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!
Seven 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 home at heart — 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, NZ is as beautiful as it looks in the movies! I’ve had the great pleasure of seeing a lot of the country over the last several years. If you ever have the chance to visit, don't hesitate to reach out. I've already met some vacationing Hudson Valley residents here.
Anyway, I’m glad you found me, hope you stay awhile 😊
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, as of 2022, offer a subscriber-only newsletter plan! I’m eternally grateful for your support.
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