March is Women’s History Month. In this post, we spotlight the exceptional career of one of our female community members: Fernanda Ramos-Garcés.
Ramos-Garcés is a meteorologist originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, with 10 years of collective experience in broadcasting, science education, and operational meteorology. She currently works as a Spanish broadcast meteorologist at N+ Univision 45 in Houston, Texas, serving Hispanic communities nationwide through her weather segments. Previously, she was a forecasting meteorologist for the National Weather Service (NWS) in San Juan, where she accomplished the dream of serving her community by providing reliable science-based weather information to entail a sense of preparedness and awareness during critical decision-making processes.
She obtained a bachelor’s degree in physics and meteorology from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, in 2015. She is an active member of AMS, an AMS Committee for Hispanic and Latinx Advancement (CHALA) broadcast sector ambassador, and part of the Early Career Leadership Academy (ECLA) 2024 cohort. Her collaboration with chief meteorologist Ada Monzón during the live coverages of hurricanes Irma and María in 2017 through social media awarded her the Weather-Ready Ambassador from the NWS and the AMS Matt Parker Communication Scholarship in 2018.
In her spare time, she enjoys connecting with students and young professionals to inspire them through STEM.
What are a few highlights from your career?
A few highlights from my career include serving as a broadcast meteorologist for N+ Univision Houston, where I help communicate weather information in Spanish to diverse communities across multiple U.S. cities, and previously working as a forecaster with the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico. My career has allowed me to bring together operational meteorology, broadcast communication, and public service in a way that feels both fulfilling and grounding.
Another important highlight of my career has been my involvement in leadership, outreach, and professional service through various organizations. Through the American Meteorological Society (AMS), I have had the opportunity to serve on committees and present my work at conferences, experiences that have allowed me to contribute to the field, build connections across the weather, water, and climate community (WWC), and continue growing as a scientist and communicator. I also serve in a leadership role within Puertorriqueños en las Ciencias Atmosféricas y Meteorología (PCAM), where I help facilitate mentorship, support, and opportunities for the next generation of Puerto Rican scientists while also strengthening a sense of community. Being part of that effort has been especially rewarding because it reflects many of the values that matter most to me: representation, service, and giving back.
What are you most proud of in your professional life?
What I am most proud of is being able to serve others through meteorology in my native language, Spanish. That means a great deal to me because weather communication is about far more than delivering information. It is about building trust, fostering connection, and helping people make decisions that protect themselves and their families. Being able to do that in a language that feels like home gives my work a strong sense of purpose.
I am also proud that my professional path has allowed me to connect science with community. Whether I am communicating weather risks, mentoring younger scientists, or helping others feel that they belong in this field, I take pride in doing work that can make a real difference in people’s lives.
Have things changed for female meteorologists or scientists over the years? What still needs to change?
Yes, I do believe things have changed, and I have seen that change in a very personal way. When I worked as a forecaster at the National Weather Service in San Juan, we were only three women forecasters. Today, the majority of the forecasters in the San Juan office are women, and I am proud of every single one of them. Seeing that kind of growth is powerful because it reflects progress in visibility, presence, and leadership.
At the same time, there is still more work to do. We need to continue creating spaces where women are fully supported, respected, and given the opportunity to lead. It is also important to keep opening doors for women from historically underrepresented communities, because representation matters when it comes to strengthening science, communication, and the future of our field.
Are there other female meteorologists/atmospheric scientists who have particularly influenced or inspired you?
I have been inspired by many women throughout my career, including mentors, colleagues, and leaders within the WWC community who have shown excellence, resilience, and a strong commitment to service. I especially admire women who have helped create space for others in this field and who lead by example through both their scientific work and their dedication to mentorship. Their example has continually reminded me of the importance of not only growing professionally, but also helping others feel seen, supported, and encouraged along the way.
One person who has had a particularly profound impact on me is Ada Monzón, the first Puerto Rican female meteorologist and an AMS Fellow. I had the privilege of getting to know her when I was in high school, and her presence in my life has been a lasting influence ever since. Her guidance, her belief in me even in moments when I struggled to believe in myself, and my admiration for her professional excellence and community work have stayed with me throughout my career. The way she has used her platform to make science accessible, relevant, and useful to the community has strongly inspired how I approach my own work.
