ATTN: ILLINOIS MEMBERS! SWOP TRAINING!

[pawlee]

(got this from the NWS in Lincoln this week. i will be attending the upcoming saturday meeting. the next meeting after this is found below. would love to see some of you this saturday! p)

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The first in a series of winter SWOP meetings will be held this coming Saturday, October 11th at NOON at the National Weather Service in Lincoln. The presentation will last about an hour and will include a tour of our facilities. We will also have a limited supply of plastic rain gauges and snow sticks for those observers who need them. If you plan on attending, please send me (NWSILX) a brief e-mail so I have an idea of how many people to expect.

To get to our office, from Lincoln, take State Route 10 east about 1/2 mile. Just look for the giant soccer ball in the sky. You can't miss it! Hope to see you all here on Saturday!

M...

P.S. If you can't make it all the way to Lincoln, we are also planning trips to Peoria, Champaign, Mattoon, Flora, and possibly Jacksonville in the near future. I'll (NWS) keep you posted on the details as they become available.

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ilx/swop/swop.htm

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(the second meeting)

The second in a series of winter SWOP meetings has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 14th at 7:00 PM at the Public Library in Morton (IL).

Directions:

From the South: From I-155, take the Main Street Exit into Morton. Proceed north for several blocks, then take a left onto Jefferson St. Go a couple more blocks, then make a right on W Pershing St. The library is at 315 W Pershing.

From the North: From I-74, take the North Morton Ave Exit into Morton. Make a left on Jackson St, then take a right onto Main St. Proceed a couple of blocks, then take a right onto Jefferson St. Finally, take a right onto Pershing St.

[pawlee]

just got back from this afternoon's SWOP (Significant Weather Observers Program) meeting held at the NWS in Lincoln IL. the hour long discussion led by Heather Stanley focused on proper observing/reporting techniques in regard to precipitation as well as how the NWS uses this information in it's decision making process. the turnout was considerably less than last year which is a shame considering there are many gaps the NWS needs to fill throughout their county network. the call for MORE observers was once again made as it it the human element they sorely need since according to Heather (and Matt), radar has is limitations. the next meeting will be held in Morton IL with future meetings T.B.A. in Champaign, Bloomington and possibly Taylorville to name a few. if you enjoy following weather, do consider becoming a part of SWOP for speaking firsthand, it has been an exciting program to have been a part of through this past year. a final point about SWOP is that our NWSILX office who created this program is currently the ONLY one doing this nationwide with others slated to follow in respect to the success our NWS office has had. just imagine, YOU... being a part of something that is on the forefront of meteorological history! p

(see message above for info regarding next meeting in Morton IL)

here's a look at the doppler radar tower that creates the images we see on radar. the smaller domed building houses the device which tracks the daily weather balloons they release.

[IndianaWx]

Do they refer the doppler radar as a big soccer ball in the sky?

ROFL!

[pawlee]

Do they refer the doppler radar as a big soccer ball in the sky?

ROFL!

that's it! enroute, you absolutely can't miss it! it's HUGE!!! p