University of Oklahoma to Purchase Radar – First of Its Kind in United States

NORMAN, Okla. – A new weather radar – the first of its kind in the United States – is being constructed and located at the University of Oklahoma to enhance education, training, research and development and encourage future innovations. 

“The new radar will contribute tremendous potential to the meteorological community for development of weather-related information services that will benefit from co-location with the core weather radar programs on OU’s Research Campus,” said Lee Williams, OU vice president for research.  “Together they will create an environment with endless potential for the university, federal, state and private-sector entities,” he said.

An agreement between OU and Enterprise Electronics Corp. will initiate construction of the new, C-band, high-resolution, dual polarization radar, which is expected to be operational by late 2008.

This radar will further OU’s vision for its weather radar enterprise, which is to further the development of OU radar meteorology so that radar-derived information can benefit decisions about  the atmospheric and hydrologic environment worldwide, Williams said

The new radar will serve as a research and development testbed for the Atmospheric Radar Research Center, an interdisciplinary university center engaged in collaborative research to define the next generation of weather radar sensors.  The center offers an exceptional radar education for OU students based on a foundation of combining meteorology and engineering expertise and training from OU’s colleges of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, and Engineering.  With the acquisition of the new radar, students and researchers will be able to perform a variety of activities, such as testing new and enhanced algorithms and developing unique hardware designs.

“The addition of this radar is invaluable to the Atmospheric Radar Research Center and radar meteorology as a whole at OU,” said the center’s director, Robert Palmer. “The radar will help us collaborate even more with private weather companies and, in turn, will help continue to foster research and development between academia and the private sector.”

EEC will design and install the radar.  A wholly owned subsidiary of Weather Services International, EEC is the largest manufacturer of commercial weather radars, with systems operations across the globe from Algeria to Zaire. 

About EEC

Enterprise Electronics Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of WSI, is recognized as the world leader in the meteorological radar field. Since its inception in 1971, the company has designed, manufactured and installed more than 900 radar systems worldwide. EEC developed the world’s first commercial Doppler weather radar system in 1981. The corporation’s range of radar systems is the product of years of experience, superior engineering and a top-ranked quality control process. EEC’s 53,000-square-foot facility is located in Enterprise, Ala.

About WSI Corp.

WSI Corp. is the world’s leading provider of weather-driven business solutions for professionals in the media, aviation and energy markets. For more than 30 years, WSI has focused on predicting, detecting and visualizing disruptive weather – from the severe weather that makes headlines a few weeks each year to the more subtle weather changes that affect the business operations and profits of its clients each day. WSI is headquartered in Andover, Mass., and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Landmark Communications.

–END–

On the Web:

University of Oklahoma                                                                                www.ou.edu

College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences                             www.ags.ou.edu

Atmospheric Radar Research Center                                                       arrc.ou.edu

University Research Campus                                                                      urc.ou.edu

WSI                                                                                                                        www.wsi.com

Enterprise Electronics Corporation                                                           www.eecradar.com

University of Oklahoma to Purchase Radar – First of Its Kind in United States

NORMAN, Okla. – A new weather radar – the first of its kind in the United States – is being constructed and located at the University of Oklahoma to enhance education, training, research and development and encourage future innovations. 

“The new radar will contribute tremendous potential to the meteorological community for development of weather-related information services that will benefit from co-location with the core weather radar programs on OU’s Research Campus,” said Lee Williams, OU vice president for research.  “Together they will create an environment with endless potential for the university, federal, state and private-sector entities,” he said.

An agreement between OU and Enterprise Electronics Corp. will initiate construction of the new, C-band, high-resolution, dual polarization radar, which is expected to be operational by late 2008.

This radar will further OU’s vision for its weather radar enterprise, which is to further the development of OU radar meteorology so that radar-derived information can benefit decisions about  the atmospheric and hydrologic environment worldwide, Williams said

The new radar will serve as a research and development testbed for the Atmospheric Radar Research Center, an interdisciplinary university center engaged in collaborative research to define the next generation of weather radar sensors.  The center offers an exceptional radar education for OU students based on a foundation of combining meteorology and engineering expertise and training from OU’s colleges of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, and Engineering.  With the acquisition of the new radar, students and researchers will be able to perform a variety of activities, such as testing new and enhanced algorithms and developing unique hardware designs.

“The addition of this radar is invaluable to the Atmospheric Radar Research Center and radar meteorology as a whole at OU,” said the center’s director, Robert Palmer. “The radar will help us collaborate even more with private weather companies and, in turn, will help continue to foster research and development between academia and the private sector.”

EEC will design and install the radar.  A wholly owned subsidiary of Weather Services International, EEC is the largest manufacturer of commercial weather radars, with systems operations across the globe from Algeria to Zaire. 

About EEC

Enterprise Electronics Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of WSI, is recognized as the world leader in the meteorological radar field. Since its inception in 1971, the company has designed, manufactured and installed more than 900 radar systems worldwide. EEC developed the world’s first commercial Doppler weather radar system in 1981. The corporation’s range of radar systems is the product of years of experience, superior engineering and a top-ranked quality control process. EEC’s 53,000-square-foot facility is located in Enterprise, Ala.

About WSI Corp.

WSI Corp. is the world’s leading provider of weather-driven business solutions for professionals in the media, aviation and energy markets. For more than 30 years, WSI has focused on predicting, detecting and visualizing disruptive weather – from the severe weather that makes headlines a few weeks each year to the more subtle weather changes that affect the business operations and profits of its clients each day. WSI is headquartered in Andover, Mass., and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Landmark Communications.

