May 1997 Newsletter

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National Weather Association
Newsletter
No. 97-5                                                                     May 1997

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

"Operational meteorologists providing value-added products and services to a diverse customer base."

Great News! Our Executive Director reports that individual membership is now over 2500. Thanks to our membership committee headed by Floyd Hauth - and to many other members and local chapter leaders who took the time and effort to recruit more than 300 new members since last August. Our recruiting efforts can't rest! At this time of year, the final dues notices go out and the challenge is to keep as many members as possible before the list is purged at the end of July. The NWA officers and councilors extend a plea to all members to stay aboard and to let your views be known regarding the many significant issues facing operational meteorology and related activities.

Speaking of views, the Letters to the Editor in this issue provide some opposing views to those published earlier. A primary NWA objective is to provide a medium through the Newsletter, National Weather Digest and the Annual Meeting to share views, studies, technical reports, news and correspondence - please use these opportunities.

The Executive Director also reports that a lack of submissions earlier this year caused the Newsletters and the Digests to be delayed in publishing. A recent surge in articles and correspondence should help get the publications back on schedule. Thanks to all those who have contributed. The Newsletter and National Weather Digest editors would appreciate many more submissions.

- Tom Adang

DATES TO REMEMBER

15 July - Nomination time extended for the NWA Annual Awards. See last newsletter or call NWA office.

1 August - Applications due for the annual Sol Hirsch NWA Education Fund Grants to K-12 teachers. See last Newsletter or call NWA office (334) 213-0388.

19-24 October - NWA Annual Meeting, Reno, Nevada. See announcement on pages 1-2.

NWA 22nd ANNUAL MEETING

The National Weather Association's twenty-second Annual Meeting will be held 19-24 October 1997 at the Harrah's Casino Hotel Reno and adjoining Hampton Inn.

The Program Committee welcomes papers on a wide variety of topics relating to OPERATIONAL meteorology, hydrology, weather broadcasting and related activities. SUCCESS STORIES in using new technologies and in tailoring (adding value to) weather support products to fit user needs are most welcome.

The meeting agenda will consist of oral presentations, poster sessions, training workshops, exhibits and panel discussions. Special training workshop sessions oriented to media weathercasters will be scheduled for 19 October.

The deadline (1 July 1997) has passed for submission of abstracts, but any individual authors and agencies wishing to make presentations or lead workshops, please contact the Program Co-Chairpersons, John Jannuzzi or David Billingsley for further information at:

National Weather Service Forecast Office
3833 South Development Ave Bldg 3807
Boise, Idaho 83705-5354
Tel: (208) 334-9861; FAX: (208) 334-1660
e-mail: John.Jannuzzi@noaa.gov

Submissions by e-mail are encouraged; submissions by regular mail should include a copy on floppy disk. Please indicate your desire for poster, oral or workshop session and include a mailing address, phone number, e-mail address, and a list of required audio-visual equipment. A special effort will be made to accommodate all submissions.

To assist with the Weathercaster Workshop program, please contact: John McLaughlin, KCCI-TV, Des Moines IA, (515) 247-8888; e-mail: johnmc49@ecity.net

For information on exhibits, contact the NWA office Tel/FAX: (334) 213-0388; NatWeaAsoc@aol.com

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hampton Inn at Harrah's Reno, 175 East Second Street, Reno, Nevada. NWA Annual Meeting attendee discount rates for a deluxe double or deluxe king room are: $69 for Saturday night and $55 Sunday through Friday nights. Rates include complimentary breakfast and airport shuttle. Please call in reservations to 1-800-367-9544 by 19 September 1997 and mention the National Weather Association Annual Meeting (Group Meeting).

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS: NWA Member Tom McGuire of Travel Agents International (TAI) in Woburn, MA has again obtained discount fares and will donate 15% of his commission on meeting travel tickets sold to the Sol Hirsch NWA Education Fund. The travel window for the following airline rates is 16-27 October 1997.

Delta Air Lines file 101707A offers 5% discount from published supersaver fares with a Saturday night stay or 10% discount off of published full coach fares (codes Y06/YR06/D4710). Delta also offers zone fares which do not require a Saturday night stay.

Reno Air will allow NWA members to book themselves using the password "Weathercaster Workshop" to obtain 5% off of rates.

Avis will also offer discount fares (12 to 31 October) to meeting attendees. The Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number for the NWA is J946780. Car rentals can be made by calling the Avis Meeting Reservation and Information Desk at 1-800-331-1600 or by calling TAI. Avis is also on the Internet at http://www.avis.com.

