| NOAA
2002-022 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Pat Viets 2/27/02 |
NOAA News Releases 2002 NOAA Home Page NOAA Public Affairs |
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Severe weather, storm spotting and Doppler radar will be the featured topics as the nation's premier severe weather experts discuss their latest research findings and forecasting techniques during the second annual National Severe Weather Workshop March 1 and 2 in Norman, Okla. The workshop is designed for emergency managers, broadcast meteorologists, storm spotters and other weather enthusiasts. It will be held at the National Center for Employee Development Marriott Conference Center and is sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service, Central Oklahoma Chapter of the American Meteorological Society/National Weather Association and the Oklahoma Emergency Managers Association. More than 300 people from across the nation have already registered to attend the workshop. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. "This is a unique national event gives emergency managers, broadcast meteorologists, researchers and forecasters from around the country to get together to discuss how they can better protect the lives of American citizens," said Joseph Schaefer, director of NOAA's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla. Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Jack Kelly, director of the National Weather Service, will present a talk entitled, "Working Together to Save Lives" on Saturday afternoon. The program will also include John Scala, severe weather expert from The Weather Channel; Louis Uccellini, director of NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Prediction, presenting information about NOAA Weather Service modeling; and Dennis McCarthy, NOAA Weather Service central region director, discussing the role of amateur radio in the forecast office. Other topics include the D.C. tornadoes, three-dimensional lightning mapping observations of severe storms, severe wind climatology, anticipating hazardous weather, situation awareness, using NOAA Weather Service products, a storm spotter's experience in Nebraska, as well as a panel discussion regarding Doppler radar information and how best to use the private/public/media partnership. In addition, storm spotter and radar operations training will be offered. A banquet will be held on Friday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of NOAA Weather Service Severe Local Storms/Severe Weather Unit now known as the Storm Prediction Center. Additional information and a
registration form are available online at: http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/nsww2002
or by calling (405) 579-0771. |