Industry Trends & Opportunities - Weather forecasting is becoming more precise and competitive, driven by consumer demand for targeted, hyperlocal forecasts and business needs [1] - Hyperlocal forecasting, providing forecasts down to a few blocks, is a cutting-edge area enabling emerging industries like drone delivery [8] - Businesses are increasingly viewing weather information as "weather intelligence," recognizing its value in decision-making [7] Business & Investment Landscape - The business side of weather forecasting is experiencing growth, with meteorology students increasingly seeking jobs in business rather than traditional roles [12][13] - Industries like insurance, agriculture, and electric utilities are heavily reliant on weather forecasting [13][14] - An electric utility in Southern California has invested in an in-house weather forecasting operation with meteorologists, weather sensors, and specialized computer models to predict wildfire conditions [14] Government & Funding - The fiscal year 2024 budget for NOAA (including the weather service) was $63 billion [15] - There have been discussions about potentially cutting NOAA's budget by half [16] - Companies are hiring weather experts to interpret forecast data and translate it into actionable information for management [16] Technological Advancements - Researchers are collecting data during storm chases to improve tornado prediction and warning systems [5] - Drone operators require hyperlocal wind forecasts (e.g., at 1000 feet) for efficient operations [9]