# Presentation: 729715

## National Weather Service Northern Indiana

**http://www.crh.noaa.gov/iwx**
**574-834-1104**

**Welcome!**

## Why We’re Here

**The National Weather Service Produces Weather, **
**     ****Water and  Climate Forecasts and Warnings**
- For All Americans
- To Protect Life and Property
- To Enhance the National Economy
**Data and Products to:**
- Government Agencies
- Private Sector
- The Public
- Global Communities
**Economic Decisions Are Based on**
**     ****NWS Data and Products**
*“**Weather Impacts $1.7 Trillion [per Year] of Our Economy” **– **Weather Risk Management Association, Jan. 2001*
*Growing Weather Risk Management Industry Approaching $8 Billion per Year **– **Weather Risk Management Association, Jan. 2001*

## Why We’re HereWeather Jolts Society and Shakes the Economy

**More Than 500 Americans Die Each Year in Weather-  and  Flood-Related Events**
**More Than 5,000 are Injured**
**Annual Weather-  and Flood-Related Losses Cost America $14 Billion Each Year**

- Courtesy Paul Huffman, *Elkhart Truth*

- Courtesy Cathy Benko

## Organization

- Department of Commerce (DOC)

- National Oceanic and Atmospheric
- Administration (NOAA)

- National Weather Service (NWS)

- Central Region (CR)
- (part of area of responsibility is in Eastern Region)

- Weather Forecast Office (WFO)
- Northern Indiana (IWX)

## We’ve Been Around for a While...

***1870***** – President Grant signed into existence a national weather observing service, as part of the Army Signal Service**
***1870 – 1891***** – Part of the War Department**
***1891 – 1940***** – Weather Bureau, in the Department of Agriculture**
***1940 – 1970***** – Weather Bureau, in the Department of Commerce**
***1970 – present***** – National Weather Service, in the Department of Commerce**

**Former South Bend Office**
**1939 - 1998**

**Former Fort Wayne Office**
**1911 - 1998**

**IWX**
**1998 - present**

## NWS Office Locations

## What We Do At WFO Northern Indiana (IWX) Maintain 24/7 Weather Watch for County Warning and Forecast Area (CWFA)

**37 counties**

**3 states**

**3 time zones!**
**(*****sometimes*****!)**

## How America Gets Weather InformationThe average person only sees the tip of the iceberg

**TV**

**Radio**

**Internet**

**Private Weather Companies**

_**NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE**_

_**123 Weather Forecast Offices**_
**Weather and Flood Forecasts and Warnings**

_**National Centers for Environmental Prediction**_
**Model Simulations**
**Climate & Seasonal Outlooks**
**Aviation & Marine Forecasts **
**Storm & Tornado Prediction, Hurricane Tracks**

_**13 River Forecast Centers **_**River Forecasts (used for**
**Hydropower,  Flood warnings, Irrigation,  River Navigation)**

_**Observations                                                                      **_**Radar Network,  Satellites,  Weather Balloons,  Ground-level Observations at Airports,  Aircraft,  Lightning Network,  Data Buoys,  Stream Gauge Network,  11,000 Volunteer Daily-Data collectors,  Thousands of Volunteer Storm Spotters**

## Our Ties with the Community

| Weather Forecast Office (WFO) |
| --- |
|  Prepares and issues forecasts and warnings

 Works with the public and state and local officials

 Gives many spotter training talks every spring

 On the job 24 hours-a-day/7 days a week |

## Warnings and Forecasts 

**Convective Warnings (Tornado, Severe, and Flash Flood)**
** ****Nonconvective Watches and Warnings (Wind Chill, High Wind, Heavy Snow etc.)**
** ****Zone Forecast (Text, Digital, and Graphical)**
** ****Terminal and Route Aviation Forecasts**
** ****Short Term Forecasts**
** ****River Forecasts and Warnings**
** ****Climatology Products**

