The Weather Machine

“[A] vivid account of the history and evolution of the modern forecast. . . . [Blum] is a sharp analyst and engaging guide” as well as the bestselling author of Tubes (The Economist).

“[Blum] takes a dive into the forecasts of today and how they’ve advanced from a dream espoused nearly 180 years ago. . . . Totally fascinating to anyone with even a passing interest in weather or technology, and it lays the groundwork for really appreciating just how good we have it today.” —Gizmodo

In The Weather Machine, Andrew Blum takes readers on a fascinating journey through an everyday miracle. In a quest to understand how the weather forecast works, he visits old weather stations, watches new satellites blast off, and follows the dogged efforts of scientists to create a supercomputer model of the atmosphere. He discovers that though we are in a golden age of meteorology, using tools that allow us to predict the weather more accurately than ever, we haven’t learned to trust those tools, nor can we guarantee the fragile international alliances that allow our modern weather machine to exist.

Written with the sharp wit and infectious curiosity Andrew Blum is known for, The Weather Machine pulls back the curtain on the weather forecast, illuminating our relationships with technology, the changing planet, and the global community.

“Sharp, stylist, and often surprising.” —Peter Moore, author of The Weather Experiment

“Exhilarating.” —Lewis Darnell, author of Origins

“A lucid and approachable guide to the satellites, scientists, and supercomputers that make up the forecasting system we so often take for granted.” —Booklist