–END–

On the Web:

University of Oklahoma                                                                                www.ou.edu

College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences                             www.ags.ou.edu

Atmospheric Radar Research Center                                                       arrc.ou.edu

University Research Campus                                                                      urc.ou.edu

WSI                                                                                                                        www.wsi.com

Enterprise Electronics Corporation                                                           www.eecradar.com

Doppler Radar Detected Storms

	ID	County	State	Max	Top	VIL	Chance of Severe Hail	Chance of Hail	Max Hail Size	Speed	Direction (from)
2	U6	Cleveland	OK	65 dBZ	34,000 ft.	56 kg/m²	100%	100%	2.25 in.	0 knots	new (0)
2	G2	Canadian	OK	64 dBZ	42,000 ft.	41 kg/m²	90%	100%	2.25 in.	0 knots	new (0)
2	P0	Grady	OK	64 dBZ	44,000 ft.	52 kg/m²	100%	100%	2.25 in.	0 knots	new (0)
2	V1	Canadian	OK	66 dBZ	42,000 ft.	54 kg/m²	90%	100%	2.00 in.	29 knots	W (260)
2	T7	Noble	OK	62 dBZ	45,000 ft.	66 kg/m²	90%	100%	2.00 in.	25 knots	WNW (289)
2	O8	Wabaunsee	KS	63 dBZ	41,000 ft.	45 kg/m²	80%	100%	1.75 in.	24 knots	WSW (242)
2	M1	Noble	OK	61 dBZ	39,000 ft.	69 kg/m²	80%	100%	1.75 in.	35 knots	WSW (250)
2	N3	Osage	KS	60 dBZ	38,000 ft.	42 kg/m²	90%	100%	1.75 in.	48 knots	WSW (252)
2	X0	Coffey	KS	59 dBZ	41,000 ft.	28 kg/m²	80%	100%	1.75 in.	61 knots	SW (231)
2	L3	Coffey	KS	59 dBZ	40,000 ft.	29 kg/m²	90%	100%	1.75 in.	53 knots	SW (231)
2	E7	Osage	KS	64 dBZ	27,000 ft.	58 kg/m²	80%	90%	1.50 in.	23 knots	WSW (257)
2	Z7	Osage	KS	61 dBZ	42,000 ft.	56 kg/m²	70%	100%	1.50 in.	24 knots	WSW (248)
2	B8	Oklahoma	OK	61 dBZ	36,000 ft.	60 kg/m²	70%	100%	1.50 in.	30 knots	WSW (256)
2	A5	Coffey	KS	60 dBZ	39,000 ft.	44 kg/m²	80%	100%	1.50 in.	38 knots	WSW (257)
2	X1	Coffey	KS	57 dBZ	43,000 ft.	25 kg/m²	80%	100%	1.50 in.	49 knots	SW (228)
2	W6	Oklahoma	OK	61 dBZ	31,000 ft.	45 kg/m²	60%	100%	1.25 in.	0 knots	new (0)
2	X6	Pawnee	OK	58 dBZ	37,000 ft.	35 kg/m²	70%	100%	1.25 in.	0 knots	new (0)
2	Y9	Payne	OK	56 dBZ	43,000 ft.	28 kg/m²	60%	100%	1.25 in.	36 knots	WSW (250)
2	R2	Payne	OK	55 dBZ	42,000 ft.	19 kg/m²	60%	100%	1.25 in.	35 knots	WSW (252)
2	A1	Osage	KS	55 dBZ	37,000 ft.	16 kg/m²	70%	100%	1.25 in.	0 knots	new (0)
3	B0	Oklahoma	OK	63 dBZ	17,000 ft.	30 kg/m²	50%	50%	1.00 in.	48 knots	SW (235)
2	N3	Dubuque	IA	62 dBZ	34,000 ft.	46 kg/m²	20%	100%	1.00 in.	24 knots	WSW (242)
2	J6	Grady	OK	61 dBZ	32,000 ft.	37 kg/m²	50%	100%	1.00 in.	67 knots	W (264)
2	Z2	Cowley	KS	61 dBZ	33,000 ft.	43 kg/m²	50%	100%	1.00 in.	56 knots	SW (222)
2	E5	Jackson	KS	60 dBZ	30,000 ft.	42 kg/m²	50%	90%	1.00 in.	30 knots	S (182)
2	A9	Logan	OK	60 dBZ	36,000 ft.	46 kg/m²	50%	100%	1.00 in.	37 knots	WSW (250)
2	X7	Logan	OK	60 dBZ	38,000 ft.	45 kg/m²	50%	100%	1.00 in.	39 knots	WSW (244)
2	B5	Cedar	IA	59 dBZ	30,000 ft.	41 kg/m²	30%	100%	1.00 in.	27 knots	SW (236)
2	K1	Logan	OK	59 dBZ	39,000 ft.	48 kg/m²	50%	100%	1.00 in.	37 knots	WSW (247)
2	R6	Noble	OK	59 dBZ	40,000 ft.	44 kg/m²	50%	100%	1.00 in.	55 knots	WSW (239)
2	Q0	Payne	OK	59 dBZ	37,000 ft.	35 kg/m²	50%	100%	1.00 in.	31 knots	WSW (237)
2	J2	Coffey	KS	58 dBZ	23,000 ft.	22 kg/m²	50%	80%	1.00 in.	42 knots	WSW (252)
2	C1	Greenwood	KS	57 dBZ	29,000 ft.	44 kg/m²	50%	100%	1.00 in.	33 knots	S (188)
2	B1	Woodson	KS	54 dBZ	39,000 ft.	24 kg/m²	50%	100%	1.00 in.	0 knots	new (0)
2	S9	Butler	KS	62 dBZ	31,000 ft.	40 kg/m²	40%	90%	0.75 in.	33 knots	W (267)
2	W5	Jackson	KS	62 dBZ	28,000 ft.	39 kg/m²	50%	100%	0.75 in.	30 knots	S (179)
2	Y7	Sumner	KS	62 dBZ	29,000 ft.	36 kg/m²	30%	100%	0.75 in.	24 knots	W (259)
2	L1	Clark	SD	61 dBZ	29,000 ft.	33 kg/m²	50%	70%	0.75 in.	13 knots	SSE (154)
2	G4	Linn	IA	61 dBZ	39,000 ft.	42 kg/m²	10%	100%	0.75 in.	33 knots	SSW (211)
