Understanding Severe Weather Outlooks

Understanding Severe Weather Outlooks

From Off the Radar by The National Weather Desk

March 24, 2026 · 45 min

About this episode

This episode discusses the challenges of communicating severe weather forecasts and the changes being made by the Storm Prediction Center.

Was last week’s severe weather forecast a “bust” - or was it just misunderstood? The Storm Prediction Center is making changes to how it communicates severe weather risk, with a new focus on not just where storms could happen, but on how intense they might be. But with that shift comes a challenge: how do you convey higher-end potential without creating expectations that may not fully materialize? In this episode, we break down a recent East Coast setup that left many wondering why a widely discussed severe threat didn’t result in a major outbreak everywhere it was forecast. Joining the show is Evan Bentley from the Storm Prediction Center, who takes us inside how these outlooks are created, why they are rooted entirely in science and probability, and how they are designed to inform meteorologists and communicators. We also explore the growing conversation around trust in forecasting: when things don’t play out as expected, should meteorologists apologize? Or is the real issue how forecasts are interpreted by the public? This is a candid look at uncertainty, communication, and the responsibility of forecasting when severe weather is on the way!

People in this episode

Guest: Evan Bentley

Topics covered

  • severe weather
  • forecasting
  • communication
  • public interpretation
  • meteorology

Keywords

  • severe weather
  • forecast
  • Storm Prediction Center
  • communication
  • trust in forecasting
  • public interpretation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Storm Prediction Center

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