnings

Senior HMT positions typically involve:

• Collecting data

• Conducting observations

• Forecasting weather conditions

• Validating data for accuracy

Diverse Work Environments

NWS meteorologists work in various settings including Weather Forecast Offices WFOs, River Forecast Centers RFCs, national centers, and headquarters across the United States. The atmosphere varies from office to office with responsibilities ranging from issuing forecasts to collecting weather data.

Occasional travel is a part of their job. Some meteorologists may be required to provide on-site support during events like wildfires or emergencies.

Education and Experience Expectations

For federal meteorologists, at least:

• A Bachelor's degree in meteorology, atmospheric science, natural sciences including physics and differential equations coursework

• 24 semester hours related to meteorology andor atmospheric science

HMTs usually enter the NWS with experience forecasting weather for military purposes but don't require a specific educational background. Instead, they need prior knowledge on data collection, observation making, forecasting skills, and data validation.

The full criteria can be found:

• Federal Meteorology Job Series

• Federal Met Technician Series

Insight into the Faces of NWS: Meteorologists

Get to know some professionals who embody the spirit of meteorological science in our national weather service:

• Dakari Anderson - Frbanks Forecast Office

• Felecia Bowser - WFO Tallahassee Meteorologist-in-Charge

• Andrew Devanas - Key West, FL WFO

• Idamis Del Valle-Shoemaker - WFO Sacramento

• Melissa DiSpigna - Eastern Region Headquarters Regional Aviation Meteorologist

• Karen Eagle - Senior Meteorologist

• Debra Elliott - Observing Program Leader, Detroit, MI WFO

• Janae Elkins - WFO Jackson

• Bianca Feldkircher - Emergency Response Specialist

• Tanja Fransen - Portland, OR WFO Meteorologist-in-Charge

• Juan Hernandez - DallasFort Worth WFO

• Michael Hill - Warning Coordination Meteorologist

• John Hurley - MIC: Minneapolis Center Weather Service Unit

• Luis Ingram-Westover - Lead Forecaster

• Alexandra Kent - WFO Eastern North Dakota

• Lisa Kriederman - Incident Meteorologist

• Latrice Maxie - Observing Program Leader, Jackson, MS

• Alana McCants - Meteorologist, National Weather Service West Gulf River Forecast Center

• Troy Nicolini - Eureka, CA WFO Meteorologist-in-Charge

• Roland Nu?ez - National Aviation Meteorologist

• Cynthia Palmer - WFO Bay Area Meteorologist in Charge

• Bill Parker - MIC: Jackson, MS

• Janae Prieto - Meteorologist

• Hilary Clarin - Avation Meteorologist

• Stephanie Sipprell - Emergency Response Specialist

• Chanelle A. Stigger - NOAA NWS LCH

• Kyle Struckmann - National Aviation Meteorologist

• Dr. Wassila Thiaw - Meteorologist

• Ayesha Wilkinson - National Weather Service Boulder

• Charlie Woodrum - WFO Shreveport

• Freddie Zeigler - WFO Cleveland

Contact the US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA, National Weather Service for inquiries.

: The information provided reflects accurate data at the time it was published. Please refer to official sources for up-to-date detls.

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