For further travel information or reservations, contact Tom McGuire at TAI at 1-800-937-7030, via FAX at (617) 937-3451 or via e-mail through: TAIWOB@aol.com TAI will also provide 24-hour emergency service for NWA meeting attendees they ticket and Reno vacation package information upon request.

FEATURED NWA COUNCIL MEMBER

G. ALAN JOHNSON is a Forecaster-in-Charge (FIC) at the New Orleans/Baton Rouge National Weather Service Forecast Office (NWS) located in Slidell, LA. He is the technical leader at the office for the prediction of heavy rainfall and flash floods and for the QPF program. His other research interests have involved the GUFMEX project, a cooperative venture with the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory, to study the return flow of low-level moisture from the Gulf of Mexico; severe winter cyclones in the Gulf; and dense sea fog over the northern Gulf of Mexico and adjacent coastal areas. Through research with Florida State University (FSU) on another COMET project, he has studied cyclogenesis in the Gulf and how it relates to southern U.S. rainfall. He has conducted numerous training workshops/seminars on heavy rainfall patterns and associated QPF techniques which he helped develop. Also, he has conducted seminars on the development of sea fog over the northern Gulf in the winter and early spring months as well as techniques for forecasting snow and heavy snowfall over west Texas and Louisiana. He has published numerous papers on the results of his research in scientific journals including the NWA Digest. He worked at the NWS Forecast Office in Lubbock, TX, first as an Agricultural Meteorologist from 1964-1972, and then as an FIC from 1972 to 1981. In 1981, he transferred to the NWS New Orleans office. Alan earned his B.S. Degree in Meteorology from the University of Texas in Austin in 1959, and he studied agricultural meteorology while in graduate school at the University of California, Davis, CA in the mid-1960s. He was Program Chairperson for the 1987 NWS National Heavy Rainfall Workshop in Houston, TX. Alan also served as Chairperson of the NWA Weather Analysis and Forecasting Committee from 1989 to 1992. He was also on the program committee for the 1995 NWA annual meeting in Houston, TX. Alan was honored with the AMS Francis W. Reichelderfer Award in 1986 and then in 1991 was elected a Fellow of the AMS. He was elected an NWA Councilor for the 2-year period of 1996-1997. Alan has also been responsible for recruiting dozens of new NWA members in the past few years. Alan appreciates your confidence in voting him into office. It is his privilege and honor to serve the operational community in this meaningful way.

NWA Newsletter (ISSN 0271-1044)
Co-Editors: Larry Burch and Eli Jacks
Publisher: Kevin Lavin, Executive Director
Published monthly by the National Weather Association,
6704 Wolke Court, Montgomery, Alabama 36116-2134.
Tel/FAX: (334) 213-0388
E-mail: NatWeaAsoc@aol.com
Home page: http://www.nwas.org

Submit newsletter items directly to: Editor NWA Newsletter, Eli Jacks, NOAA/NWS W/OM21, 1325 East West Hwy Room 13125, Silver Spring MD 20910; e-mail: Elliott.Jacks@noaa.gov or to: Larry Burch, NOAA/NWSFO, 2242 W. North Temple, Salt Lake City UT 84116; e-mail: Larry.Burch@noaa.gov. Material received by the 5th will be considered for that month's issue.

Members receive the monthly NWA Newsletter and quarterly National Weather Digest as part of their regular, student or corporate membership privileges. Contact the NWA for membership information. Newsletter subscriptions are available at $18.00 per year plus extra shipping costs outside USA. Single copies are $1.50.

Hazardous Weather Update Terminated

Effective at 11 pm CDT, Saturday, 28 June 1997, the Hazardous Weather Update (HWU) forecast product will no longer be issued. The test for the HWU was completed on 31 May 1997, and the decision has been made by National Weather Service Headquarters to terminate the product. The customer feedback and evaluation is greatly appreciated by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) and the National Weather Service. The SPC staff values the opportunity to better serve their customers by testing new products and services. Please direct any comments or questions to Gary Grice at (405) 579-0702 or e-mail: Gary.Grice@noaa.gov

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

NOAA Budget Cuts - Other Opinions

Dear Editor,

As a private-sector meteorologist, I welcome National Weather Service (NWS) budget cuts. The time has clearly arrived for a switch in weather forecasting to the private-sector. Unfortunately, not all forecasters in the private-sector have the capacity to produce a forecast which benefits the recipient.

