Latest news with #BradPanovich
Axios
15-04-2025
- Climate
- Axios
Charlotte meteorologist Brad Panovich explains chance of rain, talks AI in meteorology and more
We recently caught up with WCNC's chief meteorologist, Brad Panovich, to hear his thoughts on the Apple weather app — and why he thinks you should delete it. Why it matters: During the interview, we hit on a few other topics in the world of meteorology, including what "chance of rain" means, AI replacing your local meteorologist and federal cuts impacting forecasts. On the chance of rain. A few years ago, a trend on TikTok made many people realize they didn't understand what the chance of rain in a forecast actually meant. Panovich explains it like this: The probability of precipitation, AKA "chance of rain," is how much of the area will see rain multiplied by the confidence in the forecast that it will rain. "So, 100% chance of rain doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be a heavy all-day rain," Panovich says. "It just means we're 100% confident that everybody's going to get some rain at some point." That said, it might just be a short shower, not a reason to cancel your beach plans. On whether AI could replace your local weatherperson. So far, it hasn't. Panovich says he's been using AI for years as a tool to improve weather models and save time. "It just makes our job easier," Panovich says. "I can focus more on communicating the forecast, putting out better people understand it, and I don't have to spend as many hours crunching numbers." On federal cuts impacting the forecasts. Government cuts have led the National Weather Service to reduce weather balloon launches across the U.S. Those balloons gather crucial information for forecasting, such as a three-dimensional view of the atmosphere. "If there's a cold front in North Dakota right now and it's going to be our weather this weekend, we would not have a good sampling of that storm," Panovich says, "because the weather balloons in Fargo or Grand Forks are not being launched."
Axios
11-04-2025
- Climate
- Axios
Why Charlotte meteorologist Brad Panovich wants you to delete your Apple weather app
Brad Panovich says it's for your own good (and his): Delete the default weather app off your phone. "I'm tired of taking the blame for it," the Charlotte meteorologist posted on social media recently. Why it matters: An inaccurate weather forecast can ruin your day. It's how we plan what to wear, where to go and what to do. Yes, but: Most people still use stock weather apps (or as Panovich and others call them, "crap apps") that are automatically uploaded to their devices simply for the sake of convenience. How it works: These apps rely on automated information, sometimes from unknown sources, without human insight. The apps also can't filter out "ground clutter" or "false returns" on a radar, Panovich explains. For example, on a sunny day, it might interpret wildfire smoke as a thunderstorm. Case in point: Last fall, when Hurricane Helene was coming, one of those apps might've only warned of a 100% chance of rain with a thunderstorm icon, Panovich explains. "There's nothing in the app that tells you this is going to be a catastrophic flood, and there's going to be landslides and the worst storm to ever hit western North Carolina," Panovich adds. By the numbers: Default apps are right about 80% to 85% of the time, Panovich says. However, human-driven forecasts reach about 90% to 95% accuracy. That roughly 10% of added value may seem insignificant, but could be a difference of 25 to 50 days out of your year. "If that's your day off or a holiday or maybe you got a wedding, that day could be pretty important," Panovich says. Be smart: There are better options, Panovich says. Of course, he plugs WCNC's app. However, any app from a local TV station is a more reliable choice.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Meteorologist Warns That Gutting NOAA Will 'Bankrupt The US'—Says 'Every Single Dollar Of Our Economy Is Impacted By The Weather'
The Trump administration is reportedly set to cancel the lease for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Center for Weather and Climate Prediction is drawing sharp criticism from meteorologists, scientists, and weather experts. Many argue that the move could cripple national weather forecasting and put American lives and businesses at risk. The Center for Weather and Climate Prediction, located in College Park, Maryland, is the backbone of NOAA's forecasting operations. It houses critical supercomputers that process Doppler radar data, weather models, and observational data used by meteorologists nationwide. The facility was designed to consolidate operations, increase efficiency, and save money—a decision that now seems ironic as its lease faces cancellation. Don't Miss: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Brad Panovich, a Charlotte, North Carolina-based TV news meteorologist, pointed out on X, "These are the literal buildings that house the computers and data centers." He said NOAA intentionally moved all its IT infrastructure into this single facility to reduce costs rather than operating multiple separate sites across the country. 'The irony was that it was built for efficiency and cost savings, so there were not separate facilities for all these different departments. All numerical modeling for NOAA/[National Weather Service] comes from those supercomputers and data centers there.' Panovich has been vocal about the economic consequences of gutting NOAA, warning that every sector of the U.S. economy depends on accurate weather forecasting. "This will literally bankrupt the U.S. If you ever wondered why NOAA/NWS is in the Department of Commerce, I have some news for you. Every single $ of our economy is impacted by the weather," he said, emphasizing the widespread reliance on NOAA data by industries such as agriculture, transportation, energy, and retail. Trending: Michael Mann, climatologist and director of the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Science, Sustainability & the Media, told Newsweek that dismantling NOAA could be catastrophic. "Without NOAA, we are flying blind into a climate abyss," he said, stressing that the agency provides crucial data for monitoring extreme weather events, including hurricanes and tornadoes. The lease cancellation comes as the U.S. heads into peak tornado season, a time when NOAA's work is more critical than ever. The agency has already been hit with 800 staff layoffs, and experts warn that further cuts could weaken disaster preparedness. Jim Cantore, a Weather Channel meteorologist, called the lease cancellations "horrible news for numerical weather prediction in this country," adding that the data from these facilities "saves lives." Andrew Hazelton, a physical scientist with NOAA's hurricane research division, echoed these concerns on X, calling the move "a direct attack that would cripple NOAA modeling capabilities and directly lead to more death and property loss."A senior White House official told Axios that the administration is merely "reevaluating the lease terms, not closing any building." However, many believe this is part of a broader effort to weaken NOAA. The debate over privatizing weather forecasting has surfaced before. Former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania once pushed a bill to limit NOAA's role in favor of private companies like AccuWeather. Don Paul, a veteran TV news meteorologist, told Newsweek that even if privatization were the goal, the government would still need NOAA's infrastructure to function. Experts are sounding the alarm that gutting NOAA could have devastating consequences—not just for weather forecasting, but for the entire U.S. economy. As Panovich put it plainly, "The two buildings house all the Doppler radar data and model and observation data, literally the most critical 2 buildings they have!" With hurricane and tornado seasons approaching, cutting NOAA's resources now could prove to be a disastrous decision—one that will cost both lives and billions of dollars. Read Next: 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a ? UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Meteorologist Warns That Gutting NOAA Will 'Bankrupt The US'—Says 'Every Single Dollar Of Our Economy Is Impacted By The Weather' originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
