The Penn State Campus Weather Service: Broadcasting Live Through The Storm

The Penn State Campus Weather Service (CWS) is the oldest and largest student-run forecasting organization in the country, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022. We strive to develop students into competent operational forecasters and broadcasters who are ready to enter all facets of the weather and climate enterprise upon graduation. An increasingly large part of this effort is our Live Broadcast Team (LBT). LBT gives our members real-life experience forecasting and broadcasting during severe and unusual weather events, a unique skillset which prepares them for careers in weather communications, the National Weather Service, emergency management, etc. The team, which consists of fifteen students any given semester, utilizes industry standard technology such as TriCaster, OBS, and TWC MAX software. Live broadcasts are streamed to the public via our YouTube channel and cover a variety of weather events - including tropical cyclones, winter storms, and severe weather events throughout Pennsylvania and beyond. Since the pandemic, LBT has consistently ramped up operations, which included three live severe weather broadcasts in the spring of 2024. Our recent work can be an example to other educational institutions and various domains within weather communication. LBT serves as both a public service that helps keep our Penn State community safe and informed, and an avenue for students to practice severe/impactful weather forecasting and communication.