This book is an accessible introduction to the practice of operational weather forecasting, and describes the end-to-end process of forecasting, from gathering and processing observational data, through data assimilation and running a numerical model, to the production of forecasts for end users. It discusses the latest advances in the area, including ensemble methods, monthly to seasonal range prediction and use of nowcasting tools such as radar and satellite imagery. In full colour throughout and written by a highly respected team of authors with experience in both academia and practice, this book is an ideal addition to the Royal Meteorological Society's Advancing Weather and Climate Science Series.
Series Foreword vii
Preface ix
Acknowledgements xiii
1 Introduction 1
2 The Nature of theWeather Forecasting Problem 9
3 Meteorological Observations 27
4 NWP Models – the Basic Principles 53
5 Designing Operational NWP Systems 109
6 The Role of the Human Forecaster 149
7 Forecasting at Longer Time Ranges 177
8 Forecast Verification 205
References 223
Index 227
"Overall, this well written, well researched book is a great introduction to operational weather forecasting and the role of the operational meteorologist. It is also offers a good foundation for anyone considering the Royal Meteorological Society's professional accreditations of Registered Meteorologist or Chartered Meteorologist."
– Weather, 1 February 2015
"Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates."
– Choice, 1 November 2013