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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Where can I find current and historical weather data?
Q2. I am a teacher - what weather related educational materials are available on the Internet?
Q3. How do meteorologists calculate wind chill?
Q4. What are "degree days?"
Q5. 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?
Q6. How can I "tune-in" NOAA Weather Radio? How can I find out at what frequency the station in my area is broadcasting?
Q7. Is there an archive, history, whatever for exact location (latitude and longitude) of tornadoes that have been cited, reported, measured?
Q8. Is there somewhere I can purchase weather equipment to make my own weather observations?
Q9. Is there any way to find out which Weather Forecasting Office serves my area?
Q10. Can I visit my local NWS office?
Q11. What is Skywarn and is there an internet site where I can get information about Skywarn and the services offered?
Q12. Where can I find out about NOAA and the NWS' latest programs and accomplishments?
Q13. Are there any sites on the internet that provide information on natural disasters?
Q14. Is there a UV Index on the internet?
Q15. What is a good location to find Television Weather information?
Q16. What is a "White-Out?"
Q17. What is a "cotton region shelter" and are there NWS specifications and associated drawings for this item?

Q1. Where can I find current and historical weather data?

A. One central web site you should check for current weather and data products at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/pa/climate_data.php

You can get current forecasts and other weather information through the NWS Interactive Weather Information Network at: http://www.weather.gov/

All of the weather data gathered by the U.S. can be found through NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, NC. They have a home page at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov, or you can call them at 828-271-4800.

You may also want to contact your state climatologist. For a state-by-state list of these offices, go to http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/stateclimatologists.html and find Meteorology FAQ part 7/7


Q2. I am a teacher - what weather related educational materials are available on the Internet?

A. You can find some education materials on the NOAA Public Affairs Home Page -- http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov

NOAA's Education Resource page is designed to help students, teachers, librarians and the general public access the many of NOAA's educational activities, publications, and booklets. Go to: http://www.education.noaa.gov/

Other weather education sites include:
American Meteorological Society: http://64.55.87.13/amsedu/
USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wteach.htm
WeatherEye: http://weathereye.kgan.com/lounge/plans/other_projects.html

The NOAA library is another source you may want to check: http://www.lib.noaa.gov


Q3. How do meteorologists calculate wind chill?

A. The National Weather Service's Wind Chill chart, equation and calculator can found at http://www.weather.gov/om/windchill/index.shtml


Q4. What are "degree days?"

A. Heating and cooling degree days are calculated by using the average temperature for the day, the high + low, and subtracting the average or mean temperature from the number 65 for heating degree days or subtracting 65 from the average for cooling degree days. The number 65 is used as the base number because most buildings and homes would be most comfortable and energy efficient at or around 65 degrees.

Example: On a summer day the high was 90 and the low 70. The average is 80. 80 (average) - 65 (base) = 15 cooling degree days. It reflects how much power people should be using on the average to cool, in this case their homes/businesses. Take those daily cooling degree days and you can have daily/monthly or annual averages.

Example: On a winter day the high was 40 and the low was 0. 65 (base) - 20 (average) = 45 heating degree days.


Q5. 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?

A5. 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

For more specifics on careers in meteorology and recommended college course work, check out the American Meteorological Society's web site at: http://atm.geo.nsf.gov/AMS/

The National Weather Association web site also lists information on careers in meteorology: http://www.nwas.org.html

The AMS has extensive career information on their site: http://www.ametsoc.org/atmoscareers/index.html


Q6. How can I "tune-in" NOAA Weather Radio? How can I find out what frequency the station in my area is broadcasting at?

A6. You can find the location and frequency of your nearest NOAA Weather Radio transmitter by using the index located on the NWS Home Page at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrbro.htm#nwrstations


Q7. Is there an archive, history, whatever for exact location (latitude and longitude) of tornadoes that have been cited, reported, measured?

A7. The NWS Storm Prediction Center tornado data archive contains latitude/longitude information for tornado segments (tornadoes crossing county lines are broken into one segment per county), for the years 1950-1995, by state or territory. This information can be accessed on the internet at: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/archive


Q8. Is there somewhere I can purchase weather equipment to make my own weather observations?

