March | Issue 12 - 03

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Connecting Operational Meteorologists in Pursuit of Excellence in Weather Forecasting, Communication and Service.

##[Name | First]##,

 

Thanks for being an NWA member! 

Hello, NWA Family! 

 

As a longtime member of our organization and a second-year Board member, I am proud and excited to step in for President Bryan Karrick to write this month’s newsletter in honor of Women’s History Month.

Everyone has a story, and even though we would all love to “write the book” (and some do), in most cases our stories have their own natural twists and turns, trials and tribulations, and triumphs that are often out of our control. Especially for me, since I somehow came into the broadcast side of meteorology never wanting to be on camera but ending up the chief meteorologist at WNBC in New York City for the last 27 years! 

Just like many of you, I grew up being fascinated by weather as a small child (for me it was thunder storms in rural Columbia, SC). By age 10, I already knew I wanted to study meteorology. Now, noone in my family had attended college, and there was no one who looked like me presenting weather onTV in my town, so I decided to take the “behind the scenes'' approach and fortunately received a summer traineeship with the Columbia National Weather Service Forecast Office (CAE) in 1978. This is where I met Ruth Aiken, former Secretary and Councilor of the NWA. At the time, Ruth was a lead forecaster in the office, and it was there I saw myself in a woman who looked like me, doing exactly what I wanted to do, or so I thought… 

So, I moved forward to pursue my studies at Florida State University (GO NOLES!), graduating with my bachelor of science degree in 1982, planning a career with the NWS, until I was told prior to graduation that there would be a hiring freeze at the federal government, and that I would no longer be guaranteed a job there. I was devastated. Until I decided, at the urging of my friends at school, to try my hand at television. And the summer of my graduation, I received an internship at WCTV in Tallahassee, FL,got my first job at the end of summer at WTVC in Chattanooga, TN, and from there, worked inColumbus, GA, St. Louis, San Francisco, then New York City. While on this journey, I learned of June Bacon-Bercey, the first woman presenting TV weather with an actual degree in meteorology back in the 1970s (who also just happened to look like me). 

Since coming to NBC at 30 Rock, I not only got promoted from weekends to primetime as chief, I also worked as meteorologist for the weekend “Today Show” for 16 years, hosted a local game show, and hosted a weekly adoption segment called “Wednesday’s Child” from 1998-2015. And, I have mentored numerous meteorology students and broadcasters along the way, many of whom continue to work in the field both on- and off-camera. I am always proud to see them thriving.

Mentorship is probably the one aspect of my career that I most cherish. Whether I was mentoring or being mentored, I certainly would not have come this far without it. The June Bacon-Berceys and theRuth Aikens (among many others) of the world were truly instrumental in shaping me into the woman Ihave become and helped set me along my path, whether they knew it or not. I am forever grateful.

I am also grateful to my family and friends for their unwavering support, and to all the women and men who have supported me throughout my journey. And it is still a journey---I’m still “writing” my story,my history, and living my dream. I hope you are, too! 

Mar 14: Celebrating Women in STEM Fields

Participants wear purple and post on social media with the hashtag #DressForSTEM. Top Row includes Dominic Brown, Katie Nickolaou, and Vivian Rennie; Bottom Row includes Vanessa Alonso, Ginger Zee, and Lexie Horvath. Join us next March to champion diversity with #DressForSTEM.

March 14 was Dress for STEM Day! This grassroots movement was formed to honor women in STEM and those who came before them. Participants wear purple and post on social media with the hashtag #DressForSTEM. Check out our #DressForSTEM collage featuring NWA members. Top Row includes Dominic Brown, Katie Nickolaou, and Vivian Rennie; Bottom Row includes Vanessa Alonso, Ginger Zee, and Lexie Horvath. Join us next March to champion diversity with #DressForSTEM.

49th Annual Meeting Irving, TX | Hybrid September 14-18, 2024 Refining, Refreshing, and Refocusing
Call for Abstracts due Thursday, April 11

Call for Abstracts Submissions OPEN

**Abstract Deadline: Thursday, April 11, at 11:59 pm CT**

The National Weather Association invites you to submit an abstract for the 49th Annual Meeting, to be held September 14-18, 2024, at the Irving Convention Center in Irving, Texas. This will be a hybrid meeting, with both in-person and virtual attendance options. Please do not hesitate to submit an abstract even if you won't be able to attend in person.

This year's theme is:  Refining, Refreshing, and Refocusing.

Refine: How can the Weather Enterprise come together and grow in diversity, knowledge, and technology to improve weather services?

Refresh: How do we innovate while increasing collaboration within the Weather Enterprise and with the communities we serve?

