Weather Careers
Weather Observer Career Guide: Airports, Stations, Reports, and Quality Control
What weather observers do, including airport observations, temperature, wind, visibility, clouds, precipitation, and data quality.
Quick answer: Weather observers measure and report local conditions so forecasts, aviation, records, and climate datasets have reliable ground truth.
Observation duties
Observers may track clouds, visibility, wind, precipitation, pressure, and weather changes.
Airport observations are especially important for flight safety.
Accuracy
Good observations require consistent methods, careful attention, and knowledge of instruments.
Small errors can affect records or operations.
Career path
Weather observing can connect to aviation, meteorology, climate, hydrology, and emergency management roles.
Training requirements vary by employer.