The Risky Business of Weather

Stephen went on to say that his work at Enron offers immediate feedback, both good and bad. After a forecast verifies and the company makes money as a result, praise is plentiful. On the flip side, if the forecast fails, you had better believe Stephen hears about it. After all, it’s the role of meteorologists like Stephen that can help energy-trading companies get a leg up when doing their bidding.

"The price of gas is highly supply-and-demand specific, so if it looks like seven days down the line, there’s going to be a big cold snap or an arctic outbreak across the Northeast, the traders are going to want to know early to purchase gas in the Southwest, where it’s warm and where the prices are lower because the demand is lower and have that gas ready to sell in the Northeast where the prices are higher. If they know ahead of time that the weather is going to be particularly cold in a region of the country, before the rest of the world knows it, they can take possessions and then when the rest of the world knows it, the price moves.”

The responsibilities are great because, in a sense, the entire company’s success rests on the shoulders of forecasters. But the rewards balance the pressure.

“It’s definitely better than the private world. [The salary] can reach six figures. A lot of companies offer bonuses in addition to salaries, like a performance-based bonus," said Stephen, who added, "As these types of positions become more well known, these will be the ones that are harder to get."

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To read more about the many professional paths available in the field of meteorology, check out How To Break Into Meteorology

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