J.R. Cottingham
From ancient omens to advanced satellite forecasting, commanders have long recognized that weather can profoundly influence the outcome of battle, just like any other human decision.
Weather affects every dimension of military operations, including fire and maneuver, logistics, training, mobility, communication and safety.
History offers dramatic proof. Napoleon’s advance at Waterloo was halted by a night of rain that bogged down his artillery. The success of the D-Day invasion hinged on correctly predicting a brief break in severe weather. In Iraq in 2003, a sandstorm stalled the U.S.-led advance on Baghdad for days.
These real-world moments remind us that weather is not a background variable; it is a force to be reckoned with.
Today, satellites, Doppler radar, sensors and AI-enhanced models offer forecast accuracy that previous generations could only have dreamed of. Despite these technological leaps, a critical gap remains: real-time, macro-aware yet sometimes hyperlocal and context-rich weather intelligence for the tactical edge.
What matters most to a platoon in motion, a fighter squadron en route or a naval task force entering hostile waters is not next week’s weather; it’s what will happen in the next hours, in their precise location and under potentially degraded connectivity.
Tactical weather awareness is increasingly vital in a battlespace shaped by climate volatility. As weather events can be severe and impactful, the likelihood of a disruption to operations increases, along with the opportunity for those best prepared to gain an advantage.
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