A8. Entering "weather equipment" into an Internet search engine should yield many companies that sell thermometers, anemometers, rain gauges and much more.


Q9. Is there any way to find out which Weather Forecasting Office serves my area?

A9. Go to the following Web site and click on your area on the map of the United States to go to the NWS Forecast Office in your area: http://www.weather.gov


Q10. Can I visit my local NWS office?

A10. Visiting your local NWS Forecasting Office is something that is not only allowed, but encouraged. Unfortunately, there are times when this might not be possible. As you know, NWS offices are very busy places, especially during severe weather events. However, we understand that many people may want to have access to the offices at those times. The Internet has made it possible for our offices to distribute critical information to a wide audience quickly.

Even though no office can permit unlimited access to their facility, especially during severe weather events when the potential for disruptions to operations is high, some offices can arrange for people to visit their offices or to observe severe weather operations on a limited basis. It would be necessary for you to clear any visits you wish to make with the warning coordination meteorologist (WCM) or meteorologist in charge (MIC) of the specific office that interests you.

The NWS is usually able to accommodate an individual's request to see the office, but would like to set this set up in advance as much as possible. We can often accommodate unannounced "walk-ins", but they are at the visitor's "own risk". The NWS does not schedule formal tours from March 15 through June 15th because of severe weather demands.


Q11. What is Skywarn and is there an internet site where I can get information about Skywarn and the services offered?

A11. Skywarn is the National Weather Service (NWS) program of trained volunteer severe weather spotters. Skywarn Spotters support their local community and government by providing the NWS and there local emergency managers with timely and accurate severe weather reports. These reports, when integrated with modern NWS technology, are used to inform communities of the proper actions to take as severe weather threatens. For more details on the Skywarn program, go to: http://www.skywarn.org/


Q12. Where can I find out about NOAA and the NWS' latest programs and accomplishments?

A12. For the latest news and information from NOAA and the NWS, you may visit their public affairs Web sites at www.noaa.gov and http://www.nws.noaa.gov/pa/ , respectively.


Q13. Are there any sites on the internet that provide information on natural disasters?

A13. A number of Web Sites provide access to natural disaster information, including real time weather and geophysical warnings:

USGS: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/


Q14. Is there a UV Index on the internet?

A14. The Ultraviolet Index is available at a couple of different sites. These are:
http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/us/ultraviolet.html
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/uv_index/uv_current.html


Q15. What is a good location to find Television Weather information?

A15. Television Weather sites exist on the Internet in many locations. One of the really comprehensive sites available on the Internet now is the TVWeather site. It includes timely updates, graphics, and even real-time satellite images. The address to this site is: http://www.tvweather.com/


Q16. What is a "White-Out?"

A17. 'White-out' is the term used often to describe any condition during snowfall that severely restricts visibility. In the Glossary of Weather and Climate published by the American Meteorological Society, a whiteout is defined as "an atmospheric optical phenomenon of the polar regions in which the observer appears to be engulfed in a uniformly white glow as a result of a lack of contrast between an overcast sky and an unbroken snow cover. Neither shadows, horizon, nor clouds are discernable; sense of depth and orientation is lost; dark objects in the field of view appear to "float" at an indeterminable distance."


Q17. What is a "cotton region shelter" and are there NWS specifications and associated drawings for this item?

A18. The "Cotton Region Shelter" (it might be better known as an instrument shelter) is a wooden shelter built to stand approximately four feet above the ground and constructed with slats to allow for airflow but to protect instruments from precipitation. It normally housed thermometers (wet and dry bulb, max and min) and assorted other types of meteorological instruments. The shelter protected sensors and other instruments against errors and damage due to solar radiation, wind, and precipitation. It comes in several different models, stand along (large, small), and wall mounts.

Size: 30"W x 20"D x 32"H (762 x 508 x 813)mm

Metal legs: 60"L (1.5m)
Wooden legs: 48"L (1.2m)

Weight/shipping:
Enclosure: 70lbs/75lbs (32kg/34kg)
Metal legs:10lbs/15lbs (4.5kg/6.8kg)


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  Page last modified: 30-Oct-2007 11:24 AM