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He was hired as a consultant for the National Hurricane Center in 1983, providing warning information in Spanish for the radio and television press. He obtained his MSc degree in 1987 at the University of Miami and became a forecaster at the NHC, graduating to hurricane specialist in 1989. Continuing his studies further, he obtained a PhD in 1993. Avila represented the National Hurricane Center at the World Meteorological Organization, especially for the coordination and training in the Caribbean and Central American region.