Writing Weather Forecasts We are often asked how we know what the weather will be tomorrow and the next day and so on. Kim, Howard, Tony and I are all meteorologists. We look at data from the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration) and from the National Weather Service. We will look at raw computer guidance, surface observations, satellite and radar images and arrive at a forecast. Every time you watch a weathercast on Channel 9 or visit our web site at wusa9.com you are getting a custom, hand written, so to speak forecast. We, as broadcasters are conduits of the National Weather Service. It is our job to pass along watches and warnings to the public to protect life and property but we deliver our own forecast. Truth be told writing the forecast every day is the best part of my (work) day.

Forecasting is very personal and when it’s your face on the air you want to be completely comfortable with and confident in your forecast. During weather events we will choose our words carefully. When we talk about two to four inches of snow north of Town we mean Rockville or Gaithersburg not Clinton or Waldorf. I remember some years back forecasting for two to four inches south and east of Town. An engineer came storming into my office asking me, well confronting me as to why it didn’t snow at his house. The engineer lived way past Leesburg, Virginia. I had to remind him that he lives north and west of Town. Maybe my next blog should deal with how important it is to know your local geography.  ¶ 7:03 PM