Customer Reviews

Weather Forecasting Handbook (5th Edition)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is the first book to truly go into detail on exactly what goes into professional and non-professional forecasts. The author explains the fundamentals of forecasting while leaving out textbook-style boredom. This book is perfect for beginners who want to learn how to forecast and also veterans who need to brush up. This book explains somewhat hard-to-explain-topics with ease. I am a 4th year meteorology student, and I find the book riveting. Very well researched and extremely thorough, the author is a master at forecasting for the most dangerous area in the world: tornado alley. He knows what he's talking about! Do yourself a favor and buy it. This is the best book on the subject I have ever read, and I have read a lot!!

As the author points out, this does fill the gap between novice (not beginner) and advanced books. That said, it is probably not for someone who is not really interested in weather forecasting as a serious hobby or profession. There is a wealth of information and it is organized very well. It is something that you will certainly want to pick up many times as your knowledge grows about this subject.

The appendix has a good amount of information that will further research. At the end are a bunch of analysis charts so that you can apply your knowledge. This would also be suitable as college material and each chapter has some questions to reinforce the learning of the material.

I'm a meteorologist from Poland. Here we have great lack of good books on forecasting techniques. All meteo books are to high technical with equations on almost every page or written by amateurs, usually people without meteorological background. Tim's textbook is what I've looking for since graduate in atmospheric physics in mid 90s. I think it is a very good book for everyone and I'm happy I was able to by to read it.

I initially contacted Mr. Vasquez to ask if he could advise me about online training for soundings and hodographs. It has been quite a few years since I was in school and I felt the need to update my skills in this area. Mr. Vasquez forwarded several helpful web addresses. He also suggested that I might be interested in the updated Weather Forecasting Handbook as there is a unit on thermodynamic diagrams.

I have found the book to be helpful and useful. It is readable by professionals and non-professionals. I believe most folks with an interest in meteorology will appreciate the topics covered in the book. It'll make a good, valuable addition to your library.

Jeffrey F. Kronschnabel

I've been on the search for a forecasting book ever since graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a meteorology degree in 1997. The textbooks I own are so filled with equations and derivations that I forget that I'm reading about the weather. I feel more like I'm learning how to redesign the space shuttle. It was a great relief to see that Tim Vasquez put out a book that is practical and truly for a forecaster, not a Phd student doing years of research. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a straight-forward forecasting book that stays away from the often intrusive theoretical clutter. Thanks Tim.

I'm meteorologist from Poland. Here we have a big lack of good books: they're high technics with lot of equations on almost every page or they're very simple, written by ordinary authors not experts. I was lookig for a book like Tim's since I graduated in mid 90s. It is very good book for both, one who want to know forecasting techniques and for professionals who need textbook for fast advice. I recommended it for everyone.

In reading this book I was looking for a book that reviewed weather forecasting. As a professional meteorologist it had been a long time since I actually thought about doing a weather forecast. I was surprized by the ability of the author to review current weather forecasting techniques so concisely and simply, and above all--thoroughly. I think for any meteorologist this book would serve as an excellent review, and for the weather hobbist (storm chaser, pilot, sailor, etc) an excellent reference book for the science of forecasting. Even the seasoned forecaster could learn a couple of points by reading the embedded sidebars in the book. This book I think would also serve as an excellent introductory text for an atmospheric science student and I would use to teach for that purpose; however, for the person or non-science major interested in learning about meteorology in general, probably other introductory texts would be much more suitable. I highly recommend this book for people interested in forecasting.

I am the author. The negative review below refers to a much older copy of the book, which INDEED was photocopied and was not warranted otherwise. We have used offset printing now for the past 3 years with 4-color covers and true binding. ...

The physics are presented in a curt fashion and compelled several readings to understand much of what was said. Explanations of the Coriolis Effect were confusing and the term angular rotation speed was muddied in the explanations. The author assumes too much knowledge on the part of the reader. Typical of this was reference to the Rossby number without even explanation of the formula for this dimensionless number. Diagrams also presume formidable interpretive skills, see the Fig 1-6 on page 10. I cannot gainsay this author's erudition but his teaching skills are not up to the task for this subject. This is a book by someone so erudite in his field that he can no longer teach to new students.

Tim's Weather Forecasting Handbook is THE book to get if you're wanting to learn the basics and how-to's of weather forecasting, but you've either been through all the rigorous math and physics or you are a hobbyists and not ready for the intense theory just yet. Tim breaks everything down into easy-to-understand explanations and very helpful diagrams. Tim really hits the point of current analysis and diagnosis home really hard... instead of just relying on computer models to do the work for us. That's a major problem in the weather forecasting community today. Whether you're a novice wanting to dip your feet into the pool, or you're a seasoned forecasting veteran that's looking for a practical desk reference, this is the book for you!