What is needed to be a good tornado forecaster?
It all starts with… • Motivation: Almost all severe storms forecasters are passionate about violent weather, with an intense desire to learn about and become better at predicting it. For many, this dates back into childhood — a first-hand encounter with violent storms, images on TV or in books and magazines, or even a deep attraction to storms which goes back too far to recall. Others start out in other fields or college majors, then became fascinated with severe weather. In any case, this desire leads to… • Education: Consistently good severe storms forecasters have a solid educational background in atmospheric science which allows them to understand “textbook” concepts of thunderstorm formation. They don’t stop with their college education, either. They constantly re-educate themselves in the latest discoveries about severe thunderstorms and tornadoes — reading scientific journal articles on cutting-edge research, perhaps doing some research themselves. The understanding of sto
