Latest news with #WallaceHogsett
New York Times
a day ago
- Climate
- New York Times
Google and U.S. Experts Join on A.I. Hurricane Forecasts
For the first time, the National Hurricane Center in Miami is working with an artificial intelligence company to improve its forecasts of the powerful storms that kill thousands of people globally every year. The Atlantic season has just begun and runs through November. DeepMind, a Google company based in London, announced on Thursday that it was supplying the government forecasters with a newly enhanced variety of its weather forecasting models. Specialized to focus on hurricanes, the model tracks a storm's development for up to 15 days, predicting not only its path but also its strength, an ability that earlier A.I. models lacked. Strength readings can make storm warnings far more accurate. So can reliable predictions of hurricane paths, which are known to zigzag, loop around, slow down, make hairpin turns or come to a complete stop. The hurricane center is not eliminating its human forecasters. Instead, the Google A.I. program will be used on an experimental basis by those same experts in their existing work. Still, the research partnership is the first time in which the Miami center is drawing on an A.I. company to learn how to better warn of nature's most destructive storms. 'It's about helping people protect themselves,' Wallace Hogsett, the center's science and operations officer, said in an interview. The union of skilled human forecasters and the A.I. tool, he added, has the potential to create 'a really powerful partnership.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
NOAA debuts artificial intelligence models for hurricane season
The Brief The National Weather Service is rehiring more than 100 employees after mass layoffs. This will be the first hurricane season NOAA uses AI models in forecasts. Experts say the technology could reduce forecasting errors—but humans still lead the effort. TAMPA, Fla. - The National Weather Service is testing artificial intelligence for the first time this hurricane season. What we know NOAA officials say AI models will now join the suite of tools meteorologists use to track storm development and intensity. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube What they're saying Wallace Hogsett, a science and operations officer for NOAA, told FOX 13 this marks a pivotal year: "We were looking at [AI models] a little last year, but this is the first year they will be a part of the suite of models that we're looking at." He explained that traditional models involve solving complicated equations, and take a lot of computing power, so AI can help speed it up, and decrease errors. READ: Hillsborough County seeks feedback to decide how to spend $700 million in hurricane recovery funds "AI models, on the other hand, are looking at 30, 40, 50 years of four-dimensional data and processing all of that information very quickly, recognizing patterns and producing a forecast," said Hogsett. "We're hoping that these models will help continue the trend of lower errors in both track and intensity forecasts, which will allow people to have a clearer picture of the risk that they and their families will be under." FOX 13 Chief Meteorologist Paul Dellegatto agrees AI is promising — but not a replacement: "We look at this model, we look at that model, and now we look at AI models… it's simply another tool we use to forecast … I think AI is probably the future, but we're not there yet." What's next If forecasters find AI models reliable this season, NOAA says the tech could be permanently integrated into future forecasting operations. The Source This article is based on interviews conducted with National Weather Service scientists and FOX 13 Chief Meteorologist Paul Dellegatto. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