2	R8	Sumner	KS	61 dBZ	31,000 ft.	44 kg/m²	40%	100%	0.75 in.	33 knots	WSW (239)
2	S4	Dubuque	IA	60 dBZ	36,000 ft.	45 kg/m²	10%	100%	0.75 in.	32 knots	SW (226)
2	I4	Benton	IA	60 dBZ	31,000 ft.	38 kg/m²	0%	90%	0.75 in.	32 knots	SW (233)
2	N1	Greenwood	KS	60 dBZ	28,000 ft.	34 kg/m²	40%	90%	0.75 in.	41 knots	SSW (207)
2	W8	Richardson	NE	60 dBZ	28,000 ft.	38 kg/m²	40%	90%	0.75 in.	25 knots	SW (214)
2	W4	Grant	WI	59 dBZ	40,000 ft.	41 kg/m²	10%	100%	0.75 in.	28 knots	SW (235)
2	V7	Richardson	NE	59 dBZ	29,000 ft.	40 kg/m²	40%	100%	0.75 in.	26 knots	SW (217)
2	L4	Logan	OK	59 dBZ	34,000 ft.	39 kg/m²	30%	90%	0.75 in.	38 knots	WSW (245)
2	F3	Dubuque	IA	58 dBZ	37,000 ft.	37 kg/m²	30%	100%	0.75 in.	24 knots	WSW (239)
2	M7	Logan	OK	58 dBZ	37,000 ft.	24 kg/m²	30%	100%	0.75 in.	38 knots	WSW (251)
2	O0	Dubuque	IA	58 dBZ	32,000 ft.	44 kg/m²	40%	100%	0.75 in.	27 knots	SW (235)
2	H7	Richardson	NE	58 dBZ	35,000 ft.	39 kg/m²	40%	90%	0.75 in.	26 knots	SSW (213)
2	Q6	Payne	OK	58 dBZ	35,000 ft.	34 kg/m²	30%	100%	0.75 in.	46 knots	WSW (251)
2	B2	Butler	KS	58 dBZ	35,000 ft.	38 kg/m²	30%	90%	0.75 in.	59 knots	SW (222)
2	O8	Linn	IA	57 dBZ	37,000 ft.	45 kg/m²	50%	100%	0.75 in.	40 knots	SW (215)
2	F4	Rock Island	IL	57 dBZ	24,000 ft.	26 kg/m²	0%	80%	0.75 in.	32 knots	SW (227)
2	L1	Woodson	KS	57 dBZ	37,000 ft.	40 kg/m²	30%	100%	0.75 in.	46 knots	SW (233)
2	N8	Cowley	KS	57 dBZ	33,000 ft.	41 kg/m²	40%	100%	0.75 in.	66 knots	SW (224)
2	M5	Linn	IA	56 dBZ	30,000 ft.	36 kg/m²	30%	100%	0.75 in.	40 knots	SW (214)
2	I1	Osage	OK	56 dBZ	36,000 ft.	22 kg/m²	30%	90%	0.75 in.	43 knots	WSW (239)
2	R3	Woodson	KS	56 dBZ	34,000 ft.	32 kg/m²	40%	100%	0.75 in.	46 knots	SW (234)
2	Y1	Greenwood	KS	56 dBZ	26,000 ft.	22 kg/m²	40%	90%	0.75 in.	41 knots	SSW (211)
2	H6	Grant	WI	55 dBZ	33,000 ft.	20 kg/m²	30%	100%	0.75 in.	27 knots	SW (230)
2	L0	Osage	OK	55 dBZ	38,000 ft.	17 kg/m²	40%	90%	0.75 in.	45 knots	WNW (298)
2	H7	Wabasha	MN	54 dBZ	28,000 ft.	27 kg/m²	40%	100%	0.75 in.	21 knots	SE (144)
2	X9	Greenwood	KS	54 dBZ	28,000 ft.	33 kg/m²	40%	100%	0.75 in.	42 knots	SSW (203)
2	B1	Sumner	KS	63 dBZ	27,000 ft.	34 kg/m²	20%	100%	0.50 in.	38 knots	SW (229)
2	V0	Cowley	KS	61 dBZ	28,000 ft.	30 kg/m²	20%	90%	0.50 in.	54 knots	SW (220)
2	B2	Buffalo	WI	60 dBZ	26,000 ft.	35 kg/m²	30%	90%	0.50 in.	14 knots	SW (234)
2	Y7	Wright	MN	60 dBZ	28,000 ft.	30 kg/m²	10%	90%	0.50 in.	14 knots	S (191)
3	W9	Hennepin	MN	59 dBZ	18,000 ft.	16 kg/m²	10%	60%	0.50 in.	25 knots	S (190)
2	H9	Cowley	KS	59 dBZ	23,000 ft.	30 kg/m²	20%	80%	0.50 in.	51 knots	SW (220)
2	V8	Benton	IA	58 dBZ	32,000 ft.	34 kg/m²	20%	80%	0.50 in.	30 knots	SW (232)
2	C6	Sumner	KS	58 dBZ	27,000 ft.	35 kg/m²	20%	90%	0.50 in.	41 knots	SW (236)
2	Z1	Brown	KS	58 dBZ	27,000 ft.	30 kg/m²	30%	100%	0.50 in.	30 knots	SSW (208)
2	S8	Butler	KS	58 dBZ	22,000 ft.	33 kg/m²	20%	80%	0.50 in.	54 knots	SW (221)
3	E0	Payne	OK	58 dBZ	18,000 ft.	19 kg/m²	20%	50%	0.50 in.	0 knots	new (0)
3	C1	Lac qui Parle	MN	57 dBZ	21,000 ft.	28 kg/m²	10%	30%	0.50 in.	0 knots	new (0)
2	S0	Greenwood	KS	56 dBZ	24,000 ft.	24 kg/m²	0%	70%	0.50 in.	14 knots	W (269)
2	L2	Cowley	KS	55 dBZ	20,000 ft.	12 kg/m²	10%	70%	0.50 in.	0 knots	new (0)
2	Z8	Elk	KS	55 dBZ	30,000 ft.	33 kg/m²	20%	90%	0.50 in.	38 knots	SSW (209)
2	L1	Crawford	WI	55 dBZ	27,000 ft.	29 kg/m²	10%	90%	0.50 in.	28 knots	SW (217)
2	K9	Wabasha	MN	55 dBZ	28,000 ft.	24 kg/m²	10%	80%	0.50 in.	25 knots	SW (214)
2	G1	Brown	KS	54 dBZ	28,000 ft.	28 kg/m²	10%	80%	0.50 in.	30 knots	SSW (210)
2	S8	Brown	KS	54 dBZ	25,000 ft.	26 kg/m²	20%	90%	0.50 in.	31 knots	SSW (211)
2	A6	Cowley	KS	54 dBZ	29,000 ft.	31 kg/m²	20%	90%	0.50 in.	60 knots	SW (220)
2	T0	Cowley	KS	54 dBZ	24,000 ft.	15 kg/m²	20%	90%	0.50 in.	0 knots	new (0)
2	S6	Dubuque	IA	53 dBZ	37,000 ft.	29 kg/m²	20%	100%	0.50 in.	34 knots	SW (226)
3	E5	Grant	WI	53 dBZ	21,000 ft.	9 kg/m²	0%	60%	0.50 in.	19 knots	SSW (206)
2	E2	Grady	OK	53 dBZ	24,000 ft.	10 kg/m²	20%	80%	0.50 in.	40 knots	SW (231)
2	I9	Buffalo	WI	53 dBZ	27,000 ft.	26 kg/m²	40%	80%	0.50 in.	21 knots	S (179)