There are individuals/groups whose livelihood depends upon getting accurate weather forecasts...(rain beginning at 2PM and ending at 7PM, with .15" total...low tonight 28 at 5AM with freezing temps from 3 AM to 8 AM; frost developing on bridges at 7 AM...6 to 8 tenths opaque cloud cover between 8 AM and noon...wind exceeding 8 MPH after 10 AM). Users are realizing they have to shell out dollars to professionals to meet their specific needs...and they are willingly paying, because they know the benefits of site-specific forecasts. The private-sector meteorologist will respond to those who pay...realizing that he/she will most assuredly be fired if the forecasts are not accurate.

The public? Specific needs are mostly unconscious and occasional. When Joe Citizen calls at the last minute, and finds he will have to pay to get specific forecast information, the reaction is mostly "That's what my tax dollars are for!". OK. Joe Citizen has the right to receive his severe weather information, and his forecast (40% chance of ...partly cloudy...lows 30 to 35)...just as he has a right to pay taxes.

None of this is threatening to those who produce weather forecasts "from the ground up." Client-oriented forecasts which are developed by a mix of local knowledge, gut-level instinct, and science, do not bind a forecaster to a model or to a set of computer-produced numbers. Forecasts which are developed more on common-sense and less on what a computer monitor says, apparently serve the client quite well. The bottom line is that there are people who can do the job...and there are many more meteorologists who cannot do the job. There are some meteorologists now selling encyclopedias.

This is an opportunity! We know of NWS meteorologists who have 'retired' from government service, only to start up private-sector forecasting companies. They provide specific forecasts to select clients. Their trick? They are accurate enough to meet the needs of the clientele.

Possibly some of us do not relate well to people. But we must understand that direct contact with people is necessary for survival as a meteorologist in this day. What are the needs? How can we fulfill those needs? What can we do for your company which will help you save money? How can we, as forecasters with a good batting average, help out your particular industry? No longer can we sit in the forecast office and expect to earn a living.

I advise anyone starting out in meteorology to also acquire a knowledge of business. If you've got a worthwhile product (an accurate weather forecast), and if you can meet specific needs among the populace, then there is a place for you. If not, consider something else.

- Sincerely, Phil Breuser

Dear Editor,

After thirty-one years with the federal government as a public servant with first the Weather Bureau, then ESSA, then NOAA, and then retirement...I see the current budget situation differently than conveyed in the newsletters, newsgroups, newspaper articles, etc.

Let me postulate two reasons for reducing funds and personnel in the National Weather Service:

1) The management structure is excessively top heavy by comparison to other agencies and the corporate sector. Downsizing is way overdue for the middle and upper level management structure within the NWS and NOAA. In fact the entire NOAA structure was not in place 25 years ago!

2) The NWS over the last 30 years has evolved into a warehouser for services and goods that are used by and taken credit for by thousands of people in the private and corporate sector. The vast majority of the population has no idea who or what the NWS is. The taxpayer has no idea what agency is spending money most effectively and with the lowest cost per capita (the NWS).

Combined, these two situations argue strongly for downsizing the NWS, eliminating the fat at the top and middle management structures, and getting on with the job of saving life and property. The layered structure of NOAA and NWS is not necessary to get the job done, in fact, in some ways it gets in the way of getting the job done.

- Sincerely, Chet Henricksen

(Exec. Dir. E-mail and other correspondence from members indicates that the NWS entire severe weather advisory/watch/warning service from the NCEP and WFOs is of utmost importance and needs to be continually improved not degraded. Meteorological data from many platforms, data collection and dissemination are also of significant importance from NOAA to include numerical weather prediction model data. Any other comments?)

NEW HOME PAGE & DOMAIN NAME

Check out -http://www.nwas.org and tell the NWA Home Page Committee how you like it. In addition, please help publicize the new address and update links to it.

NEW FEATURE -

do's/don'ts list for weathercasters

(Ed. Student weathercasters often ask the NWA office for lists of do's/don'ts - please help us build one. We asked some of our Seal of Approval committee members first and received a good start from Alan Sealls.)

Regarding your idea for starting a do's and don'ts list, I'm sure you'll get a bunch of opinions. What follows is mine in the form of a light-hearted essay that I wrote two years ago but I've hesitated to put it out in the fear that my colleagues would take it to seriously. I submit it to you to use in the Newsletter or with other do's/don'ts you get...

Words of Weather
by Alan Sealls © 1995

Weatherese, weather-speak, call it what you want. The lingo lobbed by weathercasters can fall from the cloak of cliché into the realm of redundancy to perennially perpetuate poor English, and magnify a misunderstanding of science.

Since most weathercasters ad-lib, some of the misuse of English is excused. Few of us have been trained to communicate with originality. None of us has been taught how to follow a story about monkeys, babies or Elvis impersonators.

