Meanwhile, university programs in atmospheric and related science continue to churn out hundreds of new graduates each year. Preceding the panel, a set of reports by funding agencies confirmed the bleak outlook for new graduates. NWS hiring peaked at over 250 in 1993, at the height of modernization. However, said Zevin, fewer than 25 new staff came on board in fiscal 1996. Zevin noted that many other federal agencies, from the FAA to the EPA, also are projecting minimal hiring of meteorologists through 2000.
Some opportunities remain in the military.
Kroll said that the Air Force projects a shortfall of meteorologists in the coming year, primarily due to insufficient numbers of officer candidates from the ROTC and Air Force Academy meteorological pipelines. Not really, said the four panelists. They maintained that today's entry-level meteorologists often fall short on basic analysis, forecasting, or communications skills, even though they may have graduated from synoptically oriented programs. WeatherData, Inc., which prepares forecasts for utilities, transportation, and newspapers. Smith said that many applicants have trouble plotting and analyzing a surface weather map or adjusting forecast guidance from computer models.