National Weather person Day
PredictWind Founder Jon Bilger reflects on how far weather forecasting has come during National Weatherperson’s Day on February 5:
It’s pretty incredible to think that the first weather observations were taken from a hot air balloon over 240 years ago. Weather modelling technology has come such a long way since then, from Spire’s satellite constellation that uses radio frequency sensors to create a 3D profile of atmospheric temperature, pressure, and humidity over 10,000 times per day, to ECMWF’s HRES model which offers a record-breaking 9km resolution. These are just a couple of the leading global models PredictWind uses to deliver reliable weather forecasts to over a million users across the globe.
When I first started sailing, weather forecasts were basic and often inaccurate. When I competed at the Barcelona Olympics, smartphones didn’t even exist and high-res modeling wasn’t possible due to the lack of computational power. From a marine weather viewpoint, the advancements we’ve made have been pivotal for keeping those at sea safe and helping athletes win more medals.
The recent advancements in AI have also been a game changer for forecasting. For example, PredictWind’s AI Polars reference real-time data to learn the way users sail their boats, to create hyper-accurate weather routing. Looking forward, AI is going to transform our ability to deliver even more accurate forecasts. The kids of today would have a tough time believing Jeffries carried a thermometer, barometer, and hygrometer to the 9000 feet in his balloon back in 1784!
While AI and technology play a crucial role in weather forecasting, human expertise is still essential for interpreting data, making decisions, and ensuring the accuracy of our forecasts. It’s easy to forget the human element behind the technology we rely on and today is a great day to recognise those in the weather field who have helped make adventures at sea simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
I’m excited about the future of weather forecasting. The industry is evolving so fast and my team of experts and passionate sailors are committed to continuing to innovate and provide the most accurate and reliable weather forecasts possible.
