Who is Ben Noll?
Did you know that I do my Hudson Valley forecasts from an island in the Pacific?
Some of you may be surprised to learn that I do my Hudson Valley forecasts from 8,500+ miles away in Auckland, New Zealand.
I grew up in Orange County and attended Valley Central schools in Montgomery. During my younger years, it was nor'easters (snow storms) that captivated me — I wanted to understand the science behind the storms! I knew that I wanted to become a meteorologist from a very young age, with the blizzard of 1996 being one of my first memories. My interest in weather was apparent to my teachers and classmates and my "snow day prediction" was a thing from middle school onward.
I went to college at SUNY Oswego to pursue my interests in the weather, earning a degree in meteorology and math.
After college, I worked for AccuWeather.com in State College, PA, for a couple of years and then threw my hat in the ring for a job half way around the world. If you happen to be a high school or college student: if you are fortunate enough to be able to go out and see the world, experience another culture, do it. You won’t regret it!
Eight years have passed in the blink of an eye.
In New Zealand, I work for a Crown Research (government) organization, leading a project for climate forecasting, looking out three months into the future to support important planning decisions. I’m leading a group of scientists to make 35-day forecasts of drought. I make TV appearances and do radio hits when hazardous weather threatens. I use computer programming (Python) on a supercomputer to parse dense datasets so that I can contextualize the weather that we are experiencing. I call that my day job, but when your job is your hobby, is it really a job at all?
At night, I focus my efforts on my other home — the Hudson Valley. The time difference is 18 hours, depending on the time of year, but I try to be as active as possible during bad weather. I often send my forecasts out late in the evening in New Zealand before I go to bed, which is when the Hudson Valley is waking up!
And yes, New Zealand is as beautiful as it looks in the movies! I’ve had the great pleasure of touring much of the country since I arrived. If you’ve followed for a while, you’ve seen plenty of my journeys (it’s a good reason to follow, even if you’re not interested in the weather in the Hudson Valley). If you ever have the chance to visit, don't hesitate to reach out. I've met some vacationing Hudson Valley residents here!
Anyway, I’m glad you found me, hope you stay a while 😊
Merch + donations
My forecasts have always been free. I do it out of my passion for the weather and find enjoyment in trying to stay one step ahead of Mother Nature. Thanks for coming along with me on the journey!
Once upon a time, I actually paid out of pocket to keep up my mailing list. I fund my efforts partially through my merch and, from 2022 onward, a premium newsletter plan — it offers weather-hungry Hudson Valley residents more data and detail than anywhere else! I’m eternally grateful for your support.
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