Numerical weather prediction

Numerical weather prediction is when smart computers try to figure out what the weather is going to be like in the future. Just like when you try to predict what game you are going to play tomorrow, these computers try to predict what weather is coming in the next few days by using lots of information.

The computers take information from all over the world such as air pressure, temperature, wind speed and direction, and moisture content in the air. These computers then use really complicated math equations to predict what will happen next with the weather.

Just like when you use blocks to make a tower, these computers use lots of little blocks of information to make a big tower of predictions, and they keep doing this over and over again. The more times they do this, the more likely they are to get things right.

After all the math equations are done, the computers give people weather reports so they know how to prepare for what is going to happen next. They can also use this information to prepare for emergencies like hurricanes, snowstorms or severe weather events.

That's how computers help tell us what the weather is going to be like, even when we can't see outside!