The meteorologist is able to operate a teletypewriter. At times, she or he may be required to work outdoors for short periods, checking weather instruments and making observations. He or she may work alone at a small station or with other meteorologists and meterological technicians at a large station. At airport Weather Service stations, he or she meets private, business, and airline pilots. Meteorologists usually work a 40-hour week.
Overtime is required when weather conditions deteriorate.
Shift work is required when a station is open 24 hours a day. They may be required to relocate to fill staffing requirements at another station or to advance in grade. Several thousand Weather Service meteorologists work at approximately 300 stations scattered throughout the 50 states, in Puerto Rico, in Arctic regions, at Wake Island, and at other Pacific Ocean sites. Major Weather Service Stations are located at airports or in large cities. A smaller number of federal government meteorologists work for the Air Force, Navy, Army, the FAA, NASA, and the U.S. Forest Service.