"The barometer is falling at the present time." When I hear this one I think, "If the barometer is falling why don't you catch it? Those things cost several hundred dollars."

News anchors should be charged for stealing barometers and using them in "...a barometer of leading economic indicators." Why not use thermometer or hygrometer or just plain meter?

Saying that the barometer is falling when pressure is falling, is the same as saying that the thermometer is rising when the temperature goes up.

Pressure falls when storms are lifting out or pulling off. Huh? How can a storm lift or pull itself?

Weathercasters on a cable weather station announce, "These storms are moving on off to the..." Well, which is it? Are the storms moving "on" or are they moving "off" or are they moving "off on?" The next time you leave work to go home say to your boss, "I'm heading on off to my house." Delete "on", delete "off" or delete both and the phrase still conveys the same message. Let's move "on off" to a related topic.

There is a huge "mixed bag" of seasonal clichés. In the spring after you hear that "we are in store" for a good day, you are warned to "keep your eyes to the skies," since this is the "calm before the storm." The weathercasters will be "tracking the storms" which are "packing" strong winds. Following the "lazy, hazy days of summer" it's only a matter of time before the "winds of change" usher in "Jack Frost" and then "old man winter".

Some weathercasters don't know Jack...

Mild conditions may prevail in "your neck of the woods." So mild that "if you liked today you'll love tomorrow" because it will be a "carbon copy" of today. How many young people know what carbon copies are?

"Just when you thought it was over," rain "outside" means you'll see the radar. Why don't those weather people clean up that "ground clutter?" This is always a messy topic.

OK, wrap. We're done, and only 5 seconds over. Now back to the news.

This transition can be brutal. After a dramatic swing in weather you can bet your barometer one of the news anchors will quip, "What a difference a day makes!" When the forecast is for a change for the worse expect to hear Aaron Anchor remark, "I guess we'll have to enjoy it while we can." This is only topped by Angie Anchor's query, "Can't you do something about this?" Of course, the same way newscasters can change the news!

"...talk about adding insult to injury."

- Alan Sealls is a Meteorologist at WMAQ-TV, in Chicago and an Instructor at Columbia College (ARS000@colum.edu)

MEMBER NEWS

Kent Ehrhardt, chief meteorologist for WPTV Channel 5 in Palm Beach, Florida received the National Hurricane Conference 1997 Media Award. Kent was cited, "for excellence in hurricane coverage over the past decade and for an outstanding public education program including annual distribution of a 16-page (and growing) 'Hurricane Survival Guide' to 300,000 area households. The awards committee was impressed with Kent routinely anchoring around-the-clock coverage of major hurricanes "to keep the public up-to-the-minute on what they need to know about the hurricane." The committee also praised him for making dozens of presentations on hurricane preparedness to schools and civic organizations. The award was presented on 23 April in Houston, Texas during the 19th annual National Hurricane Conference.

Kent has earned the NWA and AMS Seals of Approval and was the NWA Member of the Year in 1993 for his long-term support of the NWA and its objectives. He was an NWA Councilor 1995-1996.

LOCAL CHAPTER NEWS

The Central Iowa National Weather Association Chapter has completed its first year and what a year it was! Now the big question is whether there will be another Severe Weather and Doppler Radar Conference for Des Moines, IA in 1998. The answer is YES. During the May meeting of the chapter, the membership approved the dates of 13-15 March 1998 for the next conference. Those wishing to participate are urged to contact John McLaughlin, program chairperson, at KCCI-TV (515) 247-8888 or e-mail: johnmc49@ecity.net for details.

In other exciting news, the Central Iowa chapter will be offering up to nine $500 grants for local educators to enhance weather education in the classroom! The grant program will be conducted in cooperation with Des Moines area television stations which will encourage teachers to submit applications outlining their efforts to improve weather curriculum through innovative use of scientific and educational resources. The grant program will begin in September of 1997. The program will be patterned after the Sol Hirsch NWA Education Grants.

The May meeting was also my last as the "first" Central Iowa chapter president. It has been an exciting year with the creation of the chapter, organizing a major conference and many other educational efforts sponsored by the chapter. I wish to thank Kevin Lavin and Mark Binkley for assistance in getting the Central Iowa NWA Chapter flying and to my fellow chapter members for their support. The officers for out next year are: President, Erik Pytlak of DSM NWS, Vice President, Andy Kula of DSM NWS, Treasurer, Metinka Slater of WOI-TV, and Recording Secretary, Paul Craven of CE software. These news officers are excited about building membership and reaching out to everyone with an interest in weather.