Refocus: How can the NWA community refocus on current weather-related challenges and prepare for additional challenges in the future?

Stay tuned to the 2024 Annual Meeting page for additional meeting updates throughout this spring and summer.  Questions or comments may be directed to nwahelp@nwas.org or 405.701.5167.

2024 Total Eclipse: Where & When

From NASA:

The Monday, April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

The total solar eclipse will be visible along a narrow track stretching from Texas to Maine on April 8, 2024. A partial eclipse will be visible throughout all 48 contiguous U.S. states.

NASA's Eclipse Explorer is an interactive map designed to enhance your eclipse-viewing experience. Crafted to complement existing static eclipse maps, this tool enables users to dive into this amazing celestial event like never before.

Alt: NASA's Eclipse Explorer interactive map image

With this map, you can learn what will be visible in different areas, see a prediction of the corona, compare this path to previous eclipses, and more.

Safe Place Selfie: April 3

From NOAA:

If there was one extreme weather preparedness action you want your loved ones to take, what would it be? For many, that one action is to know ahead of time where their safe place is located. Thank you for joining the National Weather Service and its Weather-Ready Nation Ambassadors to take a “selfie” and posting with the hashtag #SafePlaceSelfie.

#SafePlaceSelfie Join us on April 3, 2024 Extreme weather could occur at any time. Wherever you may be, know your safe place. Learn your area's weather hazards! At your usual locations, find safe places that could protect you! Take selfies in your safe places! On April 3, post your photos using #SafePlaceSelfie

NWA Foundation: Education Changing Lives

NWA Foundation Logo
Spring Scholarships Deadline: May 23. Sol Hirsch Deadline: June 6, 2024.

Spread the word! NWA Spring Scholarship Flyers 

Help us spread the word by sharing the Spring Scholarship Flyer and the Sol Hirsch Grant Flyer with eligible candidates. 

NWA Foundation Fall Scholarship Winners 

Congratulations to our 2023 Fall Scholarship Recipients, Arthur C. Pike Scholarship in Meteorology Recipient

Jackie Beck and Phillips Family Undergraduate Scholarship for Meteorology Recipient Jared Emmert.

NWA Foundation 2023 Arthur C. Pike Scholarship recipient: Jackie Beck, Ohio State University, Atmospheric Sciences doctoral candidate.

Jackie is a doctoral candidate in the Atmospheric Sciences program at The Ohio State University. Broadly, her research interests are in Applied Meteorology and Climatology. Her doctoral research focuses on ecological drought impacts in a changing climate. Jackie has an AS in Earth Sciences and Certificate in Geospatial Technology from Lake Land College, and a BS in Atmospheric Sciences from The Ohio State University.

Twitter/X: @jkbeck3087
Facebook/Instagram: @jbeck3087
LinkedIn: Jackie Beck

NWA Foundation 2023 Phillips Family Undergraduate Scholarship recipient: Jared Emmert, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Sophomore in Climate, Meteorology, and Atmospheric Sciences.

Hi, my name is Jared Emmert and I am a current sophomore at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign majoring in Climate, Meteorology, and Atmospheric Sciences. I am from Saint Joseph, Illinois, which is a town just outside of Champaign-Urbana with a population just under 4,000. When I was growing up, I always had an interest in weather and how it worked. It developed into a strong interest in severe weather and it led me to pursue undergraduate research, where I am working with Dr. Jeff Frame regarding twin tornadoes. I am very excited for this summer, when I plan on going on our field course to observe storms in the Great Plains. Outside of classes, I am involved in the Illinois Student Organization of Meteorology (ISTORM), which is a registered student organization at UIUC. I work for the admissions office as an ISTAR (Illinois Student Admissions Representative), where I give tours to prospective students and families. I also like to hang out with my friends on the quad when the weather is nice, and I am also a member of the Orange Krush (which is the Illinois basketball student section).

Instagram: jaredemmert22

Thank you for your donations and support!

NOAA’s GOES-U Launch Targeted for June 25, 2024

From NOAA:

NOAA’s GOES-U is the fourth and final satellite in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) – R Series, the Western Hemisphere’s most sophisticated weather-observing and environmental-monitoring system. The GOES-R Series provides advanced imagery and atmospheric measurements, real-time mapping of lightning activity, and monitoring of space weather.

GOES-U will be renamed GOES-19 after it reaches geostationary orbit. Following a successful on-orbit checkout of its instruments and systems, NOAA plans to put GOES-19 into operational service. GOES-19 will provide critical atmospheric, hydrologic, oceanic, climatic, solar and space data, for advanced detection and monitoring of environmental phenomena that directly affect public safety, protection of property, and our nation’s economic health and prosperity, including:

- Atmospheric Weather
- Environmental Hazards
- Ocean Conditions
- Space Weather

The GOES-U team has spent years building the instruments and spacecraft, integrating all of the satellite’s components, and conducting rigorous testing to make sure it can withstand the harsh conditions of launch. 

