Why are weather predictions important?

While storms like hurricanes and tornadoes make for exciting news stories, the majority of weather-related deaths are caused by heat waves and droughts, which claim 100,000 lives annually on average. While some storm events can claim a large number of lives—as was the case in 1970 when the Bhola cyclone in India killed 500,000 people—the annual average is closer to 10,000 deaths.

The cost of damages due to tropical storms and tornadoes is a high number although probably not as high as the cost of lost crops due to drought, which maybe as high as 8 billion dollars a year. In fact the U.N. estimates that droughts are the costliest of all natural disasters (take that geologists lol).

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The main purpose of forecasting is to give you enough warning time to prepare for almost any type of weather disaster.

All of that being said, people like to plan for weather that won't kill them too; having an umbrella on hand is convenient; farmers like to know the ideal days to plant; etc. etc.

Weather predictions are important for various reasons, including:

1. Safety: Help people prepare for and respond to extreme weather events.
2. Agriculture: Assist farmers in planning planting and harvesting times.
3. Transportation: Aid in planning routes and avoiding weather-related disruptions.
4. Energy: Support energy companies in managing resources based on weather conditions.
5. Construction: Enable builders to plan construction schedules around weather patterns.
6. Emergency Response: Facilitate timely responses to natural disasters and emergencies.
7. Health: Allow individuals to take precautions against weather-related health risks.