# Presentation: 114211

## The National Weather Service

- Laura Kasper
- Meteorologist / Forecaster

## Biographical Information

**Born and raised in Fort Lauderdale (Native Floridian)**
**Started working for the National Weather Service (NWS) in Miami under the “Student Career Experience Program” (June 1999)**
**Graduated from The University of Miami (May 2000)**
**Accepted an intern position with the NWS in Key West (June 2000)**
**Promoted to a forecaster        (June 2001)**

## Meteorology as a Profession

**Bachelor of Science in Meteorology **
**Requires many mathematics and physics courses**
**Many meteorologists have Masters & Doctoral Degrees**
**Fields of work in meteorology vary:**
**National Weather Service (Government) **
**Television and Radio Broadcasting**
**Military**
**Research **
**Education **
**Private Industry**

## Weather Forecast Office (WFO)Key West

- Serving the Florida Keys since 1870
- Operate 24 / 7, 365 days a year
- Local staff consists of 21 employees
- Positions within the office
** ****Meteorologist In Charge (MIC)**
** ****Warning and Coordination Meteorologist (WCM) **
** ****Administrative Support Assistant (ASA)**
** ****Electronic Systems Analyst (ESA) & Electronics Technician (ET)**
** ****Data Acquisition Program Manager (DAPM)**
** ****Information Technology Officer (ITO) **
** ****10 Forecasters (5 Senior Forecasters and 5 Journeyman Forecasters)**
** ****3 Interns and/or Hydrometeorological Technicians (HMT)**

## Weather Forecast Office (WFO)Key West

- The NWS WFO in Key West, Florida maintains a constant vigil for life threatening weather such as severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes and coastal/freshwater flooding.
- The primary mission of the NWS is to issue warnings and statements for these types of phenomena in order to minimize loss of life and property damage.
- The NWS also issues public forecasts that influence the daily decisions of thousands of residents across the Florida Keys, including the sizeable marine community.
- Commercial enterprises and public utilities, water resource managers, pilots, recreational boaters, commercial anglers, dive boat operators, campers and others in the recreational community rely on NWS forecasts.

## 2005 Hurricane Season in Review

- Arlene
- Dennis
- Katrina
- Rita
- Wilma

## Tropical Storm Arlene

- Peak Wind:  37 mph
- Peak Gust:  47 mph
- Lowest Pressure: 1005.7 mb
- Storm Total Precipitation:  2.70 inches
- Storm Tide
- 1.35 feet AMSL* @ Key West Harbor
- *AMSL – Above Mean Sea Level

- Key West International Airport

- June 10-11, 2005

## Hurricane Dennis

- Peak Wind:  61 mph
- Peak Gust:  74 mph
- Lowest Pressure: 1001.9 mb
- Storm Total Precipitation:  5.81 inches
- Storm Tide
- 4.0 to 4.5 feet AMSL along south shore of KW

- Key West International Airport

- July 8-10, 2005

## Hurricane Katrina

- Peak Wind:  61 mph
- Peak Gust:  74 mph
- Lowest Pressure: 999.3 mb
- Storm Total Precipitation:  10.05 inches
- Storm Tide
- 2.5 feet AMSL along south shore of KW

- Key West International Airport

- August 24-27, 2005

## Hurricane Rita

- Peak Wind:  62 mph
- Peak Gust:  76 mph
- Lowest Pressure: 995.3 mb
- Storm Total Precipitation:  2.05 inches
- Storm Tide
- 5.0 feet AMSL southeast shore of Key West

- Key West International Airport

- September 18-22, 2005

## Hurricane Wilma

- Peak Wind:  71 mph**
- Peak Gust:  83 mph**
- Lowest Pressure: 977.2 mb @ Harbor
- Storm Total Precipitation:  2.02 inches
- Storm Tide
- 5.0 to 6.5 feet AMSL around most of island
- 60% of Key West inundated
- **Station failed well before maximum winds.

- Key West International Airport

- October 23-25, 2005

## Hurricane Season 2006

- NOAA forecast provided in May 2006
- Dr. William Gray’s 2006 Predictions

## Gray’s Monroe County Predictions

| 2006 Forecast %
(Normals) | Force | Vicinity |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tropical Storm | 42.0% 
(15.9%) | 97.7%
(76.1%) |
| Hurricane | 12.9%
(4.9%) | 68.8%
(35.7%) |
| Intense Hurricane 
(Category 3, 4, or 5) | 3.5%
(1.3%) | 27.0%
(11.2%) |

- *Force means experiencing winds within the county lines.
- *Vicinity means storm will be close enough for precautionary measures to be taken.
**Highest Probability in the United States – EVERY YEAR**

## 1933-1965 Major Hurricanes

## 1966-2003 Major Hurricanes

## 2004-2005 Major Hurricanes

## Questions & Comments

## 1315 White Street
Key West, Florida 33040
(305) 295-1316

http://www.weather.gov/keywest

- Key West, Florida 33040
- (305) 295-1316
- http://www.weather.gov/keywest