As Hurricane Milton is set to make landfall in the mainland U.S. as the fifth hurricane of 2024, the use of artificial intelligence in tracking and mitigating the impacts of storms is becoming increasingly important. Meteorologists have traditionally relied on complex forecasting models based on various factors like wind speeds, temperature, and humidity, but these models can take hours to produce updated forecasts. Machine learning models, on the other hand, draw upon vast amounts of data on the earth’s atmosphere and previous storm patterns, allowing them to quickly generate accurate predictions days in advance of a storm hitting a coast.
Meteorologist Matt Lanza from Houston notes that the meteorology community is starting to embrace AI modeling, as it has proven to be just as effective as physics-based models in predicting storm paths. AI models have been able to accurately predict Hurricane Milton’s expected path between Clearwater and Sarasota, Florida, with some models picking up on this outcome 12 to 18 hours before traditional models. This highlights the importance of utilizing AI in tracking storms and making informed decisions to protect communities in the path of hurricanes.
One example of AI accurately tracking storms this year is the GraphCast program created by Google AI company Deepmind, which correctly predicted the path of Hurricane Beryl before traditional models. The program was trained on four decades of global weather data, allowing it to identify patterns and trends that human forecasters may not be able to discern. This demonstrates the potential of AI in improving the accuracy of storm predictions and providing valuable information to help communities prepare for and respond to hurricanes.
As storms like Hurricane Milton become more frequent and intense, the use of AI in meteorology is proving to be a valuable tool in forecasting and tracking these events. AI models can quickly analyze vast amounts of data and identify patterns that can help predict storm paths with greater accuracy than traditional methods. By incorporating AI into their forecasting efforts, meteorologists can provide more timely and reliable information to the public, allowing communities to better prepare for the impacts of hurricanes and mitigate potential harms.
Overall, the integration of artificial intelligence into meteorology is helping to improve the accuracy of storm predictions and provide valuable insights into the behavior of hurricanes. As Hurricane Milton approaches the mainland U.S., AI models are playing a crucial role in tracking its path and informing decision-making to protect communities in its trajectory. By leveraging the power of AI, meteorologists can enhance their forecasting capabilities and better prepare for the impacts of increasingly intense storms in the future.
