What types of jobs besides TV broadcasting for Met ....

[scorpdream]

What types of jobs besides TV broadcasting are there for a meteorologist, especially in the Southeast (Al)? I am getting the chance to go back to school and have always been fascinated by weather events, the good, the bad, and the ugly. You just don't see a lot of "ads" for meteorologists. What about environmental meteorology? I was thinking about maybe a minor in this rather than a major? Please share your thoughts.

If this is the wrong place to post, please move or whatever you like. It did not seem to fit anywhere else either.

[Ivanhater]

What types of jobs besides TV broadcasting are there for a meteorologist, especially in the Southeast (Al)? I am getting the chance to go back to school and have always been fascinated by weather events, the good, the bad, and the ugly. You just don't see a lot of "ads" for meteorologists. What about environmental meteorology? I was thinking about maybe a minor in this rather than a major? Please share your thoughts.

If this is the wrong place to post, please move or whatever you like. It did not seem to fit anywhere else either.

hey, where are you going to school, im going to usa in a few weeks and studying met...good question about jobs, id like to know myself

[gkrangers]

National Weather Service
Accuweather
NOAA
Various companies in various fields need weather personel.
Military

[wxwatcher91]

My question is about colleges moreso...

I'm only 14 but 4 years can fly by and I oughta start thinking about em now I suppose...
anybody??

[P.K.]

There is always Fortran 90 programming for computer models if you can stand Fortran.

I'm looking at joining a mobile met unit with the army when I graduate in June to try and get into civilian forecasting over here.

Edit - Didn't make any sense before.

[gkrangers]

My question is about colleges moreso...

I'm only 14 but 4 years can fly by and I oughta start thinking about em now I suppose...
anybody??

There is alot of good programs...something to think about is what you want to focus on. Winter storms? Hurricanes? Severe weather?

For now...do well in Math and Physics...take AP math and physics courses and do well in them, to get college credit.

[scorpdream]

I understand and know the organizations that hire meteorologists. What I am asking is what types of jobs do met do in the real world? How many places within any given locations (particularly interested in the lower Alabama area) are going to have met jobs to go around?

I know about all of the math and science, etc. I already have my Associates of Applied Science in HazMat Technology and some credit for a BS in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. This would be switching sciences for me and going in as a Junior. Earth sciences in general including met are what have always fascinated me. I want to know the nitty gritty daily tasks and if I can find a job fairly local. Hope that helps clarify what I am asking. I want to do something I enjoy!

[Derek Ortt]

accuwx is good if you want 16K per year

try the university sector, you get paid farily well while obtaining your grad degree and get paid even better afterwards

[chris_fit]

accuwx is good if you want 16K per year

try the university sector, you get paid farily well while obtaining your grad degree and get paid even better afterwards

I was a met major for a year in college, I changed to my other hobby, computers. I don't think I could find a well paying job as easily being a met major as now, computer engineer, in which I already have my job before graduating.

That sounds confusing but whatever

[clfenwi]

My question is about colleges moreso...

I'm only 14 but 4 years can fly by and I oughta start thinking about em now I suppose...
anybody??

One nice thing about meteorology is that if you want so pursue that specifically as a major, then you aren't faced with the vast range of choices that others are challenged with.

The American Meteorological Society has a great database of schools that offer meteorology programs:
http://www.ametsoc.org/amsucar_curricula/index.cfm

(note that some of those programs aren't strictly meteorology... there's stuff like Earth Science with an emphasis on the atmosphere, etc).

There is a valid alternate approach that doesn't necessarily limit your choice of schools and that is to major in math or physics, or something related then pursue a graduate degree in meteorology. Very common for people who are interested in dynamics and want to do research. Of course, people who are interested in forecasting tend to take the direct route.

[Ivanhater]

i want to specialize in tropical weather, after i graduate im going to get my masters at florida state, how do you start looking into a job in the met field, derek you could probably give some incite from your experience

[wxman57]

Probably the greatest employer of meteorologists in the U.S. is the NWS. But it's by no means the only way to go. There are many private meteorological consulting firms across the country, of which AccuWeather is only one. I've never heard too many good things about working at AccuWeather. You have to sign an agreement saying you won't work anywhere else as a met for a given number of years after quitting AccuWeather or they come after you, legally.

