Cloud Warriors: Deadly Storms, Climate Chaos—and the Pioneers Creating a Revolution in Weather Forecasting

This eye-opening debut investigation from journalist Weber examines contemporary efforts to improve weather predictions. Among those profiled is a meteorologist at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts who develops complex computer models that look as far as two years into the future by taking into account such minute phenomena as humidity changes from the evaporation of moisture from soil. Weber also tags along as a plucky storm chaser with the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Oklahoma braves hail and fierce winds while driving his truck, outfitted with meteorological equipment, into dangerous conditions to collect data on why certain storms produce tornadoes. Emphasizing the need for accurate weather forecasting in a warming world, Weber recounts how the government of Zimbabwe avoided famine in 2023 by distributing seeds of drought-resistant crops amid predictions of an unusually arid growing season. The vibrant profiles highlight the passion, expertise, and commitment of weather researchers, and the smart blend of meteorology and sociology reveals how extreme weather disproportionately affects the poor. For instance, Weber discusses how a campaign to create “heat maps” of American cities found that the hottest neighborhoods, with little tree cover and few parks, are low-income and home to primarily Black and Hispanic residents. It’s an impassioned case for the value of weather forecasting. (June)