GUEST: Ken Graham, Director of NOAA National Weather Service

National Weather Service Director Ken Graham visited The Weather Channel for a wide-ranging conversation with Jim Cantore about the future of weather forecasting and public safety.

They will discuss ongoing efforts to modernize the National Weather Service, the challenges of maintaining critical infrastructure, the latest developments in forecasting technology and AI, and what improvements may be on the horizon for everything from hurricane forecasts to severe weather prediction. They also talk about staffing, observations, and the tools that help forecasters turn data into decisions when lives are on the line.

And as he marks four years as Director, Jim will ask Ken to reflect on the experiences that shaped his career, the accomplishments he's most proud of, and what he wants the public to better understand about the work happening behind the scenes every day.

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Credibility
2. 00:59 Ken Graham's Ten and Progress Overview
3. 02:24 Reflecting on Achievements and Vision
4. 03:45 Staffing Challenges and Hiring Boom
5. 05:19 Reorganizing for the Future
6. 07:01 Modernizing Infrastructure and Cloud Transition
7. 08:20 Partnering with Emergency Managers
8. 08:59 Radars: Aging Systems and Next-Gen Plans
9. 10:29 Private Sector Collaboration on Radars
10. 12:48 Innovations in Data Collection: Drones and Balloons
11. 13:42 NWS Chat and Communication Tools
12. 14:17 Break 1
13. 14:31 Communicating Strong El Nino and Hurricane Risks
14. 15:47 Aircraft and Data for Better Forecasts
15. 16:38 Improvements in Track and Intensity Forecasts
16. 17:19 AI and Machine Learning in Weather Models
17. 18:36 Future of High-Resolution and Rapid Refresh Models
18. 20:17 Balancing Over-Preparation and Real-Time Response
19. 21:28 Next-Generation Modeling and Cloud Computing
20. 22:50 Break 2
21. 22:50 Vision for Year 10: Fully Cloud-Based, Well-Staffed NWS
22. 24:26 Memories of Weather Disasters and Motivation
23. 25:37 The Drive to Save Lives and Limit Damage
24. 26:30 Engagement with the President and Policy Support
25. 27:35 Office Culture and Workforce Changes
26. 28:49 Challenges of Modernization and Change Management
27. 29:23 Supporting NWS Staff and Future Outlook

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