Back-to-back powerful Pacific storm systems to impact the Pacific Northwest and northern California through the end of this week with heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, and higher elevation mountain snow. A strong, long-duration atmospheric river will accompany the Pacific storms, bringing excessive rainfall and flash flooding to southwest Oregon and northwest California through the week. Read More >
David R. Novak, Ph.D.
Director, Weather Prediction Center
Dr. David Novak is the Director of the Weather Prediction Center. In this capacity he is responsible for the overall provision of forecasts of rain storms, winter storms, and extreme temperature events over the nation up to 7 days in advance. WPC is at the meteorological heart of the weather enterprise and is interwoven into the national readiness framework for extreme weather. The Center is also a catalyst for collaboration among the National Weather Service forecast offices, driving consistent messaging for partners.
Early in his career David worked as a Fire Weather Technician in Fairbanks, Alaska, and meteorological intern in Duluth, Minnesota. He joined the Scientific Services Division of the Eastern Region Headquarters in Bohemia, New York in 2002. In this role, he was responsible for integrating new science and technology into forecast operations, as well as facilitating training for meteorologists in the Eastern Region. David became the Science and Operations Officer for the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center (HPC) in 2009 and quickly advanced to the Chief of WPC’s Development and Training Branch in 2012, and then Director late in 2014. Throughout his academic and professional career, David has championed collaborative research, bringing operational needs to the attention of the research community and integrating promising research into operations to enable enhanced partner support.
David has a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from SUNY Stony Brook (2009), M.S. in Atmospheric Science from SUNY Albany (2002), and B. S. in Meteorology and International Relations minor from St. Cloud State University (2000). He is lead author on 11 peer-reviewed journal publications on operational weather topics, and is Assistant Editor for Weather and Forecasting. He has also chaired the American Meteorological Society Board for Operational Government Meteorologists (2012-14). David is the recipient of the Saint Cloud State University Graduate of the Last Decade Award (2008), AMS Editor’s Award (2010), and NOAA Bronze Medal (2020), among other honors.
David is a native of Minnesota, and currently resides in Crofton, MD with his wife and son.
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