SALT LAKE CITY – Artificial intelligence is quickly making its way into almost every industry, and meteorology is no exception. The new AI-powered approach to weather forecasting is changing the way forecasts are made and what it means for your daily weather here in Utah.
For decades, weather forecasting has been based on complex physics equations: powerful computers that analyze atmospheric physics to predict what comes next. But with advances in AI, that process is rapidly evolving.
University of Utah atmospheric sciences professor Jim Steenburgh says the difference comes down to speed and efficiency.
“We have been using statistical techniques related to AI in the atmospheric sciences for some time,” says Steenburgh. “What has really changed is the horsepower of the computer – and that means some revolutionary changes in weather forecasting.”
AI-based models can now process decades of weather data in a fraction of the time required by traditional systems, finding subtle patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed.
“They use past analyzes that are based on numerical weather prediction models,” Steenburgh added, “but they are much faster. The process of making a forecast can be faster – and it uses less computing power.”
For meteorologists this means faster insights, but the human element remains just as important. AI can identify trends, but it still takes an experienced forecaster to interpret what those trends actually mean for Utah’s unique climate and terrain.
“We are in a transformative period in atmospheric sciences and weather forecasting,” Steenburgh said. “Probably one of the most disruptive periods of my entire career.”
That transformation is already happening in Utah’s ski community. The prediction company OpenSnow is launching its first AI-based model this winter after years of testing.
“It takes in so much more input than a human could ever process,” says Evan Thayer, a forecaster for OpenSnow in Utah. “It’s finding patterns over a period of more than 40 years and coming up with much more accurate predictions.”
Thayer says these AI models can generate accurate forecasts at much higher resolution – down to specific ski resorts and mountain areas around the world.
“It takes much less computing power,” he explains. “So we can run it for the whole world – and we focus on the outcomes most relevant to outdoor recreation: precipitation, temperature and wind.”
Even as these tools evolve, meteorologists remain the bridge between complex data and clear communication – turning lines of code into forecasts that people can trust.
“The way we predicted the weather thirty years ago is different than it is today,” says Steenburgh. “And in thirty years it will be different again.”
AI is changing the tools we use, but not our mission: helping Utahns understand what weather is coming our way. Utah’s Weather Authority continues to adapt and leverage these new developments to keep you prepared for what comes next.
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