With February marking Black History Month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is spotlighting some of its meteorologists.
The field has struggled with attracting Black scientists. In the most recent American Meteorological Society survey of meteorologists taken in 2020, just 2% of respondents identified as Black. According to the latest census, 13.6% of Americans are Black.
The Meteorological Society survey found that 89% of respondents identified as White, although only 59% of the population is non-Hispanic White.
Michael Hill, the warning coordinator for the National Weather Service in Jackson, Mississippi, has a particularly important job. Part of his duties include the “rapid dissemination” of weather warnings to the public. In an area that sees its share of severe weather, Hill’s job can impact the lives of thousands of residents.
“I celebrate Black history by just reflecting upon the past and then thinking about the future and the things that we have accomplished as a culture, as a community, and it just really warms my heart that I am part of Black History Month at the National Weather Service,” Hill said.