Frequently Asked Questions
This page is intended to quickly provide some answers to commonly asked questions regarding our webpage. If you have a question that is not answered on this page, feel free to email our webmaster at: w-ict.webmaster@noaa.gov
Q2. Where can I find real time snowfall reports and road conditions?
Q5. How do I become a storm spotter for the NWS Wichita?
Q6. Where can I find a forecast that goes out more than 7 days?
Q7. Can I request an NWS Wichita meteorologist to come talk to my class or function?
Q8. What are some of the most requested pages on your website?
Q10. How can I/my group get a tour of the NWS in Wichita?
Q11. Are there volunteer opportunities for students at the NWS in Wichita?
Question 1 Where can I find past weather data?
The quickest way to locate past weather data is via our Monthly Station Data Page(F6). This form will allow you to quickly locate such data as precipitation, wind speed, wind direction and even the amount of sunshine in a given day. It's not surprising that our f6 page is one of our most visited pages.
If the location you are wanting past weather data for is not on our monthly station data(F6) page then you may want to visit our NOWData Page. This page displays weather data from our COOP observers.
If you are looking for weather data that goes back farther than 1997, then we would suggest going to NCDC. Be aware that most of the data on NCDC's site is not free.
Question 2 Where can I find real time snowfall reports and road conditions?
Snowfall reports are sent out as a Local Storm Report. NWS Wichita's Local Storm Reports can be viewed here. Our daily COOP regional temperature and precipitation report will also have snowfall data. This product can be viewed here, and the graphical version of this product is located here. Keep in mind that this COOP version of the regional temperature and precipitation is only sent out once per day, around 9:30 am.
Our road conditions page can be found here.
Question 3 Where can I locate severe weather reports for a particular day?
The quickest way to track down severe weather reports is by using SPC's storm reports page. On this page there is a section titled "Storm Report Data for Past Days" which will display all of the severe weather events for a specific day you select. Keep in mind that this data is preliminary and one should visit NCDC Storm Data for final tabulations. The only downside to using NCDC's Storm Data page is that it's typically a few months behind on storm reports.
Question 4 Where do I find information on programming my weather radio?
Our main weather radio page is located here. The quickest way to locate which transmitter to listen to and your SAME code, is by using this page.
Question 5 How do I become a storm spotter for the NWS Office in Wichita?
To become a storm spotter it is strongly advised that you attend a spotter training class. These classes are held on an annual basis during the months of February, March, and April. Once the class schedule has been finalized, it will be posted on our website here. After attending a spotter training session, you will have the necessary tools to be an NWS Wichita spotter.
The next step will be how to get your severe weather report to the NWS Wichita Office. The easiest way will be to use a program called ESpotter, which uses the internet to send your report directly into our office. Click here to register for Espotter.
If you would like to become more involved in storm spotting, I would recommend that you contact your local emergency manager to inquire about their volunteer spotter program.
Question 6 Where can I find a forecast that goes out more than 7 days?
National Weather Service Forecast Offices issue forecasts out 7 days. Rather than give specific weather forecast beyond this time frame, the Climate Prediction Center offers monthly outlooks. These outlooks show the areas of the country where above and below normal temperatures and precipitation are expected to occur.
Question 7 Can I request an NWS Wichita meteorologist to come talk to my class or function?
Yes, you can request a talk from an NWS Wichita meteorologist. Simply go to this page and fill out the form, or call our public line which is answered during normal administrative hours: 316-942-3102.
In addition to providing talks, we also have a series of weather DVDs you can have sent to you for free if you live in Kansas. Here is the website to order these DVDs.
Question 8 What are some of the most requested pages on your website?
Below are typically the most requested pages on our website (in no particular order):
* Our point and click forecast which is typically attained from clicking on the map on our main page.
* Our Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook
* Local F6 data
Question 9 What employment opportunities are available with the National Weather Service, and what would be the best kind of college courses to take for these jobs?
Most occupations with the National Weather Service are either for people trained in meteorology, atmospheric sciences, climatology, hydrology or related fields. Jobs available with the NWS are posted at: http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/a9noaa.asp
Question 10 How can I/my group get a tour of the NWS in Wichita?
Tours of the NWS Wichita are available. We have given tours to boy scouts, church groups, families, school tours and folks that are just interested in weather . To set one up either email us at: w-ict.webmaster@noaa.gov , or call us at 316-942-3102.
Question 11 Are there volunteer opportunities for students at the NWS in Wichita?
Yes there are volunteer opportunities at the NWS Wichita. These opportunities range from summer volunteers to shadowing a forecaster for a day. For additional information on volunteering at the NWS Wichita, email us at: w-ict.webmaster@noaa.gov , or call us at 316-942-3102.
