Meteorology

[gcreager]

Looking for meteorologists who are also active in CAP operations...

[THRAWN]

I'm kind of a hobbyist when it comes to meteorology. By aggregation, I can usually do a better job of predicting what's coming our way than the well coiffed spokesmodels on the local news. My 6 year old son is becoming a weather junkie. Santa brought him a weather station for the yard and I get minute by minute updates from him when there's fun stuff happening. This weekend should be a blast for him. He's already got his maps all set up.

I've always thought that there should be a CAP weather specialist. Has much more applicability than some of the others we have added in recent years (HSO comes to mind...)

[gcreager]

I'm sorta heading down the path of "thinking about fixin' to start getting ready" to recommend to National, that a Professional Track in meteorology be offered. One thing I've seen in our previous OPEX's is there is, at best, a haphazard approach to weather, and a lot of, "I think it'll get better soon" when there's just no way. Over the last year or so, I've taken on the role of being the on-site weather-guesser, and our ICs and senior staff have gotten used to checking for weather updates, periodically, and when conditions appear to change. It's increased my workload a bit... but I think they're liking it, and I am hoping it makes operations a bit safer.

[THRAWN]

We used to participate in a Guard and Reserve SOF exercise a couple of times a year in NJ. The task force commander was nuts about weather intel, and it kind of rubbed off. It's invaluable to have good weather info during routine ops, but even more importantly, you need it during times when you may be called out to play. You can't fly when it's lousy, and if you don't have good weather info, you're gonna be caught short. True story, in the late 90's we were doing some GSAR training on Fort Dix. When we reported in Friday night, it was nice, a bit chilly, but nothing out of the ordinary for a spring evening. When we woke up on Saturday morning to 6 inches of snow on the ground, we had to rapidly make adjustments to our plans. If we had a good weather brief, it probably would have ended much better.

Good luck with the pitch. I've spent some time in your AO, and know what good weather awareness means to keeping folks alive...

[THRAWN]

Just found this: http://www.557weatherwing.af.mil/questions/topic.asp?id=2313

[sardak]

When I was in Boy Scouts, a weather Explorer post was started at Offutt. I had earned my weather merit badge and wanted to join the post. We lived on the opposite side of Omaha and my parents had no interest in driving me there since I was active in my current troop. A Google search shows that the Explorer post was the only weather (and astronomy) one in the country and was sponsored by the Air Force Weather Agency (which didn't exist during my time), but I can't tell if the post still exists or not.

Weather is important for what CAP does, and I monitor the weather during missions and research the weather for missing aircraft missions. California Wing had or has a weather team.

Thrawn, get that backyard weather station online and start sending the data to the Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP) http://wxqa.com/  "CWOP members send their weather data by internet alone or internet-wireless combination to the findU server and then every five minutes, the data are sent from the findU server to the NOAA MADIS server. The data undergo quality checking and then are distributed to users. There are over 800 different organizations using CWOP mesonet data. Here is a partial list": [see the website]  Here are a couple of ways my weather info sent to CWOP is displayed: Mesowest  NWS Hazards Map

The same data  be sent to the Weather Underground  http://www.wunderground.com/wundermap

Mike

[unmlobo]

Ask away.  I am a weather forecaster/observer for the Air Force.  Been doing it for 5 years all over the world. 

[ALORD]

You can also see weather stations all over the world run by hams on the APRS network. The best site ( in my opinion) is www.aprs.fi it gives you lots of information about Micro-Climates.

[THRAWN]

Thanks for the info sardak and ALORD! Gives us something to do while Snowsama bin Laden is here...

[ALORD]

Are you in the path of Jonas? Good luck with that! Hopefully, the epicenter will be D.C., and the rest of you will only get splashed.

[THRAWN]

Are you in the path of Jonas? Good luck with that! Hopefully, the epicenter will be D.C., and the rest of you will only get splashed.

Im in northern Delaware. Have about 18 inches already and looking at another 5 or so by tomorrow. Winter...on the upside, have plenty of Ellios pizzas, my refrigerator looks like a Dr Dre video and have plenty of internet first run movie sites bookmarked. Just glad its a weekend.

[Spam]

Netflix and chill takes on yet another meaning?

[Spam]

On topic, though... when I commanded St. Louis Comp. Sqdn (early 90s) we were housed with the MOANG communications flight and the met flight. There was a meteorologist officer who came in and taught classes to us which were of real interest. I recall that his predictions of heavy snowmelt and severe flooding in the spring of 93 were absolutely on target, as we ended up being activated (EOC, sandbagging, high and low bird flights) all summer long.

Meteorology is real serious business when your home is at risk. We became converts to the art and science!

V/R
Spam

[MSG Mac]

Are you in the path of Jonas? Good luck with that! Hopefully, the epicenter will be D.C., and the rest of you will only get splashed.

I live about 25 miles from downtown DC, send it to key West-They've been bragging about their weather for too long.

[THRAWN]

Are you in the path of Jonas? Good luck with that! Hopefully, the epicenter will be D.C., and the rest of you will only get splashed.

I live about 25 miles from downtown DC, send it to key West-They've been bragging about their weather for too long.

HA! My parents live in the Tampa area. Before they moved, they gave me a snowblower. With this pile of white poo, it acted more like a snow dryheaver. I'll take a hurricane over this mess any day.

[ALORD]

"Jonas" means "Gift from God" ...anything that puts D.C. out of business, even temporarily, qualifies in my book! Sorry you had to get splattered by incoming....collateral damage I guess...

[THRAWN]

On topic, though... when I commanded St. Louis Comp. Sqdn (early 90s) we were housed with the MOANG communications flight and the met flight. There was a meteorologist officer who came in and taught classes to us which were of real interest. I recall that his predictions of heavy snowmelt and severe flooding in the spring of 93 were absolutely on target, as we ended up being activated (EOC, sandbagging, high and low bird flights) all summer long.

Meteorology is real serious business when your home is at risk. We became converts to the art and science!

V/R
Spam

My first PD! I have fondish memories of sandbagging and sandbagging and sandbagging...Weather intel is crucial. I'm surprised there isn't a bigger push for it internally with CAP.

[THRAWN]

"Jonas" means "Gift from God" ...anything that puts D.C. out of business, even temporarily, qualifies in my book! Sorry you had to get splattered by incoming....collateral damage I guess...

Meh. It just means that I have to telework for a few days.

[GroundHawg]

I would love to see both a CAP Meteorology specialty track and a SOWT Orientation Course.

A great article featuring one of the smartest guys I have ever served with.

http://www.nbcnews.com/pages/weathermen

[Flying Pig]

I think SOWT is probably one of the best kept secrets in special operations.  I recall being a Marine at Camp Lejuene and we were doing an Op with the 82nd Airborne.  I was talking to a SOWT member who had parachuted in prior to the jump to do their part.  I recall thinking...... How the heck did I not know about this when I enlisted?  He had been to Ranger, Airborne, HALO, SCUBA... all the good stuff.  It was also pretty cool seeing a USAF guy with an 82nd patch.