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Weather Forecasting

Weather forecasting combines observations, technology and atmospheric science to predict how weather conditions will change. Explore how meteorologists forecast the weather, understand the tools and models they use, and learn how specific conditions such as snow, rain, wind and severe weather are predicted.

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In this image, a meteorologist sits in front of multiple monitors displaying weather radar, satellite imagery, forecast models, atmospheric data, and weather maps.

How Do Meteorologists Predict the Weather?

SnowStorms September 2, 2026

Forecast Guides

Learn how meteorologists create forecasts, why predictions change, how weather models work, and how to interpret the information in your daily forecast.

Seven-day weather forecast showing daily conditions, high and low temperatures, precipitation chances, wind, and an hourly forecast.

How to Read a Weather Forecast

Weather modelling process showing observations, data assimilation, computer weather models, model output, and meteorologist analysis.

How Do Weather Models Work?

Weather forecast timeline showing how forecast confidence changes from short-range forecasts to predictions more than 14 days ahead.

How Far in Advance Can Weather Be Predicted?

Weather forecast accuracy illustration showing changing weather conditions, radar data, and an accuracy gauge.

How Accurate Are Weather Forecasts?

Changing hourly weather forecast with storm, cloud, sun, and nighttime conditions alongside weather radar data.

Why Do Weather Forecasts Change?

Forecasting Conditions

Explore how meteorologists predict specific weather conditions, from snow and freezing rain to thunderstorms, wind and severe weather.

In this image, a meteorologist monitors rainfall radar, river levels, runoff models, and flood forecasts as rising water floods a nearby community.

How Do Meteorologists Predict Floods?

In this image, weather forecasting screens display wind speed, direction, gusts, pressure patterns, and upper-level winds across North America.

How Do Meteorologists Predict Wind?

In this image, a weather forecasting station tracks a large hurricane using satellite imagery, radar, forecast models, storm tracks, wind data, and atmospheric observations.

How Do Meteorologists Predict Hurricanes?

In this image, a weather forecasting station tracks a developing thunderstorm using Doppler radar, satellite imagery, atmospheric data, and lightning detection as lightning strikes outside.

How Do Meteorologists Predict Thunderstorms?

In this image, a weather forecasting station shows rain moving across Canada, with radar, satellite imagery, rainfall models, and precipitation data displayed on multiple screens.

How Do Meteorologists Predict Rain?

In this image, weather radar and forecast models show a powerful winter storm while a snowplow travels through heavy snow and blizzard conditions.

How Do Meteorologists Predict Blizzards?

Weather radar and forecasting monitors displaying a severe thunderstorm and tornado as meteorologists track conditions that could produce tornadoes.

How Do Meteorologists Predict Tornadoes?

In this image, a weather forecasting station shows a large winter storm moving across North America, with computer screens displaying radar, satellite imagery, and weather forecast data.

How Do Meteorologists Predict Snow?

Forecasting Tools

Discover the tools, instruments and technologies meteorologists use to observe the atmosphere and improve weather forecasts.

Doppler weather radar sending radio waves toward a thunderstorm with radar velocity data showing winds moving toward and away from the radar.

How Does Doppler Radar Work?

Precipitation Map