Lost in Translation: An Analysis on how Florida's Broadcast Meteorologists Navigate Bilingual Communication During Severe Weather

All types of severe weather impact Florida every year from thunderstorms to tropical cyclones, which means the ability to effectively communicate timely and accurate warnings is crucial for public safety. Broadcast meteorologists play an important role in being a trusted source for translating weather alerts into understandable and actionable information. However, there are issues when it comes to communicating the risk that people may experience when severe weather is present, one of them being language barriers. This study investigates how broadcast meteorologists across Florida navigate communication barriers related to language when serving linguistically diverse populations during severe weather. Semi-structured interviews (n=21) were conducted with broadcast meteorologists representing various TV markets across the state. Recorded and transcribed interviews showed how meteorologists communicate with non-English speaking viewers and whether institutional or technological resources are available to support bilingual messaging. Thematic analysis using grounded theory in NVivo revealed several key challenges, including a lack of Spanish-language staff, inconsistent translation tools, limited app or captioning support, and varying perceptions of responsibility for bilingual communication. Findings suggest that broadcast meteorologists often rely on informal strategies, such as visual graphics and social media, or assumptions that viewers turn to Spanish-language media. Despite growing awareness, institutional solutions remain limited, placing the burden on individual meteorologists to bridge communication gaps. This research highlights the need for institutional support and culturally competent practices to ensure life-saving weather information is equitably accessible to all communities in Florida.

The Weather Climate and Society REU program invited 10 students from across the US to conduct research projects related to disaster-vulnerable communities in Florida and other extreme weather-affected areas. These projects were interdisciplinary, integrating social science and physical science aspects of severe weather, climate, and related disasters through field work, interviews, and/or spatial analysis of secondary data in GIS. The PI of this REU is Dr. Jennifer Collins.