Leveraging Social Science Insights from Broadcast Meteorologists to Modernize NOAA’s Tropical Cyclone Products

The National Weather Service (NWS), alongside NOAA’s Weather Program Office (WPO), is in the midst of incorporating the latest social science research findings from four complementary projects that were funded as part of the FY18 Disaster Supplemental Appropriations. Together, these four projects provide findings from broadcast meteorologists, emergency managers, other partners, and members of the public to modernize the NWS’ tropical cyclone products and services suite. NOAA social scientists distilled and synthesized findings from these four projects into actionable recommendations for research, development, and operations. Therefore, this session will provide a brief overview of the research findings, and more importantly, provide opportunities for broadcast meteorologists to (1) reflect and engage with these social science findings, (2) offer valuable feedback regarding possible areas for improvement, and (3) help us prioritize future research and development opportunities to continue improving NWS tropical products and services. This session offers you the opportunity to learn about the latest tropical social science research findings directly relevant to your community, contribute feedback to shape the future of NOAA’s tropical products and services, and discover the latest research-guided recommendations that you can take back to your station to enhance communication about tropical cyclone risks in your community.