

Human: How are weather forecasts made?

Assistant: Weather forecasts are made with computer models. Different kinds of models have different strengths and weaknesses. One of the most commonly used models in the US is the Global Forecast System. It predicts conditions over continental-scale regions using a combination of satellite observations, data from radar and other observation sites, and other input. GFS is updated every six hours, or more often if weather patterns are changing rapidly.


Human: How are weather forecasts made?

Assistant: We can answer that!  Most weather forecasts are generated by sophisticated computer models, which are based on physical principles such as air movement and temperature.  Each model has a large number of variables that describe the state of the weather system.  These variables include measurements of current weather conditions and observations made by a network of monitoring stations.  Based on the current state of the weather and the atmospheric conditions over a specified location, the model uses physical laws to predict the weather state and the weather system’s response to existing conditions and perturbations over a short, medium or long time frame.  In the case of extreme weather events, the model can predict the magnitude of the event and its effects on the surrounding environment and predict human deaths and physical infrastructure damage.
How are weather forecasts made?
Weather forecasts are made with computer models. Different kinds of models have different strengths and weaknesses. One of the most commonly used models in the US is the Global Forecast System. It predicts conditions over continental-scale regions using a combination of satellite observations, data from radar and other observation sites, and other input. GFS is updated every six hours, or more often if weather patterns are changing rapidly.
We can answer that!  Most weather forecasts are generated by sophisticated computer models, which are based on physical principles such as air movement and temperature.  Each model has a large number of variables that describe the state of the weather system.  These variables include measurements of current weather conditions and observations made by a network of monitoring stations.  Based on the current state of the weather and the atmospheric conditions over a specified location, the model uses physical laws to predict the weather state and the weather system’s response to existing conditions and perturbations over a short, medium or long time frame.  In the case of extreme weather events, the model can predict the magnitude of the event and its effects on the surrounding environment and predict human deaths and physical infrastructure damage.