Anyone here a Weather Watcher?

[wx247]

Well... this is the story of the has beens for me. I first became a weather watcher on Channel 16 KSNF in Joplin when they began their program ran by meteorologist Sam Lane. It was a brilliant set-up, however, after he left the program was cancelled by the man who was later fired for the worst forecasts I have ever seen.

I then became a weather watcher on KODE-TV12, the ABC affiliate in Joplin with a new pilot program that tanked due to lack of interest.

So then...when I was interning at KOAM Channel 7 in Joplin/Pittsburg I became a weather watcher there. Sadly enough that system was replaced by a automated weather system and so the local callers are no longer used.

SO... I only report to the NWS daily as a part of the Coop. Wx. program there. That is a long story to ask who else in here is a weather watcher?

[VAWXWatcher6]

I am a weather for WTVR 6 news in Richmond Virginia, i been a weather watcher since the summer of 2000. The program started in 1998 and the met's at WTVR give all the weather watcher a yearly picnic to show thanks for us being weather watchers and how much we help them everyday.


I am also a Skywarn Spotter For the NWS in Wakefild been since the Fall of 2000.

[azskyman]

Weather watching defines who I am. When people think of me, they think of weather.

I was a weatherwatcher for TV and radio, and am still a trained Skywarn spotter here in the Phoenix area, but weatherwatching can be very informal. You don't have to "report" to someone to be a weatherwatcher. You simply have to enjoy your own back yard.

[Stormsfury]

I'm a storm spotter for the Charleston Weather Forecast Office and at one time would have had the opportunity to become a co-op observation station as well, however, the Old Fort Fire Dept on Ladson Rd was too close to my location ... it's unfortunate, too, because half the time, the information is incorrect there, and/or flat out missing information... :17:

[Southernmost Weather]

Going by azskyman's definition of a weather watcher, We probably all are weather watchers. I'm a trained Skywarn spotter for the Key West area and a volunteer hurricane spotter for NHC. I've been keeping records for three three years now--certainly not a long time in the grand scheme of things, but it's something I enjoy doing and it keeps me out of the bars twice a day!!

[mamadude]

Yes, Mike drug me to the National Weather Service in Wakefield, Va and sat through a 3 hour class, and got my own spotter ID and all..WOOHOO

[weatherlover427]

I am a storm spotter for the San Diego, CA NWS office. I went on a storm chasing trip last Saturday as you all know (and yes I haven't forgotten about that account of the trip that I owe y'all).

[wx247]

I have thought about being a storm spotter. What all does it entail?

[weatherlover427]

Well Garrett, what you need to do is look for links on your local NWS webpage (such as this sample one from my local NWS page) and see if the information provided there really interests you or not. If it does, then go for it! I became one because of my passion for the weather, my love for storms, and because I wanted to feel important in the collection of severe weather data (not that we get much of it here in southern California ), among other things.

[tomboudreau]

I have been a skywarn storm spotter for two different National Weather Service offices. When I was in CT, was a spotter for the Tauton, MA office and now that I am in PA, I have become a spotter for the Pittsburgh Office. I first became a spotter in 98, so I guess this would be my 5th year of spotting storms. I have seen on many occasions and reported large hail (mostly around 1") except for last spring. I got a first hand look at 2.5" hail. My sister-in-law was going to school just south of my wife and I. She called me up after a severe thunderstorm, which ended up being tornadic (F2 tornado was less then 5 miles from her apartment at college), to tell me that they had received these very large hail stones and she told me she gathered 3 or 4 of the large ones. That evening, my wife and I drove down to her apartment and low and behold, she gathered 2.5" stones. But if you want to become a storm spotter, you should just contact your local NWS office to see when training classes are going to be held in your community or a community close to you.

[Sarah--Cb]

I'm an intern at Texas Tech, and we storm chase and spot--whenever the cap breaks--grr.

Sarah-

[azskyman]

Hi Sarah...Texas Tech has quite a reputation for chasing storms. Aren't you called the storm intercept team or something similar?

Do you know if TESSA (Texas Severe Storms Association) still exists? Used to be a guy named Martin Lisius who headed it up. Maybe I'll check it out online. Thanks for jogging my memory.

Did you get in on any of the chases in May?

[Sarah--Cb]

Hey:

I don't recall anything about TESSA, but it sounds like it could've been around/or still is. Yes, Texas Tech, is known for TTUSIT, Texas Tech Storm Intercept Team.

About the chasing in May, yes we did go. It was May 15th. What a day! It was awesome. I would go through the days events, but I want to keep the post short. But if you would like me to tell about it, ask, and I will.

Talk to you Later!

-Sarah Barrick-
Age, 15