A Conversation with NWS Director Ken Graham

GUEST: Ken Graham, Director of NOAA National Weather ServiceNational 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.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Guest Credibility00:59 Ken Graham's Ten and Progress Overview02:24 Reflecting on Achievements and Vision03:45 Staffing Challenges and Hiring Boom05:19 Reorganizing for the Future07:01 Modernizing Infrastructure and Cloud Transition08:20 Partnering with Emergency Managers08:59 Radars: Aging Systems and Next-Gen Plans10:29 Private Sector Collaboration on Radars12:48 Innovations in Data Collection: Drones and Balloons13:42 NWS Chat and Communication Tools14:17 Break 114:31 Communicating Strong El Nino and Hurricane Risks15:47 Aircraft and Data for Better Forecasts16:38 Improvements in Track and Intensity Forecasts17:19 AI and Machine Learning in Weather Models18:36 Future of High-Resolution and Rapid Refresh Models20:17 Balancing Over-Preparation and Real-Time Response21:28 Next-Generation Modeling and Cloud Computing22:50 Break 222:50 Vision for Year 10: Fully Cloud-Based, Well-Staffed NWS24:26 Memories of Weather Disasters and Motivation25:37 The Drive to Save Lives and Limit Damage26:30 Engagement with the President and Policy Support27:35 Office Culture and Workforce Changes28:49 Challenges of Modernization and Change Management29:23 Supporting NWS Staff and Future OutlookSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.