Visitors attend WFO Tallahassee's first WeatherFest (Photo: Bob Duggan, WFO Tallahassee)
(Jan. 17, 2009) - Working in concert with Florida State University's Department of Meteorology, the co-located forecast in Tallahassee presented its first ever WeatherFest. The day-long event was held in and outside of the university's Love Building, where public and private partners in meteorology and related fields were invited to set up information booths.
Activities included tours of the forecast office, exploration of the latest meteorology training tools, scientific and meteorological experiments, severe weather event simulations, weather safety presentations and weather balloon launches. Visitors had the opportunity to meet and interact with National Weather Service meteorologists and hydrologists, FSU Meteorology professors and students, and members of the Florida State Emergency Response Team on a variety of topics.
They could also explore the university's Mobile Doppler radar and tour emergency support vehicles, including the Florida Division of Emergency Management Mobile Command Vehicle. In addition, attendees had a chance to meet their favorite local meteorologists from television stations WCTV, WTXL, WALB and WJHG.
Despite starting on one of the coldest mornings the area has seen in nearly two years, an estimated crowd of 500 to 700 people attended.
"We were overwhelmed by the response and definitely plan to make WeatherFest a recurring event here in the Florida Big Bend," said Paul Duval, meteorologist-in-charge of the forecast office in Tallahassee.
Duval said the office is planning to hold its next WeatherFest sometime in 2010 or 2011.
NWS balloon launch atop FSU's Love Bldg. (Photo: Bob Duggan, WFO Tallahassee)
FSU Mobile Doppler radar (Photo: Bob Duggan, WFO Tallahassee)
FDEM Mobile Command Vehicle (Photo: Bob Duggan, WFO Tallahassee)