- John McLaughlin

The month of April was rather busy for the Weather MINDS NWA Chapter with two science fairs and a meeting at South Dakota State University. Members were sent to both the South Central South Dakota Science Fair at Mitchell and the Eastern South Dakota Science Fair at Brookings. Also a celestial gathering was conducted atop the Engineering building at SDSU.

On 3 April 1997, Ron Holmes and Bryan Ruby, members, went out to judge the South Central South Dakota Science and Engineering Fair held at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell. First place was awarded to Lauren Benda from Kimball Middle School, who was competing in the fifth through eighth grade division. Second place went to Tyler Novotny and Tyler Shippy from Winner Middle School, who were also competing in the fifth through eighth grade division.

Lauren Benda titled her project "Color and Solar Energy". She graphed temperature and time to see how various colored pans absorbed energy from outdoor sunlight. The graphs were drawn neatly and the data was well documented. In recognition of her first place prize, she was awarded a $25 check, a copy of the "USA Today's Weather Book", and a Certificate of Achievement. Lauren's teacher also received a copy of the "Audubon Society's Cloud Atlas" to share with the class and promote meteorological interest.

Tyler Novotny and Tyler Shippy titled their project "Does the Type of Soil Affect the Flow of Water?". They graphed the flow of water through soil with time. A wide variety of soil types were experimented with and the graphs were fairly well explained. In recognition of their second place prize, they were awarded a copy of the "USA Today's Weather Book.

On 4 April 1997, Don Miller and Joe Sheehan, members, went out to judge the Eastern South Dakota Science and Engineering Fair held at South Dakota State University in Brookings. First place was awarded to Julie Popham, a sophomore from Hamlin High School. Second place went to John Ellsbury, a seventh grader from Brookings Middle School. Certificates of Excellence were given to Sarah Johnson and Ambea Larson, both eighth graders at Henry Middle School.

Julie Popham titled her project "Weather or Not?" She compared the predictions of the "Farmer's Almanac" to the actual weather conditions at Sioux Falls, Huron, and Rapid City for all of 1996. In recognition of her first place prize, she was awarded a $25 check, a copy of the "USA Today's Weather Book", and a Certificate of Achievement.

John Ellsbury titled his project "The Effect of Salt on the Freezing Point of Water". He chilled various solutions of salt water until they froze and recorded the temperature of the solution at the first evidence of ice. In recognition of his second place prize, he was awarded a copy of the "USA Today's Weather Book" and a Certificate of Achievement.

Sarah Johnson and Ambea Larson titled their project "Pressure effects on Fish". They recorded barometric pressure and related that to fish behavior. These two young ladies were awarded Certificates of Excellence in recognition of their achievements.

On 8 April 1997, Weather MINDS gathered in Brookings South Dakota for the April meeting. Dinner was enjoyed at the Ram Pub, followed by a trip up to Crothers Hall on the SDSU campus. After enjoying some discussion in Dr. Browning's classroom about the science fairs and our home page development, hot cocoa and coffee were made for our enjoyment while viewing Hale-Bopp and the rest of the celestial dome. The comet and stars were brilliant from the roof top! The hot coffee and cocoa were flowing through our mouths to combat the chilly temperatures which were freezing our fingers and faces. However, our minds were filled with astronomic information from Dr. Browning. He brought out several telescopes and binoculars, as well as all his star maps and celestial knowledge. A great evening was enjoyed together and the fresh air probably made everyone sleep quite well, with visions of comets and constellations dancing in our heads.

- Tim Masters, Secretary

1st Annual Ohio Severe Weather Symposium

The Ohio State University Atmospheric Sciences Program recently held Ohio's First Annual Severe Weather Symposium on 11 April 1997. The focus of the symposium was to gather meteorologists across Ohio to discuss severe weather and identify ways to improve forecasting and communication between various groups and the public. The symposium was an undertaking of the Atmospheric Sciences Program, The Meteorology Club at The Ohio State University, and the Department of Geography. Jeff Dobur and Brad Panovich, both undergraduate students were the founders of the symposium and directed the assembly. Dr. E. Gordon Gee, President of The Ohio State University, gave opening remarks along with Dr. Lawrence Brown, Chairman of the Department of Geography, and Dr. Jay Hobgood, Director of the Atmospheric Sciences Program.