2	T3	Greenwood	KS	53 dBZ	23,000 ft.	11 kg/m²	20%	90%	0.50 in.	53 knots	S (187)
2	V5	Benton	IA	52 dBZ	30,000 ft.	22 kg/m²	20%	90%	0.50 in.	32 knots	SW (232)
3	Y6	Grant	WI	52 dBZ	26,000 ft.	12 kg/m²	0%	60%	0.50 in.	38 knots	SSW (196)
2	N1	Dubuque	IA	52 dBZ	36,000 ft.	12 kg/m²	20%	100%	0.50 in.	32 knots	SW (230)
2	C9	Greenwood	KS	51 dBZ	26,000 ft.	6 kg/m²	0%	80%	0.50 in.	58 knots	W (263)
2	K4	Meeker	MN	51 dBZ	32,000 ft.	13 kg/m²	20%	90%	0.50 in.	19 knots	SW (218)
2	A7	Osage	OK	51 dBZ	35,000 ft.	7 kg/m²	10%	90%	0.50 in.	0 knots	new (0)
2	Q4	Crawford	WI	50 dBZ	27,000 ft.	18 kg/m²	0%	90%	0.50 in.	25 knots	SW (217)
2	B1	Greenwood	KS	50 dBZ	31,000 ft.	7 kg/m²	10%	80%	0.50 in.	0 knots	new (0)
2	D7	Grant	WI	49 dBZ	26,000 ft.	5 kg/m²	0%	80%	0.50 in.	35 knots	W (263)
2	O2	Osage	OK	49 dBZ	33,000 ft.	6 kg/m²	20%	100%	0.50 in.	0 knots	new (0)
2	N0	Cedar	IA	48 dBZ	28,000 ft.	18 kg/m²	0%	100%	0.50 in.	0 knots	new (0)
2	O3	Greenwood	KS	48 dBZ	30,000 ft.	4 kg/m²	10%	90%	0.50 in.	52 knots	SSW (205)
2	W0	Cowley	KS	47 dBZ	33,000 ft.	5 kg/m²	0%	90%	0.50 in.	0 knots	new (0)
3	F6	Crawford	WI	59 dBZ	27,000 ft.	23 kg/m²	0%	60%	0.00 in.	23 knots	SW (220)
3	C5	Monroe	WI	58 dBZ	26,000 ft.	27 kg/m²	0%	60%	0.00 in.	16 knots	SW (225)
3	V6	Buffalo	WI	58 dBZ	14,000 ft.	14 kg/m²	0%	10%	0.00 in.	23 knots	WSW (239)
3	U0	Nemaha	KS	58 dBZ	17,000 ft.	14 kg/m²	0%	20%	0.00 in.	19 knots	SSW (201)
3	Y4	Johnson	IA	57 dBZ	18,000 ft.	20 kg/m²	0%	30%	0.00 in.	35 knots	SW (229)
3	W3	Grant	WI	56 dBZ	23,000 ft.	22 kg/m²	0%	30%	0.00 in.	19 knots	WSW (253)
3	F7	Vernon	WI	56 dBZ	16,000 ft.	13 kg/m²	0%	20%	0.00 in.	20 knots	SW (232)
2	V4	Grant	WI	56 dBZ	23,000 ft.	24 kg/m²	0%	70%	0.00 in.	20 knots	SW (221)
3	T4	Johnson	IA	56 dBZ	19,000 ft.	22 kg/m²	0%	40%	0.00 in.	38 knots	SSW (212)
3	R9	Linn	IA	54 dBZ	28,000 ft.	20 kg/m²	0%	20%	0.00 in.	33 knots	SW (218)
3	W3	Coffey	KS	54 dBZ	16,000 ft.	7 kg/m²	0%	30%	0.00 in.	0 knots	new (0)
3	A0	Chariton	MO	53 dBZ	15,000 ft.	15 kg/m²	0%	10%	0.00 in.	20 knots	SSW (203)
3	Z7	Pierce	WI	53 dBZ	17,000 ft.	12 kg/m²	0%	50%	0.00 in.	12 knots	SW (231)
3	H5	Dubuque	IA	52 dBZ	18,000 ft.	7 kg/m²	0%	30%	0.00 in.	0 knots	new (0)
3	I1	Vernon	WI	52 dBZ	30,000 ft.	21 kg/m²	0%	60%	0.00 in.	18 knots	S (183)
3	K1	Grant	WI	52 dBZ	28,000 ft.	19 kg/m²	0%	60%	0.00 in.	28 knots	SW (226)
3	Q9	Johnson	IA	51 dBZ	22,000 ft.	16 kg/m²	0%	50%	0.00 in.	35 knots	SW (228)
3	K9	Johnson	IA	51 dBZ	23,000 ft.	15 kg/m²	0%	20%	0.00 in.	37 knots	SSW (207)
2	O6	Lac qui Parle	MN	50 dBZ	23,000 ft.	14 kg/m²	10%	70%	0.00 in.	7 knots	S (173)
3	K5	Clark	MO	50 dBZ	21,000 ft.	5 kg/m²	0%	40%	0.00 in.	0 knots	new (0)
3	X8	Nemaha	KS	50 dBZ	21,000 ft.	13 kg/m²	0%	30%	0.00 in.	0 knots	new (0)
3	K1	Nodaway	MO	50 dBZ	21,000 ft.	13 kg/m²	0%	40%	0.00 in.	20 knots	SW (222)
3	Z3	Dubuque	IA	49 dBZ	33,000 ft.	6 kg/m²	0%	50%	0.00 in.	32 knots	SW (234)
3	Y0	Clark	SD	49 dBZ	23,000 ft.	14 kg/m²	0%	30%	0.00 in.	12 knots	SE (136)
2	Z9	Wright	MN	49 dBZ	25,000 ft.	4 kg/m²	0%	90%	0.00 in.	0 knots	new (0)
3	Q8	Nodaway	MO	49 dBZ	24,000 ft.	13 kg/m²	0%	50%	0.00 in.	16 knots	SW (225)
2	P6	Hennepin	MN	48 dBZ	34,000 ft.	15 kg/m²	0%	90%	0.00 in.	26 knots	SSW (201)
3	H2	Emmons	ND	48 dBZ	8,000 ft.	3 kg/m²	0%	10%	0.00 in.	26 knots	ENE (77)
2	X9	Cedar	IA	48 dBZ	28,000 ft.	15 kg/m²	0%	100%	0.00 in.	0 knots	new (0)
3	X8	Nodaway	MO	48 dBZ	23,000 ft.	12 kg/m²	0%	40%	0.00 in.	17 knots	SW (232)
2	P5	Hennepin	MN	47 dBZ	31,000 ft.	14 kg/m²	0%	70%	0.00 in.	20 knots	S (175)
2	G0	Bourbon	KS	47 dBZ	25,000 ft.	6 kg/m²	0%	90%	0.00 in.	0 knots	new (0)
2	T6	Hennepin	MN	47 dBZ	23,000 ft.	5 kg/m²	0%	70%	0.00 in.	21 knots	SW (216)
3	I6	Dakota	MN	46 dBZ	22,000 ft.	6 kg/m²	0%	20%	0.00 in.	20 knots	S (190)
2	N5	Linn	KS	46 dBZ	24,000 ft.	5 kg/m²	0%	90%	0.00 in.	0 knots	new (0)
3	Z6	Cowley	KS	46 dBZ	20,000 ft.	10 kg/m²	0%	50%	0.00 in.	0 knots	new (0)
3	B3	Richland	ND	45 dBZ	19,000 ft.	2 kg/m²	0%	10%	0.00 in.	14 knots	SE (132)

