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The incredible variety of the climatic zones found in Canada presents a constant challenge to operational meteorologists across the country. However, regardless of which region of the country meteorologists work in, their number one mandate is the protection and preservation of the people of Canada and their property, through the timely preparation and dissemination of statements concerning severe weather.

Meteorology, at its most basic, is problem-solving, where the problem to be solved is the future weather. This is a job that presents a new set of problems every day and where no two weather situations are ever exactly alike. For individuals who thrive on a challenge and enjoy tackling a new problem everyday, operational meteorology presents ample opportunities to test one's skills and knowledge.

Meteorologists are presented with huge volumes of data (surface and upper air observations, radar, satellite, computer model output) that they must process in order to come up with the best forecast possible. Software has been, and continues to be, developed to aid the forecaster in this task but it still requires a unique kind of individual who is able to look at all this information, consider it and then still produce a forecast to a deadline.

Meteorology is still an inexact science. Meteorologists make mistakes and Mother Nature has been known to throw curve balls, but the important result of each of these misses is the learning that occurs when the event is studied afterward. It is essential that the reasons why a forecast was missed be understood, so as to reduce the likelihood of an event of that type being missed again. This is why meteorologists must be prepared to pass along lessons they have learned to others and why they must never stop learning themselves.

Each region of the country presents its own challenges to meteorologists. In British Columbia, forecasters must deal with weather approaching from the data-sparse Pacific Ocean and also with the challenges presented by the micro-climates involved in mountain meteorology. Meteorologists forecasting for the Prairies and High Arctic must again deal with data scarcity, outbreaks of bitter cold and blizzards in the winter as well as severe thunderstorms in the summer. Forecasters in Ontario must deal with the profound effects that the Great Lakes have on the weather and handle spring weather systems that can cause blizzards in the north of the province and tornadoes in the southwest, all on the same day! Quebec meteorologists also deal, at certain times of the year, with weather systems causing widely different types of weather within their province. Forecasters on the East Coast must deal with powerful winter storms driving up from the American Atlantic seaboard that bring almost every precipitation type known, including rain, freezing rain, ice pellets and snow. During the latter part of the summer they must also handle the potential impacts of tropical storms and hurricanes.

The job meteorologists do across the country is constantly evolving. The skill set required to be a competent meteorologist, aside from a solid grounding in the science itself, includes good computer skills, ability to think quickly and logically and excellent communication skills. In fact, with the constant gains being made in computer power and the commensurate increase in skill of the computer forecast models, the meteorologist must be knowledgeable enough to concentrate on making only those changes to the computer output which will result in a better forecast. This is especially true in the shorter time frames (0-12 hours into the future). This time frame also coincides with the occurrence of much of the severe weather we get in Canada (severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, snow squalls, etc.).

Recent years have seen the growth of a vibrant commercial sector within Environment Canada's weather service. There has been a realization on the part of many private sector firms that accurate weather information can save large amounts of money. Examples of the type of information Environment Canada supplies include site specific forecasts of temperature, humidity and precipitation to aid in construction, snow clearing and road maintenance and agricultural activities. These types of tasks require meteorologists who have the ability to translate complex information into a form usable by the commercial clients and who also feel comfortable dealing with clients on a regular basis.

To summarize, in the coming years we are looking at an increasingly challenging and exciting time for operational meteorology. Technological advances coupled with an increased understanding of the processes which cause our worst weather will improve the accuracy of weather forecasts and also lengthen the time into the future for which accurate forecasts can be made. But these increases in technology and accuracy will also bring the need for individuals who can continue to add value to these forecasts, both for the general public and for the private sector, and communicate this weather information in a clear, concise manner.

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