The agenda featured six speakers from various agencies who dealt with severe weather:

  • John Distefano, Science Operations Officer at the National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio, discussed a new method for forecasting damaging winds associated with downbursts in thunderstorms. John went through a number of case studies demonstrating how this new method may help with earlier warning and better recognition of damaging winds.
  • Julie Dian, Service Hydrologist for the National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio, had plenty to discuss with the recent March flooding along the Ohio River — the worst in over 50 years. She talked about the forecasting and planning that occurred prior to the event and also brought out some interesting facts and figures with the event, pointing out that many rain gauges in southern Ohio and northern Kentucky were washed out because of the quickly rising waters. Fortunately, Doppler Radar estimates were very close to the few ground reports they were given. Some locations across south central Ohio and northern Kentucky reported 48-hour rainfall amounts of 15 to 20 inches. Also discussed was the tragic Shadyside flash flood event.
  • J. R. Thomas, Director of the Franklin County Emergency Management Agency gave an interesting perspective on how the EMA deals with weather disasters. J.R. defined the role of the EMA and showed how they work with the National Weather Service to coordinate evacuations and place EMA personnel in order to allow them to deal most effectively with problems that may occur due to a severe weather event. Mr. Thomas was able to show a side of severe weather that is often overlooked by many - the human impact after a devastating severe weather event is critically important.
  • Fred Huestis, Catastrophe Coordinator for Nationwide Insurance, gave one of the most interesting talks of the day. Fred discussed how the insurance industry classifies an event as catastrophic while also emphasizing the human impact. It was especially interesting to learn that events labeled as "catastrophic" are those that cause a certain amount of monetary damage, and that this amount has been increasing exponentially. Fred also illustrated the ramifications that the April 1974 Tornado Superoutbreak and Hurricane Andrew had on the insurance industry.
  • Lieutenant Colonel David Smarsh from Wright Patterson Air Force Base explained how the weather squadron provides weather forecasts for the Midwest region for all USAF flights and contractors. He pointed out the many forecasts they produce such as forecasting contrails so that stealth planes cannot be seen visually or on radar.
  • Keynote Speaker Dr. Thomas Schmidlin from Kent State University presented some of his current research into tornado damage assessment. He discussed his recent work surveying damage in a number of tornado outbreaks across the Southeast U.S. including the March outbreak in Arkansas. His preliminary results have stirred up some controversy with the EMA, Red-Cross, and National Weather Service. Based on his research your car may in fact be a better place for safety than previously thought. He found that in mobile home parks destroyed in the study group the cars parked in the driveways or near the mobile homes sustained little or no damage. He collected data on 162 automobiles that were outdoors and that were adjacent to damaged or destroyed buildings during tornado disasters in the U.S. Dr. Schmidlin found that F-0 to moderate F-3 winds only tip over 6 percent of the cars, while 37 percent were moved only a median distance of 6 meters where the adjacent buildings were destroyed or damaged. Dr. Schmidlin admits that a car is not the ideal place to be in a tornado, but it may be better than the alternatives of a mobile home or being out in the open. During the discussions after the presentation, he commented that driving your car into a ditch or depression and crouching down inside your vehicle may be your best safety measure if no other shelter is available. This is a new way of thinking that meteorologists may need to consider since in the past opening windows and going to the northwest corner are now obsolete safety measures.

In summary, The First Annual Severe Weather Symposium at The Ohio State University was a complete success. It was the first time meteorologists and people dealing with the weather met in one place to discuss the severe weather in Ohio. Ways to improve warning dissemination and human recovery were two topics most discussed. Over 100 people from around the state attended the symposium and were quite impressed by the PowerPoint display and professionalism shown by this mostly undergraduate effort.

We hope to continue to provide the symposium for the people of Ohio in the coming years. Next year we may have a representative from the Storm Prediction Center along with a famous storm chaser. Details will come in late summer from the Atmospheric Sciences Program concerning speakers and agenda. The Symposium for 1998 will probably be held in early March or early April.

For more information on "The Ohio Severe Weather Symposium" you may contact: Jeff C. Dobur, Chairman; Brad Panovich, Head Coordinator or Dr. Jay Hobgood, Director of ASP, at dobur.1@osu.edu, panovich.1@osu. edu, or hobgood.1@osu.edu; (614) 292-1957 or 3999.

JOB CORNER

(Ed: The NWA lists job openings free from equal opportunity employers for the benefit of members. See http://www.nwas.org or call the NWA office at (334) 213-0388 for possible short notice listings.)