= Tornado Vortex Signature

= Mesocyclone

= Hail

 
A national forum for academia, emergency management, media, and NOAA to exchange information and techniques for public safety during severe weather. 
March 6-8, 2008
National Center for Employee Development

2801 East State Highway 9
Norman, Oklahoma 73071-1104

Mark your calendar for this unique workshop which provides interaction opportunities for
NWS Severe Weather Forecasters,
Emergency Managers, Educators,
Weather Enthusiasts, and the Broadcast Media. 
For the past seven years, meteorologists, emergency managers, members of the media, educators, and severe weather enthusiasts have gathered in Oklahoma to take part in a unique information-sharing conference called the National Severe Weather Workshop. The theme of the 2008 Workshop is "From Readiness to Recovery."

Central to the workshop, "The Scenario" allows workshop participants to step out of their normal operational roles and responsibilities and take part in a simulated emergency. An emergency manager becomes a local TV meteorologist, or a NWS forecaster may wear the hat of an emergency manager. These role reversals occur as weather data from an actual archived event appears in real time. Team members then manage the various issues associated with the unfolding event as changing demands are put to the different groups. For example, the "emergency managers" may ask the "NWS forecasters" for a spot forecast, while the "broadcasters" must make critical decisions on how to provide the best media coverage for the unfolding event. Eye-opening interactions among the different groups managing the scenario spur on-going discussions about ways to improve emergency communications and the warning process.

