A typical day in a Canadian Forecast Centre ...

First thing, I receive a shift change briefing from the meteorologist who is about to leave. This briefing includes information about ongoing weather & weather warnings, any equipment problems, and a general discussion of the forecast that was just issued. Next, I begin to look at the current weather and make sure that the forecasts are working out okay. I also take a look at the forecast charts that are derived from mathematical models of the atmosphere and begin to write my forecasts

We have several different positions in the office. Forecasters can work the "public" desk (writing the forecast that you would hear on the radio, or if you phone the weather office.. today will be cloudy with a few sunny periods and a high near 10 ) or the media desk (responsible for radio and tv broadcasts, newspaper and internet weather pages) or the marine desk (writing forecasts for the waters of BC for Georgia Strait a gale warning is in effect. Southeasterly gales 35 knots easing to southwest 15 knots later this afternoon.) or the prog-analyst position (responsible for producing the weather charts and guidance for the office).

When I work on the "marine" desk - I am responsible for issuing and monitoring Marine Wind Warnings and the marine forecast for the coastal and offshore waters of British Columbia. To do this, I have to monitor the reports from MANY locations along the coast every hour as well as the reports of a dozen or so weather buoys anchored to the ocean bottom and reports that ships send in. Tools that I use everyday on the desk include a healthy dose of climatology (to tell what normally happens), Satellite photos, (to watch the development and progression of weather systems across the Pacific), weather radar(to see if it's going to rain imminently..), computer models (for computer based predictions of what weather will follow), Surface charts (as a marine forecaster, I'm primarily looking at the pressure patterns (Highs/Lows etc)and the movement of fronts.
Although charts are available by computer - we prefer to analyze pressure charts by hand - and every 3 hours a new chart is printed up and analyzed - this allows a much more careful watch of weather systems than would be otherwise possible. We also answer many phone calls in a typical day and help out search and rescue operations whenever needed.

All in all my job is very interesting. My days are busy, but it's very satisfying to write an accurate forecast. I get to use my knowledge of meteorological science every day. Weather is kind of like fingerprints - no 2 weather systems are ever alike. We really don't like it when we're wrong! It's sometimes difficult to understand when "mother nature" throws us a curve ball, but we learn from every situation.
Weather can make a great hobby too - watch the sky, feel the winds, be observant. You can learn a lot!
I also have a site with lots of weather links ...I hope you find something that interests you!

Last Updated Oct 2004..

address of this page http://www.oocities.org/Heartland/1102/shortweather.html