What is a chief meteorologist and how to become one

I think one thing that most meteorologists share is the passion for learning about and communicating about the weather. Many of us have been fascinated by the weather from a very young age. From heavy snowfall to tornadoes and hurricanes, the power of the weather is undeniable. And while we would never wish for destruction, severe weather is awe-inspiring. Forecasting the weather is predicting the future—it’s not an easy task and it’s a wonder that we are as good at this as we are. Meteorologists get near-instant feedback on their skills. We can see if our forecasts from yesterday were correct, and can adjust accordingly moving forward. Few professions allow for that kind of learning opportunity on a daily basis. Only two drawbacks come to mind in our profession: shift work and the small vocal minority of the public that have unrealistic expectations or are pushing political agendas. Because weather information is collected at all hours, and many people look to morning weather forecasts to plan their day, it is important for meteorologists to keep working throughout the night to provide the most up-to-date information. So working the midnight shift for the National Weather Service or waking up at 2AM to prepare for the morning news is a fact of life for some. That life is not for everyone! While I am shielded from much of this as an academic, my colleagues and former students who on TV do report back some negative interactions with the broader public. While they say most of their interactions are positive, there are some who do make nasty comments over social media if the rain/snow line is off by 10 miles, or they don’t believe humans are changing the climate, or just don’t like the cut or color of the dress someone wears on TV. So one has to develop a thick skin if they want to be on TV. But overall the positives far outweigh the negatives and it is an exciting, rewarding and incredibly important field for our students to be entering!