The National Severe Weather Workshop is sponsored by:

NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


NWS: National Weather Service (NWS) 
National Centers for Environmental Prediction

Storm Prediction Center 


Warning Decision Training Branch 
Southern Region Headquarters 


Norman Forecast Office 


Central Region Headquarters
OAR: Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
National Severe Storms Laboratory



OEMA: Oklahoma Emergency Management Association
COCAMS/NWA: Central Oklahoma Chapter of the American Meteorological Society/National Weather Association

Updated December 7, 2007

OKLAHOMA: Tornadoes causing 15 deaths before 1953; five or more deaths after and including

1953MAY 8, 1882 6:15 pm 21 dead 42 injured
Most of the mining community of McAlester (now in Pittsburg County) was destroyed. APR 25, 1893 6:30 pm 31 dead 100 injured
The pioneer town of Moore, Cleveland County was nearly obliterated by a mile-wide tornado.

MAY 10, 1905 6:45 pm 97 dead 150 injured
This large and violent tornado began near Olustee, Jackson County and devastated Snyder.

JAN 4, 1917 11:00 AM 16 dead 20 injured
The poorly constructed Choctaw Indian Baptist Mission school was destroyed at Vireton.

MAY 2, 1920 8:35 pm 71 dead 100 injured
The small town of Peggs, Cherokee County was destroyed and a third of the population was killed.

NOV 19, 1930 9:30 AM 23 dead 125 injured
The tornado moved northwest from Oklahoma City, hitting Bethany, destroying a fourth of the town.

APR 27, 1942 3:15 pm 52 dead 350 injured
About a third of Pryor, a wartime boomtown of poorly built homes, was destroyed.

MAY 2, 1942 3:30 pm 16 dead 80 injured
Small homes were destroyed near Paden, Boley, and Welty; 12 died at Childsville.

JUN 12, 1942 8:41 pm 35 dead 100 injured
This funnel cut an erratic path in southwest Oklahoma City, destroying more than 70 homes.

APR 12, 1945 5:40 pm 69 dead 353 injured
At Antlers, Pushmataha County, about a third of that town, more than 600 buildings, were destroyed.

APR 9, 1947 6:05 pm 113 dead 900 injured
This deadliest tornado of the 1940s killed at least 107 people in the northern half of Woodward.

MAY 25, 1955 9:26 pm 20 dead 280 injured
A tornado moved northwest through the heart of Blackwell. About 400 homes were destroyed.

MAY 5, 1960 7:10 pm 16 dead 106 injured
The tornado swept through Wilburton killing 13 people and destroying 82 homes; three died at Keota.

MAY 5, 1961 5:20 pm 16 dead 58 injured
Twelve people were killed at Howe and four died at Reichert, LeFlore County.

JUN 8, 1974 3:55 pm 14 dead 150 injured
The tornado hit the northwest part of Drumright. Six people were killed in a nursing home.

APR 24, 1993 5:50 pm 7 dead 100 injured
This tornado, largely hidden by rain and dust, hit Tulsa and western Rogers County.

MAY 3, 1999 5:23 pm 38 dead 800 injured
An massive F5 tornado devastated Bridge Creek (10) parts of Moore (8), Del City (5), and Oklahoma City (12).

Article from The Tornado Project

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: for Safety, for Work, for Fun – FOR LIFE

Tags: destruction, floods, gatherings, personal comments, storms, tornadoes
Posted in Storm Stories | Edit | No Comments »

The Sun, The Rain, The Palm Tree And The Storm Chaser

Up Close And Personal

Heat fills the air as haze covers the expanse of the Tuesday afternoon, summer time, Southwestern Florida sky. Over time, a growing row of heaping cotton ball like cloud formations line up along the distant horizon. Not to
long after this, the sun winds up being completely overtaken by a thick
cloud canopy. Once the clouds begin covering it over like a heavy blanket,
the smoggy sky is no longer visible either.

Eventually the heat gives way to a cool refreshing breeze that gets
stronger with each passing moment. Spits of rain fill the air as the clouds
darken even more. The more the clouds would build, the harder the wind
would blow.

The gathering storm stands as a backdrop to someone waiting poised in the foreground. A brown haired man, wearing a white buttoned up, short sleved shirt and dark blue jeans, with an average build, stands next to a white full size traveling van. He wants to enjoy the sight, but the weather grows too unsafe to stand out in the midst of the action.

“Just a few snapshots, and then I will head inside”, The man says to
himself. “Wow! This is better than I thought!” He says out loud as the
sky gets swollowed up in a dark shroud of deep blackness. “No time to jot
in the notebook, got to get to safety!” he states out loud as the storm
grows larger.

Once inside his house, the man continues watching the sky, waiting with bated
breath for something more to happen. Then in comes the storm like a frait
train, causing both the pine and palm trees in his backyard to double over
to the right. “There she is, the seabreeze boundary formation I’ve been
waiting for to arrive!” He says aloud to the world, all the while still
watching out the window with his brown eyes fixed on the storm brewing
outside.

Then, without warning, the storm stawker comes alive in him as he
reaches for his trusty digital camera. “Two more pics, that’s all I need!”
He thought to himself. Then, as he grabs his last swig of iced tea, he sees
a familiar sight.

To his wonder, he spots a long and twisted ropelike image dangling over
his backyard like a carrot hanging suspended in front of a rabbit. “Oh Wow!
A Tornado!” He shouted while perched in his livingroom chair. He grabs his
video camera this time and heads back outside his house. “It’s better to snag moving photography for this instead of taking still pics!” He tells himself.

