The Role of Social Media in Informal Weather Education Outreach

Informal weather education outreach is critical in today's society. With competing "weather apps" and a society that has limited meteorological knowledge, the public perception of meteorological accuracy is decreasing with time, despite our impressive improvements in forecast accuracy.

I will share my social media experiences to highlight where there is room for improvement in the dissemination of weather forecasts, warnings, and education. Solutions will be shared, providing examples of where:

• K-12 classroom visits help increase meteorological awareness,
• How children's publications can improve knowledge in children and families, and
• How social media can be used as an educational tool for the general public.

The general public doesn't know what they don't know. It's on us to make sure our society is weather aware.