Optical turbulence forecast involves many subjects such as atmospheric science, computational mathematics and optical engineering and many technologies such as computer technology and turbulence measurement technology. It is urgently needed to improve the capability of atmospheric optical turbulence forecast in low stratosphere. The reason why the mesoscale meteorological model is chosen for forecasting optical turbulence, the characteristics of representative mesoscale meteorological model, optical turbulence parameterization, current situation and challenges of optical turbulence forecasting are discussed. The prospect of future development in this field is discussed. The outer scale parameterization formula in accordance with the regional climatic characteristics of China, the nesting of mesoscale and microscale models, and the non-Kolmogorov turbulence statistical characteristic and the new method for the atmospheric optical turbulence parametrization under low stratosphere are studied. The study will has an important significance in spatial resolution and forecast accuracy of optical turbulence forecast.