Meteorologist, NSW

If you ever catch yourself staring out the window then Jane Dunn probably has the job for you. As a Bureau of Meteorology forecaster for NSW, Dunn is always watching the weather. As well as producing the forecasts published on the web and reported in the news, Dunn also compiles aviation forecasts and severe weather warnings.

Based in the Sydney CBD, the bureau’s office has 360-degree views over the city to scan and spot approaching weather systems.

“[Last month] there was a roll cloud that came up the coast with the southerly change that came through,” she says. “That wasn’t a brilliant example of one, but it was still the first one I had seen so I was pretty excited.”

The job involves more than gazing out windows. Dunn has to pore over satellite images and computer models to come up with her forecasts, some of which are updated hourly.

Dunn says the older forecasters call her a “weather nut” for getting so excited over unusual weather events, but still in her first year on the job, she can’t help herself.

“The best thing for me is forecasting thunderstorms,” she says.

“Sometimes you’ll be a little bit ballsy and you’ll say it is only going to come through within a three-hour period. When you get it spot on that is the best feeling.”

Chasing snow storms sparked Dunn’s interest in meteorology.

“I was guessing when we would get the next big dump and when would be the best time to go skiing,” she says.

“I started to think how I could improve my knowledge and started reading about meteorology and then decided to do the degree.”

After completing a meteorology degree at Monash University in Melbourne, Dunn landed a graduate role at the bureau.

The first year on the job is spent at its training centre in Melbourne.

“It is an amazing year because you get to meet people from all over Australia who have just finished their degree as well and you are paid to learn which is the best bit,” Dunn says.

How to be a meteorologist?
Qualifications: A science degree with a major in physics or maths is required to become a meteorologist. Whichever subject is majored in, the other needs to be studied to at least a second-year level.

Course description: Just about every university offers maths and physics. Macquarie University also offers students the chance to specialise in atmospheric science.

According the university’s handbook students learn about the atmospheric environment through surveys of both meteorology and climatology, including topic areas such as atmospheric stability, radiation balance, weather systems, large-scale atmosphere and ocean circulation, tropical cyclones, ozone depletion, El Nino – Southern Oscillation, the greenhouse effect, and the impacts of climate on agriculture and human health.

Assumed knowledge: Students are expected to have studied maths and physics at school. Bridging courses are available for students who
have not.

Cost: A bachelor of science at Macquarie University costs $7260 per annum government supported.

From the inside: Bureau of Meteorolog meteorologist Jane Dunn says if you are interested in the weather and you are OK at maths at high school and think you could get through it at university then forecasting might be for you.

“It’s a pretty good job and you get paid straight out of university,” Dunn says.