Meteorologists rely on satellites for much of their weather data, and those satellites operate on various frequency spectrums that are now available to 5G networks.
“We have research basically indicating that unless there is some real constraint put onto the wireless companies for how they transmit in that area, they're likely going to be interfering with those measurements of atmospheric water vapor,” she said.
She cited a study that analyzed the possible impact of false readings on weather data, which came in ahead of 2012’s Hurricane Sandy.
“All of the big lefthand turns that Sandy made would not have been predicted. We would have thought that Sandy would have hit southern Maine,” she said. “That's a pretty big difference in comparison to it hitting southern New Jersey.”
LeDuc noted forecasters aren't trying to stop wireless companies from rolling out 5G.
“Some of the most-used apps in the world are weather apps. Of course we want 5G. But if the information coming through those apps is going to be wrong, then what's the point?” she questioned.
CNET tech expert Larry Magid said one answer to the conflict may lie in reducing the level of satellite frequencies.
“It would be like if your neighbor was complaining about the volume of your television or radio … one option would be to turn off the TV or the radio,” he explained. “The other would be to simply reduce the volume so you could still hear it, but they couldn't.
“The frequency … can be confused for moisture,” he added, “and give false readings.”
The full impact of 5G won’t be felt until the rollout is complete. But delegates at last year’s World Radiocommunication Conference left some wiggle room when they agreed to allow 5G technologies to only operate in those crowded spectrums as long their signals don't spill over into their neighbors bands.
If that happens, the wireless companies will be ordered to “turn down the volume.”