August 2026

The American Meteorological Society (AMS) recently wrote an article about our regular podcast series, The WeatherPod. Here it is:

The WeatherPod Connects the Global Weather Community

As weather and climate challenges become increasingly complex, meaningful conversations across the global weather enterprise have never been more important. The WeatherPod has become a platform for those conversations, bringing together meteorologists, researchers, industry leaders, and innovators to explore the science, technology, and partnerships shaping the future of weather services.

Hosted by business journalist and producer Ian Harper alongside weather experts David Rogers and Alan Thorpe, the podcast examines how weather and climate information can be transformed into actionable intelligence that helps protect lives, strengthen infrastructure, and improve decision-making across sectors.

For Harper, the podcast grew out of an opportunity created by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We felt there was no other vehicle out there with our objectives,” he said. “The pandemic gave us the opportunity to create one and work with Alan and David to continue the conversations we’d been having through the InterMET Asia conference.”

Unlike many weather-focused programs, The WeatherPod places collaboration at the center of every discussion. Episodes feature leaders from government agencies, academia, the private sector, and international organizations, reflecting the idea that weather and climate challenges cannot be solved by any one group alone. “Our recurring theme is the importance of cooperation and collaboration,” Harper said. “Weather and climate know no borders, so it makes sense to work together to develop weather intelligence that can help manage and mitigate their impacts.”

From Forecasts to Weather Intelligence

While forecasting remains essential, Harper believes the weather enterprise must increasingly focus on helping users understand what forecasts mean for their decisions. One theme that has emerged repeatedly throughout the podcast is the disconnect between those who produce forecasts and the people who rely on them.

“Forecasts and warnings need to be less focused on the weather event itself and more on its expected impacts,” Harper said. “The real challenge is communicating that information across the ‘final mile’ to the people who need to take action.”
Guests have also emphasized the importance of designing weather services around end-user needs, improving long-term sustainability for observing systems, and ensuring that investments include ongoing maintenance, training, and operational support.

A Global Perspective

Featuring guests from around the world gives listeners a broader understanding of the diverse challenges facing meteorological services. “Different organizations face very different challenges,” Harper said. “Only by listening and understanding can we learn where the real challenges are and how they can be effectively addressed.”

Those conversations have highlighted everything from infrastructure limitations in developing countries to innovative approaches for delivering weather information where traditional observing networks are sparse.

For AMS members, Harper believes the podcast offers valuable insight into the breadth of today’s weather enterprise. “It’s an opportunity to hear what leading researchers, organizations, and entrepreneurs are thinking about,” he said. “It also illustrates just how broad and important the weather enterprise has become as extreme weather events become more frequent and more impactful.”

Technology Shaping the Future

Artificial intelligence has become one of the podcast’s most frequent topics, but Harper cautions against viewing it as a complete replacement for traditional forecasting. “AI will have a massive influence on the entire global weather enterprise,” he said. “But we also need to ask whether AI-generated information is trustworthy, particularly when lives depend on severe weather warnings.”

Beyond AI, Harper is excited about emerging technologies such as opportunistic sensing, including the use of commercial microwave links from mobile phone networks to estimate rainfall—an approach that could significantly improve weather monitoring in regions with limited observing infrastructure.

Looking further ahead, he sees quantum computing as another technology with the potential to transform weather prediction and climate research.

Memorable Conversations

Among Harper’s favorite episodes is Episode 18, which marked The WeatherPod’s transition from audio-only to video and offered a broad discussion of the key issues facing the global weather enterprise.

He also points to conversations with Madeleine Thompson of the Wellcome Foundation, which explored the role of weather intelligence in protecting public health, and Carlo Buontempo of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, who discussed the value of providing open environmental data to support innovation and decision-making.

Looking Ahead

As weather risks continue to grow, Harper expects the need for actionable weather intelligence to expand across nearly every sector of society. “More and more organizations are going to need better weather intelligence if they’re going to make the right decisions,” he said. “That can only strengthen the future of the global weather enterprise.”

Through thoughtful conversations with experts from around the world, The WeatherPod continues to highlight the partnerships, innovations, and shared knowledge needed to help communities become more resilient in an increasingly complex weather and climate landscape.

Source: https://headlines.ametsoc.org/2026/08/12/the-weatherpod-connects-the-global-weather-community/