Alt: Iterations of GOES-R Satellties, years 2016, 2018, 2022, and 2024.

Image obtained from nesdis.noaa.gov.

JOM: Western Montana Snow Squall Climatology and Synoptic Patterns, 2000–2020

Author: Alex Lukinbeal, NOAA/National Weather Service, Missoula, MT.

NWA Annual Meeting attendees talk in the exhibitor hall.

The rapid onset of whiteout conditions, from strong winds, blowing snow, and heavy snow, associated with snow squalls often results in hazardous travel conditions.

Snow squalls bring pronounced impacts to the transportation sector, leading to accidents, fatalities, and significant travel delays.

Given these impacts, historical frequencies, and the synoptic environments associated with snow squalls in western Montana were examined to develop forecast aides, primarily through synoptic pattern recognition, for meteorologists to identify and communicate snow squalls.

A 20-year climatology was constructed to identify events characterized by wind gusts ≥26 kt (30 mph) and visibility ≤0.8 km (0.5 mi). 74 snow squall events were identified from 2000 through 2020 across three ASOS sites: Missoula (KMSO), Kalispell (KGPI), and Butte (KBTM). The median duration of heavy (moderate) snow during snow squalls was 26 (34) minutes. A composite study utilizing these events was conducted using the NCEP North American Regional Reanalysis. The composite study along with surface observations revealed three distinct snow squall patterns and types: orographic snow bands, Pacific cold fronts, and Canadian arctic fronts.

Thank You, Tom Skilling

Charter and Lifetime NWA Member Tom Skilling retired at the end of February after 45 years of work at WGN News. Known for his in-depth and highly detailed weather segments, Tom has elevated the audience’s understanding of not just the weather, but the science behind it.

Member John Gordon reflects on Tom's impact: "Tom is the Mount Everest of all TV Meteorologists in terms of communication, science, graphics, and sincerity. When you meet Tom 'Freaking' Skilling, you are the most important person in the world; he truly is the Mr. Rogers of weather. GOAT!"

The NWA congratulates Tom on his retirement and his contributions to Meteorology.

Tom Skilling and Brian Smith celebrating Tom's retirement. Brian, who retired in 2023. Photo courtesy of Brian Smith.

Tom Skilling and Brian Smith celebrating Tom's retirement. Brian, who retired in 2023 after a 30+ year career in the NWS, helped Tom start the Fermilab tornado and severe weather seminars in 1981. Photo courtesy of Brian Smith.

Monthly Top 10 Contributors

Bryan Karrick

Matthew Alto

David Nussbaum

Morgan Barry

Megan Stember

Sarah Trojniak

Laurel McCoy

Michael White

Bill Sjoberg

Morgan Palmer

Join the discussions to vie for a top 10 spot next issue!

Haven't joined yet? Here's how:

1. Log in to your Member Profile.

2. Click on the "Community" tab in your main navigation menu

3. Agree to the Terms & Conditions.

You're in! Be sure to take the Community Tour to orient yourself and get started. We will be looking for you in the NWA Community! Come on over!

Community is available on our mobile app!

Did you know you can access the NWA Community from the app on your mobile device? Simply click the "NWA Community" widget on your app's homepage!

Experimental Tropical Cyclone Cone Graphic Coming Soon 

Alt: cone graphic that includes inland tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings in effect for the continental United States

From the NOAA/NWS National Hurricane Center:

Beginning on or around August 15, 2024, NHC will begin issuing an experimental version of the cone graphic that includes inland tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings in effect for the continental United States. Recommendations from social science research suggest that the addition of inland watches and warnings to the cone graphic will help communicate inland wind risk during tropical cyclone events while not overcomplicating the current version of the graphic with too many data layers. There will be opportunities to provide feedback during the product’s experimental phase. Owing to the experimental nature of the graphic, it may not be available as soon as the current operational cone graphic due to the time needed to compile complete inland watch and warning information, but should generally be available within 30 minutes of the advisory release. The current operational cone graphic will continue to be available, and there will be no changes with respect to how coastal watches and warnings are displayed on that graphic. The new experimental graphic will be available on the NHC website for both full and intermediate advisories.

NWA Annual Meeting attendees enjoy a presentation.

Have you been looking to get more involved?

