The National Weather Service is an important agency in the United States. NOAA, its parent agency, is responsible for monitoring and studying the atmosphere and ocean. Monitoring weather is crucial, especially during severe weather seasons in the spring and summer.
Over the years, severe weather has remained sporadic and difficult to predict. Despite this, many underestimate the role of meteorologists in keeping their lives and property safe. “We provide the forecast to the public and specialized users like the aviation and agricultural industries,” said Les Colin, Senior Forecaster at NWS Boise.
Colin elaborated on public safety by mentioning different stages of alerts. “…we issue warnings, watches, and advisories to the public, so they’re prepared for adverse weather.” Advisories are the lowest scale of alerts, mostly used for minor disruptions. Watches inform that a certain weather event could happen. Warnings are issued if there are direct threats to life and property. Warnings can range from Winter Storm Warnings to Tornado Warnings.
Forecasting weather is one of the trickiest jobs in all of meteorology. “The most challenging part of my job as a forecaster is when you receive conflicting information from forecast models.” Data that comes to the National Weather Service is run through supercomputers. They turn the data into models that produce forecasts.
Main office space of the National Weather Service in Boise
When asked what tools the National Weather Service relies on, Colin said, “We have a variety of sources, weather balloons, aircraft, or satellite information. They serve as input to forecast models that are processed at the national center in Maryland.” Colin added saying, “The most difficult type of weather to predict are thunderstorms. They tend to be on a small scale and they have a certain random element that we have to somehow forecast precisely.”
I spoke with Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Jay Breidenbach, about the biggest weather and climate concern in the Treasure Valley. “Last summer Boise had 26 days over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. If you went back three decades ago, the average would be five. We’re seeing long extended heat waves becoming more extreme.” The largest concern with excessive heat is danger to life. Heat stroke and heat exhaustion have gradually increased in the US.
Breidenbach added to weather concerns saying, “Wildfires cause the ground to become hydrophobic, meaning the ground cannot absorb rain or runoff.” Breidenbach also mentioned the Valley Fire, which burned 9,000 acres of land by Lucky Peak in the fall of last year. Snowmelt from Lucky Peak and surrounding foothills may cause runoff and produce flooding.
Senior Forecaster Les Colin preparing to launch a weather balloon to collect atmospheric data outside the Weather Forecast Office (WFO)
The National Weather Service has opportunities for the general public to be involved in reporting severe weather. The SkyWarn Spotter program gives people the opportunity to report severe weather events from the ground. “Our office doesn’t have a lot of windows that look outside. It is really important to have volunteers call the National Weather Service after they’ve taken some training” Breidenbach said. SkyWarn Spotters can report characteristics of severe weather such as hail and high winds.
Monitoring weather and climate is important to understand what hazards can occur and how frequently they do so in a given area. The US has one of the most advanced weather warning systems in the world. NOAA Weather Radio has provided weather alerts and information to the public since 1958.
A Midland WR-120 Weather Radio
The National Weather Service continues to provide information to serve the general public, aviation, and agriculture. “Without the National Weather Service, pilots won’t get the necessary weather information to fly safely, and the general public won’t be warned of events,” Breidenbach said.
