Governor Bob Riley of Alabama recently visited the Mobile/Pensacola Weather Forecast Office to learn what effects a category 5 hurricane may have on Alabama. The Governor looks over storm surge maps with Leigh Anne Ryals (Baldwin county EMA director) and MIC Randy McKee. WCM Gary A. Beeler, SOO Jeff Medlin and Lead Forecaster John Purdy are behind the Governor looking on. This is the first time Governor Riley has visited an Alabama National Weather Service office. The staff reports that he was very impressed with the office and the service it provides to the state of Alabama.

OPL Gerry Shultz demonstrates a radiosonde parachute during a Partners Expo recently hosted by the Fort Worth/Dallas WFO and the West Gulf RFC at their facility. Approximately 120 emergency managers, spotter group leaders, members of the media, and congressional staff attended the event. The WFO/RFC staff provided tours of both operations areas and demonstrations of their forecast and warning technology. New technology, including the thunderstorm forecasting tool and the total lightning mapping system, were featured during the tours. Members of the North Texas Skywarn Team were present to discuss the role of amateur radio and to demonstrate their equipment. The staff presented hourly seminars discussing WFO services, the duties and responsibilities of the RFC, and outreach initiatives for 2006. Timing of the Expo was fortuitous, as hurricane Rita was just over two days away from landfall. The staffs answered numerous questions about Rita’s forecast track and potential impacts on north Texas. The Expo provided an additional opportunity to advertise the new inland tropical cyclone products that FWD would issue. Overall, reaction to the Expo was positive. The attendees enjoyed their visit and came away with a better understanding of the people and operations which are behind the products and services we provide.

Meteorologist Interns, Tom Philip and Mike Bardou, explain how a radiosonde works to approximately 150 people during a special balloon launch held at the first ever WFO Quad Cites (Davenport, IA) Open House.