Comment

Abstract

Forecasting the weather presents a unique context for statistics, blending physical modeling with complicated observational data to produce information that is used at many different levels of sophistication. We are pleased that Gel, Raftery, and Gneiting (GRG) have brought this area to the attention of a statistical audience. In this discussion we give the reader a broader view of the use of ensemble techniques in numerical weather prediction (NWP). We have some comments about the use of ensembles idea presented by GRG and also present some of our recent analysis of the value of ensemble forecasts.