The stated goal of our organization is to “bring all those in Eastern Mississippi interested in weather together as a group”. Throughout the history of the organization, we have not only sustained our mission but expanded upon it. The chapter is involved with school weather awareness, partnering with MyWarn to help get the word out when severe weather is imminent.

The chapter members have also been proud planners of the Southeast Severe Storms Symposium, held at Mississippi State University for the past seventeen years.

Education is also a high priority for the chapter. Chapter members have attended talks presented by employees of the National Weather Service in Jackson, MS and Memphis, TN. In addition, the chapter travels to NWA and AMS conferences yearly to both present and listen to presentations.

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Meteorology in the Department of Geosciences

Professional Meteorology

This program focuses on the study of atmospheric processes and climatic variability. Upon completion of the program (operational emphasis), students will have met the coursework requirements for the National Weather Service, the private meteorology sector, or they may continue their education in graduate school. Students choosing the program with the broadcast emphasis can also work for the National Weather Service and also earn the American Meteorological Society’s Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval.

The Professional Meteorology Program (PMP) track prepares students for graduate school and/or a career as an operational forecaster.  Outside of the core meteorology curriculum, PMP students are encouraged/expected to take courses in advanced mathematics (calculus), statistics, computer programming, Remote Sensing, GIS, and other courses depending upon individual students' interests.

​Recent graduates from the PMP have attended meteorology and climatology graduate programs at the University of Georgia, University of South Carolina, Florida State University, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and others. The USDA, the EPA, the Weather Channel, and the National Weather Service also employ our PMP graduates as forecasters.

Broadcast Meteorology

This program focuses on preparing students for a career as a Broadcast Meteorologist. The coursework does not meet the requirements for the American Meteorological Society’s Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval because it lacks some of the math and physics requirements. Individuals can, however, be qualified to earn the National Weather Association's Seal of Approval after working in the industry for two years. 

The Mississippi State University Climate Lab Studio serves as the hub of the Broadcast Meteorology Program.   It is comprised of a large studio featuring a green-screen chroma-key walls, two cameras, four monitors, and IFB capability.  The studio is powered by a control room that features studio controls, a TriCaster 410 production system, and the new industry standard, Baron Lynx, weather graphics.

The products produced in the studio include Practicum in Broadcast Meteorology I–IV lab exercises and our Campus Connect Forecast.

In addition, students are required to take a series of communications courses (Public Speaking, Theater, Mass Media, Mass Media Law, TV Production, Advanced TV Production, Intro to News Writing, and News Writing).

*NOTE: It is possible to do the Professional Meteorology track with an emphasis in broadcast in order to meet AMS Seal requirements.*