The $17 Billion Industry Improving Weather Forecasting

TL;DR

Private companies are emerging to provide hyperlocal weather forecasting services to manage climate-related challenges, as climate change intensifies extreme weather events.

Transcript

As climate change intensifies extreme weather, accurate forecasting is becoming more imperative than ever. The US experienced 18 separate weather or climate disasters in 2022 alone, costing a total of $165 billion in damages. The disasters were also deadly, causing at least 474 direct or indirect fatalities. Tracking weather and disseminating forec... Read More

Key Insights

• ☀️ Climate change is increasing the urgency for accurate weather forecasting, leading to the emergence of private weather forecasting companies.
• 🔒 NOAA is exploring partnerships with the private sector to enhance its forecasting capabilities and improve the accuracy of its forecasts.
• ☀️ Private weather forecasting companies offer hyperlocal and specific forecasts to help businesses, governments, and organizations manage weather-related challenges.
• ✋ The challenges in weather forecasting include model imprecisions, capturing localized extreme events, and the need for high-resolution data and observations.
• 🥺 Private-public partnerships in weather forecasting can lead to innovations and improvements in forecasting accuracy, but concerns about accessibility and equity remain.
• 🖐️ Saildrone, a private company, plays a significant role in collecting ocean weather data, tracking phenomena like El Niño, and aiding in hurricane forecasting.

Questions & Answers

Q: How have private companies capitalized on the growing need for accurate weather forecasting?

Private companies like Tomorrow.io and AccuWeather offer hyperlocal, detailed weather forecasting services to paying customers. They not only provide forecasts but also offer pre-storm strategies to help businesses and organizations manage weather-related challenges.

Q: How is NOAA partnering with the private sector to improve its forecasts?

NOAA is increasingly turning to private partnerships to enhance its forecasting capabilities. It collaborates with the private sector to build infrastructure, collects weather data from private companies, and explores buying weather data as a service to improve its forecasts.

Q: What are the challenges faced by weather forecasters in producing accurate forecasts?

Weather forecasting relies on models that are based on assumptions and observations. The further out the forecast, the more challenging it becomes due to imprecisions and errors in the model. It is also difficult to capture the full intensity of localized extreme weather events.

Q: What role do private companies like Saildrone play in weather forecasting?

Saildrone, a private company, gathers hard-to-obtain ocean weather data using unmanned surface vehicles. This data is used to improve weather forecasts, track phenomena like El Niño and La Niña, and gather data on hurricanes and fish populations.

Key Insights:

• Climate change is increasing the urgency for accurate weather forecasting, leading to the emergence of private weather forecasting companies.
• NOAA is exploring partnerships with the private sector to enhance its forecasting capabilities and improve the accuracy of its forecasts.
• Private weather forecasting companies offer hyperlocal and specific forecasts to help businesses, governments, and organizations manage weather-related challenges.
• The challenges in weather forecasting include model imprecisions, capturing localized extreme events, and the need for high-resolution data and observations.
• Private-public partnerships in weather forecasting can lead to innovations and improvements in forecasting accuracy, but concerns about accessibility and equity remain.
• Saildrone, a private company, plays a significant role in collecting ocean weather data, tracking phenomena like El Niño, and aiding in hurricane forecasting.
• The public sector's role in providing essential weather data as a public good is crucial, but private partnerships can supplement and enhance forecasting capabilities.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Climate change is causing an increase in extreme weather events, leading to a greater need for accurate forecasting.

• Private companies are filling the gap left by government agencies by offering hyperlocal and specific weather forecasting services.

• NOAA is exploring partnerships with the private sector to improve its forecasts through data buys and collaborations.