Just as he begins filming this latest subject, it disappears as
fast as it arrives. He wishes it could stay longer, but he knows that the neighbors wouldn’t feel the same. “What a strange dilemma!” He thought to himself.

The silence, that fills the air after the storm’s passage, is broken up by
the sound of kids crying loudly. He turns his head to the sounds and witnesses a blond haired woman wearing a yellow sun-suit walking around surveying what the storm did to her home. Hee sees the same distruction that this tornado brought forth to them.

Upon seeing this situation at hand, he goes to the sobbing woman to
offer his support. She turns and sees he has a video camera in his left
hand. She gets rather upset and yells at him to leave them alone. “What are you! One of those nutty storm chasers? If you are, then I want you away from me! You people are monsters! You prey off of other people’s sufferings!” She exclaimes loudlly.

Our Storm Chaser friend defends his position by stating, “Ma’am, I won’t lie to you, In spite of all this, I still enjoy being a storm chaser. I’ve been through these myself, and I know what they can do. My goal is to educate people on what happens when tornados hit.” He states calmly.

In spite of his attempts to comfort her, she didn’t want to listen. All she wanted to do was sob. She hangs her
head and walks away from him. After this, he walks back inside his house to
upload his catch of the day to his handy laptop.

Storm Chaser Becomes Hurricane Stawker For A Day

The summer storms are long over and boardom has settled in upon our
storm chaser pal like a heavy mist over the land. Hope seems all but lost
until one day this same gentleman hears about something that awakens him deep inside his soul. He writes in his journal, “There’s a large hurricane
nearby, and I’m going Hurricane Hunting with the NHC!” He goes onto write,
“Yes, the long hot summer is over and now it’s time to focus on what the fall has for us!” He states with much excitement.

Finally, that day arrives! He hops onboard a large jumbo airplane, a
military style bomber craft. The ride starts out being smooth like silk.
“Is this the life or what?” He says as he and crew enter the monster from
the deep. “Whoo-Hoo!” He exclaims.

He, along with the NHC crew, fly up and down through the storm. They
move around and from side to side through the monster cyclone. After a
while, the ride winds up becoming turbulant and bumpy as they move deeper
into the storm’s center.

He states on his video recording, “We’re hitting large updrafts as we
approach the hurricane’s narrow eye-wall area. Now we are flying through the
storm’s calm eye. What an incredible stadium look to this eye-wall structure! There’s a part of me that’s wishing I could push it away from Florida’s mainland, and yet I wish this storm would hit our area hard at the same time. Even if the storm never hits land, I’ll at least have the memory of the event forever in my mind.”

Winter’s Pain With Hidden Bliss

Now that summer’s long gone, and the temps are much more bearable, the
weather will be less active right? Wrong! Our storm chaser friend has been
scanning the weather service forecast data for more possible action. “A storm chaser’s work is never done, even if you’re sitting in your home office with the windows open and a nice breeze blowing in off the Gulf of Mexico.” He states.

While scanning the weather information, he spots something that catches his attention. “Woo! Looks as if North Florida will be seeing some convective action in the next day or so. If I start early, I can be there in time.” He says with great assurance.

After carrying out his scanning duties, he
decides to begin the doting task of packing. He grabs plastic storage
containers that are filled with video discs and places them in the back seat
of his van. Then it’s off to the closet to pack some essentials. Once the travel bag had been closed up, now it was time to gather up things like the
digital camera, movie camera, laptop computer, portable GPS tracker, Doppler radar scope and weather scanner. “Looks like we have a date with destiny!” He thought.

After a bit of time on his traveling journey, our storm chaser fellow is beginning to take notice of the surrounding area. He thinks to himself, “It’s early evening in mid February, and The sun is slowly setting behind a thin cap of high clouds. The air is unusually warm and moist as well.” After noticing this, he pulls
over to the side of the road to jot notes in his log.

He writes, “Rising deep level moisture, Giving way to uppper level cold top layers, Marked by high Cirrus, with lower strato-cumulus undercasting. Southwesterly low level wind, with reports of upper level Northwesterly winds from approaching cold front. Southeasterly shear at mid levels… Looks like all conditions are just right for quite a severe weather situation.”

After writing in his journal, he starts off to the main location of
greatest concern. Upon arriving to where the Storm Prediction Center indicates the heart of convection, he decides to stop off somewhere for dinner. “I’ll take another look at the map data once I get inside the diner.” He says to himself.

A tiny, dimly lit eating area sits quietly on the street corner close to the main highway. This nearly empty diner’s interior was bathed in shades of tans and browns. The only people there, other than a young teenage waiter, were a
family of six. A Mother, Father and four children. This family reminded
him of the families he’s grown up with while living in the Mid West.

This young waiter brings our storm chaser friend a menu. While he’s taking the order down, he stares glumly as he watches this storm chaser looking constantly at his radar scanner. Meanwhile, our storm chaser friend winds up reminiscing about a past long ago left behind as he carries out his tasks. “Nothing showing up yet, but it will be soon.. After all, the heavier cloud bank is now rolling in from the northwest.” He thought.

As the waiter is taking his order, a loud, blaring sound could be heard
from somewhere in the back of the diner. The young fellow quickly grabs his
notepad and leaves the dining area. At this point, our storm chaser friend
is jotting down more notes in his log. “Is that a NOAA radio I hear? Yes,
because the NWS is speaking something! Also, the signal going off, it came from a NOAA weather alert radio!”

The waiter returns with some water and iced tea on his carrying tray. “Sir, we are under a Tornado Watch until 1:00 a.m. local time.” Said the waiter frantically.

Our Storm Chaser buddy states the following, “I just saw that on my NWS tracker. I’m a storm chaser, storm spotter and meteorologist, and new this was
coming. I’ve been following these storms, especially tornados, for quite a long time now. It looks like trouble, so I’d stay up on the weather if I were you.” The conversation abruptly ends when the waiter looks at him with a blank stair, and then walks off to check on his meal.