I work at a private weather company. We employ about 30 meteorologists. We have a "Marine Team" that forecasts for offshore oil companies in the Gulf and around the world. We have a severe weather team that monitors our customers' locations for specific types of severe weather. There's another team that specializes in short and long-range detailed (i.e. hourly) temperature forecasts. And, of course, there's the hurricane team. Our customers include utilitiy companies, offshore operators, petrochemical companies, schools, counties (parishes), banks, energy traders, and more. Working for a private weather provider can be quite challenging and rewarding.

Other places that employ meteorologiss are airlines (though they're scaling back), energy trading companies, local/regional air quality offices, and TV stations,

Do you have any particular weather interest? Tornadoes? Hurricanes? Air polution meteorology? Marine forecasting? I guess your decision should depend on what you would like to do, weather-wise.

One thing the NWS has going for it is job security. It's hard to get fired from a government job. But many may not find the work challenging enough. Private companies can be more challenging, work-wise, but may not offer the job security. Pay can vary a great deal among private companies. Just remember that a $30K-$50K per year job in New York isn't the same as a similar paying job in somewhere like Houston. Cost of living is much higher in certain areas.

One last thing. Consider that weather forecasting isn't a M-F 9-5 job. It's 24/7/365. Chances are you will work many night shifts, most weekends, and most holidays. In our office, we take turns having holidays off.

[wxcrazytwo]

palm reader..

[Ivanhater]

One last thing. Consider that weather forecasting isn't a M-F 9-5 job. It's 24/7/365. Chances are you will work many night shifts, most weekends, and most holidays. In our office, we take turns having holidays off.

sounds like my kind of job!

[Derek Ortt]

ivanhater,

get to know people if you want a good job in the field, especially for trop met

[Ivanhater]

ivanhater,

get to know people if you want a good job in the field, especially for trop met

is it that hard to get in?

[Derek Ortt]

its a LOT easier if you know those who are established in the field, as the places are somewhat limited. NHC may be the most difficult to get into, even if you do know people as the places are VERY limited and the turnover rate is VERY slow

[clfenwi]

My question is about colleges moreso...

I'm only 14 but 4 years can fly by and I oughta start thinking about em now I suppose...
anybody??

There is alot of good programs...something to think about is what you want to focus on. Winter storms? Hurricanes? Severe weather?

For now...do well in Math and Physics...take AP math and physics courses and do well in them, to get college credit.

As far as the second part goes, I agree with the general idea, but not necessarily the specifics.

I would classify it as one of things that 'take the opportunity if it's there but don't sweat it if it isn't' and also even if the opportunity is there it isn't necessarily a must.

I have known meteorology majors whose first math course in college was Basic College Algebra, (which is behind the curve for meteorology; 4 year course layout usually assumes precalculus as the starting point).

With AP Calculus and Physics you aren't necessarily getting the advantage that you are with other AP courses.

With AP Physics, I've known of schools that only give credit for the calculus based courses if a 5 is earned on the test. 3s and 4s get credit for the algebra based versions... worthless for a meteorology major.

As far as AP Calculus goes, I've known of schools that require a placement test regardless of AP or other prior credit. I've seen people get the credit for say Calculus I, then for whatever reason bomb the placement test. They get to take Calc I for no credit if they want to proceed to Calc II. Also, because of that system, it is possible for someone who didn't take AP Calculus to place into a higher course than BCA, Pre-calculus, or Calc I.

It's a rather involved story that I won't get into the details of, but when I was in high school, I kind of over-reached because I had it in my mind that I 'had to take Calculus'. As I've suggested, that was/is not the case.

[deltadog03]

I am going through mississippi state

[Frank2]

Other employers are water management districts, oil companies, agri-businesses, individual State agencies (such as EOC's), etc.

Frank