You may have noticed that a new logo has appeared on the alphabet soup that is my “lower-third” on-screen title on WCCO-TV | CBS Minnesota; the “CCM” or “Certified Consulting Meteorologist” designation was awarded to me by the American Meteorological Society in April 2021.  If that’s a new term to you, you’re not alone – the CCM certification is extremely rare; so rare that, of the approximately 10,000 meteorologists working in the U.S., only about 250 are AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologists.

the Value of Working With a CCM

As weather touches all of us, every day, the information that CCMs provide can help any organization achieve their mission with greater efficiency. Some CCMs are employed as members of an in-house team of meteorologists; other CCMs are hired as contractors to track and explain the short-term (hours to days) and long-term (weeks to months) weather and climate patterns that impact an organization’s operations. Pinpoint forecasts, beyond what’s possible in the broader media (which has a different goal: forecasting for an entire region or state) is just one advantage of employing a CCM; others can include unique forecast parameters tailored to the client (like whether a storm will bring a dry or wet snow); mission-critical outlooks and alerts for severe weather, including advisement in developing a weather safety plan; historical weather analysis; and, explanation and mitigation of climate trends in our warming world.

Organizations That Benefit From CCM Services

In the same way that downloadable legal templates can’t replace an organization’s lawyers, and online tax software can’t fully replicate the service of a CPA, a website or app cannot replace a CCM for individualized information.

Agriculture, of course, is inextricably linked to weather and climate, making it perhaps the most obvious answer to the question “who can benefit from the expertise of a CCM,” but it’s far from the only answer.

Large retailers benefit from meteorologists’ expertise in planning how global climate patterns will influence product demand next year or the supply chain next season, as well as how nationwide weather patterns will impact store operations this week.

Aviation and logistics firms employ meteorologists to identify and avoid weather-related bottlenecks before they can cause delays.

Energy companies rely on meteorologists’ forecasts for energy demand (across all time scales, hourly daily, weekly, and seasonally) to maintain stability in the market.

Sports teams and live-events producers (including corporate events, wedding planners, and community organizers) regularly employ meteorologists to plan for, and around, weather-related delays and keep players, staff, and fans safe during high-impact weather.

Legal practitioners employ meteorologists as experts in court proceedings, including expert testimony and sworn affidavits.

Construction, contracting, and engineering firms utilize meteorologists’ expertise in many ways, including to help site and build structures safely and efficiently, and also in post-event analyses.

The scenarios, and potential benefits, of hiring a CCM are, quite literally, innumerable.

Exacting Qualifications

To earn the CCM credential, a meteorologist must make application for the designation, be recommended by three associates, pass a stringent written examination, and pass an oral examination before a national board of examiners.  The CCM designation is granted only to those who demonstrate a broad background in meteorology together with detailed knowledge in a particular field of specialization.  CCMs must demonstrate exemplary qualities of character and devotion to high professional standards

CCMs are highly regarded by their peers in meteorology.  They are considered experts in the application of weather information to a host of practical challenges ranging from specialized forecasts to engineering design support and expert testimony on weather-related court cases.  Certification enables users of meteorological services to select consultants or employees with greater confidence in the quality and reliability of the products or services they will receive.

Additionally, in July 2018 I became an AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM), denoting my expertise in communicating weather, climate, and earth-science information to viewers in a broadcast setting.  Receiving the CBM designation replaced and superseded the AMS Broadcast Seal that I earned earlier in my career, but was retired to make way for the more-rigorous CBM.

 If you would like to learn more about the certification programs of the American Meteorological Society, you can watch the video below, or visit the Professional Certification Programs site.  Of course, I’m also always happy to answer any questions you might have!