What Do Meteorologists Do

Meteorologists are scientists who study the weather. They predict whether it will rain, snow, or be sunny. You often see them on TV explaining the forecast. Meteorologists help people stay safe by warning them about dangerous storms.

Predicting the Weather

Meteorologists use special tools to study the sky. Weather balloons fly high into the air to measure temperature and wind. Satellites in space take pictures of clouds and storms. Radar shows where rain and snow are falling. Meteorologists put all this information together to make a forecast.

Keeping People Safe

When a big storm is coming, meteorologists send out warnings. They alert people about hurricanes, tornadoes, and blizzards. These warnings give people time to get to safety. Storm chasers are meteorologists who drive close to tornadoes to study them. Their work has saved many lives.

Fun Facts

• Weather satellites orbit Earth and take thousands of pictures of clouds every day.
• The fastest wind ever recorded was 253 miles per hour during a tornado.
• Meteorologists can sometimes predict the weather up to 10 days in advance.

Did You Know?

No two snowflakes are exactly alike! Meteorologists have studied millions of snowflakes and found that each one has its own unique pattern.