## Observation Tools - Ground LevelAutomated Surface Observation System (ASOS)

**Rainfall**
**Temperature/Dewpoint**
**Weather**
**Wind**
**Sky Cover**
**Freezing Rain **
**Thunderstorm**
**Visibility**
**Pressure**

**  ****Benton Harbor**
**  ****Defiance**
**  ****Fort Wayne**
**  ****Goshen**
**  ****Lima**
**  ****South Bend**

## WSR-88D

**28-foot diameter antenna transmits and receives energy (750,000 Watts)**
** ****While rotating, samples up to 14 elevation scans in the atmosphere **
** ****Range of 250 miles**
** ****In addition to capabilities of older radars, can also identify rotation and strong winds inside of thunderstorms**

*World’s most powerful radar*

## WSR-88D Reflectivity ImageFort Wayne, Indiana (North Side) F2 TornadoMay 26, 2001

## WSR-88D Velocity ImageVan Wert, Ohio F4 TornadoNovember 10, 2002

## Analysis and ForecastingForecasters analyze myriad surface, upper air , radar, satellite, and numerical model data to create a plethora of forecasts

## Forecast and Warning Distribution To...

**County Officials via National Warning System (NAWAS), Emergency Managers Weather Information Network (EMWIN), and phone**
**Media by Associated Press, Family of Services, and NOAA Weather Radio (Emergency Alert System)**
**Amateur Radio Network by radio operator at WFO IWX**
**Public by NOAA Weather Radio and Internet (http://www.crh.noaa.gov/iwx)**

## NOAA Weather Radio

**Voice of the National Weather Service**
**Network of 750 stations nationwide **(Feb ‘03)** **
**NOAA Weather Radio can be heard by more than 85% of the U.S. population**
**Continuous weather information broadcasts from local forecast offices:**
- Warnings
- Watches
- Forecasts
- Observations
** ****For more information, visit the NOAA Weather Radio Web Site at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr**

## Local NOAA Weather Radio Transmitters

**Fort Wayne**
**WXJ-58, 162.550 Mhz**
**Marion**
**WXM-98, 162.450 Mhz**
**South Bend**
**WXJ-57, 162.400 Mhz**
**Angola**
**KXI-94, 162.425 Mhz**
**North Webster**
**WWG-45, 162.500 Mhz**

**Oshtemo**
**WWF-34 162.475 Mhz**
**Onondaga**
**WXK-81, 162.400 Mhz**
**Toledo**
**WXL-51, 162.550 Mhz**
**Lima**
**WXJ-90, 162.400 Mhz**
**Monticello**
**WXK-74, 162.475 Mhz**

## Customer and Community Interaction in Addition to Forecasts and Warnings...

**Build and maintain relationships with local, state, and Federal governments and the media**
**Provide expert advice to  Emergency Operations Centers and the media**
**Solicit feedback from customers (*****that’s you!*****)**
**Conduct community awareness and education programs**
**Train volunteer observers and storm spotters (SKYWARN)**

## Our Jobs at IWX:The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

**Good**
- Interesting and always challenging career
- Competitive salary and benefits compared to private sector
- Job opportunities across the nation
- Excellent benefits and job security as Federal employees
** ****Bad**
- Salaries do not compare to TV meteorologists in large markets
- Can be called in on off-hours to assist during severe weather
** ****Ugly**
- Shifts:  office is operating 24 hours a day, shift changes every several days, working holidays, attempting complex scientific thought at 3 o’clock in the morning...
- And especially:*  When forecasts go awry...!!*

## Education Requirements

**High School**
- Math
- Physics
- Chemistry
**College**
- Bachelor of Science 4 year degree required for NWS and most private sector jobs
- Masters and PhD aid career progression

## Contact WFO IWX

**USPS:**
**National Weather Service Northern Indiana**
**7506 E 850 N**
**Syracuse, IN 46567**
**E-mail:**
**iwx.webmaster@noaa.gov**
**Phone:**
**574-834-1104**
**Mon – Fri, 8:30am – 3:30pm**