Black Trailblazers Who Changed Meteorology Forever

Toby Adeyemi Fri, February 27, 2026 at 11:37 AM UTC

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Photo courtesy of United States Air Force

Weather, like many other fields, wouldn’t be where it is today without vital contributions from African Americans. Again, like many other fields, it was believed that African Americans weren’t smart enough or couldn’t be trusted to tell the weather. We’ve knocked down that door and proved beyond a doubt that African Americans not only belong in this field, but are needed in it. In celebration of Black History Month, The Weather Channel is recognizing these trailblazers who helped change meteorology forever.

William Hallett Greene

William Hallett Greene’s struggle changed the course of not only weather history but African American history forever. He was the first Black graduate of the City College of New York on June 26, 1884, at only 19 years of age. He wanted to become a meteorologist, which meant enlisting in the Signal Service Corps, which didn’t allow African Americans at the time. He tried to enlist and was rejected by General William Babcock Hazen. Eventually, due to a direct order from Robert Todd Lincoln, U.S. Secretary of War and former President Lincoln’s son, who ordered General Hazen to allow Greene to apply to the Signal Service, Greene was allowed to enlist. He would report for duty at Pensacola, Florida, in July 1885, officially making him the first Black observer, the first Black forecaster, and the first Black Station Chief. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t last long because superiors made dubious accusations against him, which led to an unfair dishonorable discharge from the military. Even though Greene had a terrible ending, his struggle opened the door for other Black people being able to join the military.

Courtesy of City College of New York ArchivesTuskegee Weather Detachment

Did you know the first Black weathermen were born out of necessity in conjunction with the Tuskegee Airmen? We’ve all heard the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, or at least watched the movie (if not, I highly encourage you to do so). So, you know every airman needs a ground crew. Because of racial tensions at the time, the airmen were worried about receiving incorrect weather information from white forecasters, which led to the formation of the Tuskegee Weather Detachment. “If you’re a pilot, you want to have excellent, precise weather data,” explained Dr. Molefi Asante, author of “African-American History: A Journey of Liberation and the African-American People,” and professor and chair of Temple University’s Department of Africology and African-American Studies. “Many of the African-American pilots preferred to have African-American weathermen who would give them the most precise information about flight paths and so forth.” These 15 men would include the first group of Black weathermen.

Wallace P. Reed would go on to become the first Black meteorologist in the military after completing his training at MIT. In 1942, he would become the chief weather officer for the Tuskegee Airmen. Another member of the Tuskegee Weather Detachment who would go on to make history would be Dr. Charles E Anderson. During his time in the military, he was a commissioned officer during World War II and was the weather officer for the Tuskegee Airmen. In 1960, he would make history as the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in Meteorology.

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courtesy United States Air ForceDr. Warren Washington

Once the proverbial glass ceiling was shattered, it didn’t take long for someone to follow in Dr. Reed's footsteps. That person would be Dr. Warren Washington, who would go on to become the second African American to achieve a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Studies. One of his greatest accomplishments is that he is a pioneer in climate models, and the models he invented have been instrumental in learning about climate change. He also received the National Medal of Science from former President Barack Obama. A true pioneer whose work in this field will never be forgotten.

Courtesy of Oregon State UniversityDianne White Clatto

Nobody may have been more instrumental to breaking the color barrier than Dianne White Clatto. She was a St. Louis girl who had dreams of being on TV. After graduating from the University of Missouri at Columbia, she began a modeling career where she worked with brands like Stix, Baer & Fuller, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Two years later, she would officially shatter the glass ceiling after becoming the first full-time African American weathercaster on television when she joined KSD-TV. This opened the door for the likes of Trudy Haynes, who became the first Black weather woman in Detroit the following year, Al Roker, who became one of TV’s most notable meteorologists, and all the other Black weathercasters we see now gracing television networks.

Courtesy of St. Louis Media History FoundationDr. James Marshall Shepherd

Dr. James Marshall Shepherd is the culmination of what happens when these glass ceilings are shattered. Born in Georgia, Dr. Shepherd actually wanted to study bees until he learned he was allergic to them. He pivoted into weather studies in the sixth grade, and he never looked back. He would go on to attend Florida State University, where he would become the first African American to receive a Ph.D. in meteorology from the university. In 2013, he was named President of the American Meteorological Society, becoming only the second African American to hold that position. He would also make huge waves in the weather content space, being the host of The Weather Channel’s award-winning podcast, Weather Geeks, and making numerous appearances sharing his weather expertise. He now serves as Director of the University of Georgia’s (UGA) Atmospheric Sciences Program.

Shoutout to these trailblazers. These pioneers didn’t just study weather; they changed this industry for the better, forever.

(courtesy of University of Georgia)

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