Join a leader! TRINITY CONSULTANTS, one of the nation's premier environmental consulting firms is seeking a METEOROLOGIST to join their team in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Trinity Consultants offers a steady annual growth rate in a stable environment with minimal turnover and singular leadership for over 20 years. They are looking for a superior individual with an MS degree in Meteorology or Atmospheric Science, excellent oral and written communication skills, demonstrated proficiency in the diffusion of solids and gases in the atmosphere, and five years of air quality or environmental experience. This position also requires demonstrated proficiency in MS DOS and UNIX operating systems, FORTRAN and BASIC programming languages, and word processing, spreadsheet, database, and communication software. Responsibilities include: providing on-site meteorological services, maintaining and operating a seven-tower meteorological instrument network, conducting hazard analysis and evaluations, acting as technical liaison for the Pine Bluff Arsenal for meteorological and hazard analysis, and performing routine training to Operations Center personnel on meteorological and computer equipment. Practical experience with synoptic-scale forecasting and mesoscale forecasting with Doppler radar is essential. This individual will work with state-of-the-art meteorological instruments, SODAR, Doppler radar, and weather product subscription services. Trinity Consultants offers a full range of benefits and excellent compensation and bonus plans. Please send resume including college GPA and salary history to: Recruiter, Job Code: PBA, 12801 N. Central Expressway, Suite 1200, Dallas, TX 75243. EOE.

Commanders' Weather Corporation is looking for knowledgeable, enthusiastic operational meteorologists who want to sharpen their skills in a growing company. The successful candidate should have a bachelors degree in meteorology or atmospheric science, strong forecasting abilities, and a thorough knowledge of synoptic meteorology. In addition, Commanders' is seeking a candidate with excellent communication skills, both oral and written, along with a knowledge of PC's. Commanders' is located in Nashua, NH and is a world leader in global marine forecasting. We have a strong sailing clientele and are involved with many renowned sailors and yacht races worldwide. With additional growth in the marine industry and expansion into other forecasting markets, Commanders' is looking for individuals who want to participate and contribute to this growth. Shift work is required and the person must be available to travel both domestically and internationally. Commanders' Weather offers a competitive salary, a health plan, and other benefits including free skiing at a few of New Hampshire's major ski areas. If you are interested in a challenging opportunity to learn and grow in a professional and cordial environment, send a cover letter and resume with strong references to: Commanders' Weather Corporation, 154 Broad Street, Suite 1517, Nashua, NH 03062. FAX: (603) 882-6661; e-mail: 104477.3462@compuserve.com

STRATEGIC WEATHER SERVICES (SWS) is offering operational meteorologists a challenging career opportunity with one of America's oldest weather forecasting companies in their Palm Springs, California office. The company has offices in Palm Springs, California and Valley Forge, Pennsylvania with clients spread across North America, Canada and Europe. Requirements: at least five years on-the-job experience in synoptic meteorology and/or weather forecasting. Solid references are required. A degree in Meteorology is a plus. The ability to work in a computer environment is also a big plus. We are looking for creative people who are seeking a job that offers a different challenge every day and like to work in a "team" environment. Position includes very competitive salary, health and disability plans and a 401K plan. Please fax your resume to (619) 325-9678 or call Bill Young at (619) 325-9677.

AccuWeather, Inc., offers career opportunities with the world's leading and most diversified commercial weather service. You will have exciting opportunities to handle all types of weather forecasting for major business, media and government organizations. These include on-air broad-casting for radio stations; creative presentation of weather graphics; preparation of television and newspaper forecasts; snow and ice warning services; worldwide forecasting for agriculture; specialized forecasts for the transportation industry, utilities, businesses and resorts; computer applications; and many others. You will work with some of the nation's leading forecast meteorologists in one of the world's largest forecast centers, interacting with a staff of 300 employees. Our state-of-the-art facility provides our 85 forecast meteorologists with tools and computer technology unavailable elsewhere. Applicants need to be articulate and productive with outstanding forecasting and communication skills. Through progressive advancement, forecasters can become on-air meteorologists in major radio markets, or become involved in computer operations, graphic design, new product development or customer relations. AccuWeather also has positions available on our computer staff for meteorologists with programming experience. AccuWeather offers competitive salaries and an extensive benefits package including health insurance, 401K and profit sharing plans, life insurance and disability income. If you are an enthusiastic, hard working forecaster interested in employment in a dynamic growing company which offers superior opportunity for advancement, send a detailed resume to David H. Dombek, Director of Forecaster Hiring, AccuWeather, Inc., 619 W. College Ave., State College PA 16801; FAX: (814) 231-0621; e-mail: resume@accuwx.com

