Abstract:
The demand for accurate weather forecasts drives the inclusion of weather forecasting in
college meteorology curricula. An important part of this education is the requirement and
encouragement for students to participate in competitive weather forecasting contests. The
WxChallenge is one such forecasting contest open to all students, faculty and alumni of North
American universities, and thus has enjoyed widespread participation since its inception in 2005.
This research investigated the development of forecast skill throughout the undergraduate
careers of students participating in the WxChallenge since 2005. This development occurs
primarily through exposure to meteorological knowledge and experience with forecasting. The
forecast skill of undergraduates was evaluated for changes through time as this development
progressed to determine whether increased meteorological knowledge or forecasting experience
had any significant effect on skill.
It was found that both experience and class level have impacted forecasting skill
significantly, with most improvement in skill occurring in the first few semesters of an
undergraduate’s career. As a result, the WxChallenge can substantiate its claim as a useful
forecasting tool in the meteorology classroom, and these results can help encourage students
early in their college career to gain experience forecasting in order to develop skill early.
