Troubling forecast ahead Meteorologists for United's can see outsourcing on their horizon.(Business)

Byline: Mike Comerford Daily Herald Business Writer

Considered the elite of the airline industry's weather forecasters since their jobs were created in 1936, United Airlines' meteorologists these days find themselves looking at a developing storm of another kind - outsourcing.

Nineteen United meteorologists may lose their jobs as soon as Monday while the Elk Grove Township-based airline seeks bids from outside vendors. The winner likely will hire some United's workers back at reduced pay and benefits.

Questions linger over whether outsourcing meteorology works as well as outsourcing firms claim. But there's little question that meteorology, like the weather, is constantly changing.

"We have to expand our ideas of what a …