Weather Services Corporation (WSC) is one of the country's oldest and largest commercial operational meteorological services. Since 1948, it has been providing industry, government and the media with accurate, customized, worldwide weather information. The wide variety of WSC clients are located across the US, around the world and throughout cyberspace. A staff of nearly 100 professionals is supervised by AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologists. WSC is located in a new, state-of-the-art, 24-hour per day, Global Operations Center in Lexington, Massachusetts - on Boston's route 128 Technology Highway. The most important resource of WSC is their employees. Each is provided with the finest tools and the opportunity to excel in a stimulating, fast-paced, professional environment. In addition to a competitive compensation and benefits package, WSC employees can participate in the growth and success of the company through a stock ownership plan. Recent and planned growth of WSC presents opportunities for both entry-level and experienced Operational Meteorologists; Graphic Artists with PC experience - multi-lingual capabilities are a plus; Radio Broadcasters; Journalists and Producers; Systems Analysts with C in VMS and UNIX environments; Data and Telecommunications Technicians; Telemarketers; and Sales Account Executives. To apply, please send resume to: Human Resources - N895, Weather Services Corporation, 420 Bedford Street, Lexington MA 02173; FAX: (617) 676-1001; e-mail: hr@wx.com.

WeatherData, Incorporated is interested in hiring energetic, knowledgeable meteorologists who have operational forecasting as well as radar interpretation experience for Forecast/Storm Warning Meteorologist positions. This opportunity to apply your skills involves mesoscale severe storm warnings and short and long range forecasting for a diversified client base across the US. We are looking for dedicated meteorologists with excellent written and oral communication skills to become part of our dynamic, growing company. If you love weather and want to work with clients that take your work seriously, this is the opportunity for you. This position requires a bachelor's degree in meteorology or the equivalent, and at least one year of professional forecasting and radar experience. Doppler radar interpretation preferred. At WeatherData, Incorporated, meteorologists use state-of-the-art equipment to make mesoscale forecasts. Real-time analysis of GOES satellite imagery, lightning data, surface observations, wind profiler data, Mesonet data and Doppler radar data from every NEXRAD site in the country occurs every day. WeatherData offers excellent salaries, benefits, profit sharing and moving expense allowance. We also provide our associates with many opportunities for advancement and professional growth. If you are up to the challenge of forecasting and communicating weather to our clients, and would like to join our team, send a cover letter and resume to: WeatherData, Incorporated, Attn: Sharol Youngers, Manager of Business Administration, 245 N. Waco St., Suite 310, Wichita, Kansas 67202.

NWA PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Monograph 1-86, "Principles and Methods of Extended Period Forecasting in the U.S.," by Robert P. Harnack. Cost: $8.00 for NWA members; $12.00 for nonmembers.

Monograph 2-86 (Reprinted May 1993), "Satellite Imagery Interpretation for Forecasters," compiled and edited by Peter S. Parke. Cost (per set of three volumes): $38.00 for NWA members; $51.00 for nonmembers.

Publication 1-88, "The Cloud Chart 1, 2, 3" by Mike Mogil and Sol Hirsch consists of three 12"x24" charts containing more than three dozen color photos of clouds/ accompanying text. Cost: $7.50 members; $9.50 nonmembers.

Publication 2-88, "Polar Orbiter Satellite Imagery Interpretation," a script/slide training program, written by Vincent J. Oliver and prepared by NESDIS, contains 76 slides with accompanying text. Cost: $70.00 for members; $84.00 for nonmembers.

Publication 1-90, "Winds of the World - As Seen in Weather Satellite Imagery," a script/slide training program, written by Vincent J. Oliver and prepared by NESDIS, contains 79 slides with accompanying text. Cost: $70.00 for members; $84.00 for nonmembers.

Publication 1-91, "Satellite Imagery Indicators of Turbulence," a script/slide training program, written by Gary Ellrod and prepared by NESDIS, contains 71 slides with text. Cost: $70.00 for members; $84.00 for nonmembers.

Monograph 1-93, 2nd Edition 1997, "A Comprehensive Glossary of Weather Terms for Storm Spotters," by Michael L. Branick, NWSFO, Norman OK. A thorough reference in "layman's terms" for standardization of terms used in storm spotting, and analysis, forecasting and broadcasting. Cost: $6.00 for members; $9.00 for nonmembers.

Publication 1-95, "Imaging Capabilities of the GOES I-M Satellites," a script/slide training program, written by Gary Ellrod and Jim Nelson of NOAA/NESDIS/SAL. Contains 34 slides with accompanying text. Cost: $33.00 for members; $40.00 for nonmembers.

Profiler Training. A set of four video tapes and accompanying texts developed by NOAA are available for sale or rent on request.

These prices include book rate mailing within the USA. Contact NWA for overseas rates. Enclose a check drawn on a U.S. Bank or an international money order payable in U.S. dollars and send order to: NWA PUBLICATIONS, 6704 Wolke Court, Montgomery AL (USA) 36116-2134.