The wxchallenge: Forecasting competition, educational tool, and agent of cultural change

Faculties of the University of Oklahoma, Texas Tech University, and San Jose State University have worked jointly from 2005 to formulate a plan to develop a national forecasting contest that would take advantage of significant advances in technology in consumer electronics and the field of atmospheric sciences. The project, called WxChallenge has been developed to introduce a modern fun, and exciting forecast contest to students at colleges and universities across North America. An advisory board has been established consisting of professionals from multiple universities who have experience participating in and managing weather forecast contests. The advisory board administers the contest, resolves disputes that might arise during competition, and directs innovations required to maintain the contest as state of the art. The primary focus of the contest begins with identifying forecast variables relevant to the current development and needs of the weather forecast community and methods of verifying forecasts.