A Chance Incounter

While he, that is our storm chaser pal, awaits the arrival of his meal, he sits watching this young family of six. He’s also thinking about how his inspiration to follow after storms came from a lecture he’d heard in school as a child. He jots in his journal, “I’m sitting here in this diner, and while I wait for dinner to arrive, I’m looking at this beautiful family sitting across the room from me. They seem to be so wrapped up in their own little world, that I don’t think they know about the bad weather to come. Perhaps I should warn them!”

Before the waiter brings along the meal, our storm chaser friend decides to go over and introduce himself. “Hello there!” He states with a friendly voice.

This fine family stops their conversation to return the salutation. “Why hello to you too! Are you from around here?”

Well, I’m from the Tampa Bay area, but I’m originally from Saint Louis, Missouri. My name is Andrew and I am a storm chaser and spotter.”

They chat for a time until Andrew’s meal arrives. He walks away, but not without sheding a tear. He thinks, “Oh, that poor fellow! I wonder if he still thinks about his family?”

After having a wonderful, but filling dinner, our storm chaser buddy is
off to chase the skies of north Florida. “Let’s see what we can find! I
think we’ll find much because much will happen!”

After darkness settles in for the night, Andrew steps into his van and scans the portable Doppler for precipitation echos. Sure enough, he
finds them. The bad news is they’ve been gathering up in an area that is
south of his current location.

He then says to himself, “I’ve gotta step on it so I can get to those
storms before they pass me by!” “Maybe there will be a large tornado that I
can study this time. No, but I just hope it stays away from towns along the
way.” He says.

Just in front of him, in a baby blue SUV, rides the family that had been in the diner with him. They were seemingly heading in the same direction as himself. He thinks that to be rather interesting. Oh, but of course, he keeps thinking about that fellow that spoke at his Saint Louis grade school, wondering all the while how this fellow is holding up these days.

Hitting The Jackpot!

While this is taking place, he’s listening to his NOAA radio scanner for
updates. He’s driving south, in the hopes of staying ahead of the
approaching squall line. Instead, he discovers that the line is moving faster than he is.

Before he knows it, splotches of water start forming on his windshield. As time went along, the rain began to get heavier. Then, out of the blue, a
flash of pink lightning splits the darkness of the night sky. “Wow! Looks
like the storm’s on it’s way!” He thought.

He pulls over to the side of the road to check his Doppler radar scope. Looking down, he sees a large and growing mass of deepening convection. He pulls out his notebook and begins jotting down more information.

He writes, “Deepening storm cell just to the southwest of my current location…Looking at Doppler radar and seeing supercell growth with a growing spiral like circulation. That cell is certain to have a tornado at it’s southern portion for sure!”

At this point, he steps on the gas and heads southwest to meat up with
the approaching storm. As he does, the rain gets heavier. Small pellits of
hail begin pelting the van, creating a tinging sound as they hit. More
flashes of bright lightning begin to happen in more frequent spirts, busting
through the night like darts of fiery white light.

Beyond the lightning, and all the rain, something rare pops up in the
sky justin front of him. His brown eyes darken as he watches this strange
sight. “Oh boy! It’s a Wall Cloud! We’re in business now!” He exclaimes.

It seems like, but for just a moment, that things were calming down a
tad. He knows though, this is just the beginning of things to come. “It’s only a matter of time before a tornado touches down!” He thought.

He stops the van and steps out to begin his surveying of the situation. Then suddenly, he begins noticing several things. First, he takes note of the utter calmness around himself. Secondly, his eyes were fixated on how the lightning had changed from a cloud-to-ground form, to a “streaking within the clouds” pattern. Then last, but not least, he begins feeling super heated air rising up around himself. He jumps backward from it, knowing what that means, and what would happen
next.

Sure enough, there formed in front of him, a spiraling dustcloud. This
time, instead of reaching for his notebook, he grabs his video camera. While he’s filming this, a swirling gust of wind pushes him against his van. Unphased by this minor setback, he continues filming this vortex as it slowly
gathers strength.

He stands by and watches as the funnel gets larger. As it does, smaller
funnels break away from the larger structure. Then it begins moving
northeast inside the squall line, which has otherwise thinned out in other
locations.

Tracking this was rather easy for him. Just another typical supercell
storm. He travels northeast, following the tornado as it tears up the ground beneeth it. “The travel time of this tornado was nearly 5 minutes! Wow!” He thought. While following this massive storm, he calls in to report to the NWS what was happening.

After a while, he lost track of it. This was due to it’s jumping over
the roadway and reforming away from his present location. He’d have to run
after it and try to catch up with it on foot, which would be an
impossibility. All he could do at this point is take what he had and head
home.

The Lesson From The Journey

The next morning, he awakens to learn that ten souls were lost in the
very tornado he had been chasing. The words shoot from his four speaker audio system stereo like daggers stabbing him in his heart. Tears wind up running down his face as the announcer speaks.

He thinks to himself, “I am a storm chaser, but I’m not a heartless
monster like my nextdoor neighbor thinks I am. I just want to help educate
folks, not hurt them. I do more than chase storms anyways! Besides, I’m doing this for the man that spoke at my school. Well, we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do, no matter
what!”

After arriving back home later on that day, he uploads all the pics and
video shots to his laptop. He crops, records and saves all the footage,
carefully preserving every detail. All the while thinking about those ten
souls that parished in the storm, the family from the diner and the fellow that spoke before his grade school science class.

So, as he always does, he dedicates his DVD to those that were lost to
the very tornado he chased after. All the while hoping that other lives would be saved in the future.