**National Weatherman\'s Day**

Thursday, February 5 is National Weatherman\'s Day, commemorating the
birth of John Jeffries in 1744. Jeffries, one of America\'s first
weather observers, began taking daily weather observations in Boston in
1774 and he took the first balloon observation in 1784. This is a day to
recognize the men and women who collectively provide Americans with the
best weather, water, and climate forecasts and warning services of any
nation.

Many of us take weather information for granted. Turn on a light switch,
you get light. Turn on your television or radio, or check a web site and
you get the weather forecast. It's easy to forget that around the clock,
dedicated meteorologists and weathercasters are vigilantly creating
forecasts to help you plan your day, and issuing warnings to help keep
you safe.

The men and women at your local National Weather Service (NWS) forecast
office gather the raw weather data, analyze the data, and study
numerical computer models in order to issue the weather and river
forecasts and warnings to protect life and property. Specialized marine
and aviation forecasts help enhance the Nation's economy. Spot forecasts
help firefighters control wildfires and emergency management officials
contain hazardous chemical spills. Extensive climate records help
engineers, architects, researchers, insurance companies and utilities.

The primary mission of the NWS is to provide the American public with
the best possible warning service to save lives. Recent severe weather
statistics show that we continue to improve our capability to warn the
public of impending hazardous weather. Nationally, lead time for flash
flood warnings improved from 22 minutes in 1993 to 78 minutes in 2008.
Accuracy over the same time period increased from 71 percent to 91
percent. Lead time for tornado warnings has increased from 6 minutes in
1993 to nearly 15 minutes today. Tornado warning accuracy increased from
43 percent to 75 percent. Winter storm accuracy in 2008 was 89 percent
with an average lead time of 17 hours. Since 1990, the Tropical
Prediction Center's 24 to 72 hour tropical storm forecast track errors
have been reduced by more than 50%. These more accurate and longer lead
time warnings help communities stay safe.

Locally, the Raleigh NWS forecast office, which serves 31 counties in
central North Carolina, had an accuracy of 83 percent for tornado
warnings in 2008 with an average lead time of 15 minutes. For the
stronger and more dangerous EF2 and greater tornadoes, the numbers
improve to 100 percent detection with 20 minutes of lead time. Flash
flood warning accuracy was 90 percent with an average lead time of 60
minutes. For the recent winter storm, the first to impact the area in
five years, accuracy was 100 percent with an average Winter Storm Watch
lead time of 29 hours.

But the NWS couldn\'t accomplish its mission without a diverse group of
partners helping in the process.

Nationwide, more than 11,000 volunteer Cooperative Observers take
regular measurements of temperature, precipitation and other data, which
is used by forecasters and climatologists. Nearly 300,000 volunteer
storm spotters are trained by the NWS to provide visual reports of
severe weather conditions to forecast offices and local emergency
management officials. Volunteer amateur radio operators provide critical
emergency communications during severe weather.

The Raleigh NWS office has a network of 80 dedicated volunteer
Cooperative Observers throughout central North Carolina. Nearly 500
volunteer observers report through the new Community Collaborative Rain,
Hail, and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network. Thousands of people attend SKYWARN
severe storm spotter training classes in the local area each year.

Most of the colorful weather graphics seen on television and in
newspapers come from another member of the America\'s weather team.
Commercial weather companies enhance the presentation of the NWS data
and information for their clients in the media and in many
weather-sensitive industries, and provide customized forecasts and
services for clients.

And finally, television weathercasters are the most visible members of
the America\'s weather team. They are the trusted faces many people turn
to for weather information, and they relay the NWS's official watches
and warnings for hazardous weather.

On National Weatherman\'s Day, the NWS would like to thank all of the
volunteers and our partners in television and commercial weather
services. Thank you!

To learn more about weather and how to help serve your local communities
please visit:

Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow (CoCoRaHS):
<http://cocorahs.org/>

NWS SKYWARN Program: <http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/skywarn>

Central Carolina SKYWARN: <http://centralcarolinaskywarn.net/>

Triad SKYWARN: <http://www.triadskywarn.com/>

Online Weather School: <http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/>