Volunteering with the NWA is a great opportunity to develop skills and work with others. Right now, committees are determining which volunteer roles will need to be filled for 2024, so this a great time to get involved!
We no longer require that a resume be uploaded when completing the form.  

Don't miss out on this exciting chance to make a difference - submit your interest now!

NWA Operational Committees: Annual Meeting, Awards, Broadcast, Diversity, Local Chapters, Member Group, Membership & Marketing, Professional Development, Remote Sensing and Social Media

NWA Board Committees: Governance and Finance

In addition to the committees listed, opportunities also exist in the following areas: abstract reviewing, scholarship evaluation, WeatherReady Fest, Research to Operations Nexus (RON), the Weather Analysis and Forecasting (WAF) and webinars.

Interested members must be in good standing.
Filling out this form is not a guarantee of committee selection.
Appointments are approved by the NWA President per NWA Bylaws: Section 9.1.

Interested in a Federal Job? - Join the Federal Executive Board Campus Series 2024

Students and recent graduates are key participants in the future Federal workforce. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Center for Federal Executive Board (FEB) Operations present the Federal Executive Board Campus Series 2024. This four-session series is open to all students, recent graduates, and campus professionals (career services, faculty, Department heads, etc.). The series explains the Federal application and hiring process to help students and recent graduates find internships and full-time jobs working in their career field and will help academic partners gain the information needed to help guide their students.

If you would like more information about the sessions or are interested in attending, please follow one of the links below.

Session Schedule:

April  2nd             Navigating USAJOBs

April 9th               Writing Your Resume for Federal Jobs

April 11th             Interviewing for Federal Jobs

April 18th             Pathways Programs for Students and Recent Graduates

 

Are You Weather-Ready?

Help us make people Weather-Ready! Spring is here. Please help us share the WRN graphics and resources to encourage people to be ready for the changing weather. 

The NWA is proud to be a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador™.

Here's an example of an informative Weather-Ready graphic, provided by weather.gov. Feel free to share on Social Media.

A graphic of a bedroom is shown with text that reads: Be Prepared for Nighttime Tornadoes. In the graphic, necessary and potentially life-saving items are laid out. A NOAA Weather Radio and fully charged cell phone (with Wireless Emergency Alerts enabled) in the bedroom will ensure you are notified of any severe weather or possible tornadoes. Test the NOAA Weather Radio regularly and make sure it’s tuned to your local station. A flashlight and sturdy shoes should also be kept nearby in case you need to leave quickly. A safe place to shelter should be prepared in advance if you know storms are coming.
 

AGU, AMS, and NWA Comments to the FCC on NPRM regarding limits on unwanted emissions into the 23.6-24.0 GHz band.

The NWA joined with the AGU and AMS in providing comments to the FCC regarding limits of unwanted emissions into the 23.6-24.0 GHz radiofrequency band. The comments were submitted in reference to the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on this topic.
These organizations are working to protect the radiofrequency bands that are used to passively sense data used in forecast models. The 23.6-24.0 GHz passive band is a unique spectral feature and is defined by the laws of physics (quantifiable mechanical properties of matter) and cannot be changed or moved. Sensing in this band is important to quantifying the amount of water vapor in the Earth’s atmosphere. 
Meteorological services across the World share an interest in protecting this band from unwanted emissions. Our three organizations support, at a minimum, the FCC’s proposal to adopt the Resolution 750 unwanted emissions limits adopted at the World Radiocommunication Conference held by the International Telecommunication Union in 2019. 
The comments that were submitted are linked below.

NWA Merchandise: Easy Ordering Guide!

You can now order NWA logo apparel and merchandise at the NWA Lands' End storefront.

Here’s how:
1. Visit our storefront 
2. Create an account. 
3. Select Men's or Women's. (tab at top under search bar)
4. Choose your item.
5. Pick color, size and quantity.
6. Add logo and placement.
7. Click 'Add to Bag' or keep shopping.

Annual Meetings Shirts Available!

We have a few shirts left from the meeting! Grab your exclusive NWA 48th Annual Meeting shirt for just $25 (plus $8 shipping). Shipping is available within the United States and U.S. Territories. Please note: Payment is due at the time of purchase, and refunds will not be provided.

Upcoming 2024 Events

Have you checked out our job page recently? We update the job postings as they arrive, and they've been arriving more frequently. Check out the newest job postings or submit a job posting.

Jobs Corner Promotional Image
weather related images from the NWA logo.

Share your work in the NWA Newsletter!

If you have a weather-related article you think belongs in the NWA newsletter, send us an email! We are always excited to promote new ideas and research. 

Stay Connected!

Through our NWA App and Social Media.

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Publisher: Janice Bunting, NWA CEO
Digital Editor: Valerie Sharp

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