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Highlands Today

Weather Watchers

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By BILL RETTEW JR.

Highlands Today

Published: July 24, 2008

SEBRING - An appreciative audience "oohed" and "ahhed" while images of severe weather flashed on the screen.

The overflow crowd of more than 100 weather enthusiasts met at the Highlands County Emergency Operations Center on Wednesday.

They listened intently and watched closely to Daniel Noah, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Ruskin.

Noah is one of the staff meteorologists who "pushes the button" when the NWS issues severe weather advisories and warnings.

He visited Highlands County to train weather spotters. Noah's lecture covered weather safety, thunderstorm formation, severe weather cloud identification and reporting.

Potential weather spotters were trained to recognize weather threats in Florida (the lightning capital of North America and 4th most popular state for tornadoes), safety rules, and visual clues regarding wind and thunderstorm strength.

Noah said the turnout of new weather spotters on Wednesday was the most at 42 presentations in 15 counties during 2008.

John Shillady III, of Lake Placid, was there for a refresher course.

"We have big skies here and we can see weather all around us," said Shillady, about why he watches the weather so closely. "It's a good place to see all kinds of weather.

"The more aware you are on the weather around you, the better you are self-protected."

New volunteer sky watchers, Susan and Everett Finney, are curious weather watchers.

"When you're educated, you're less fearful," said Susan Finney. "We respect weather."

The federal government spends $3 per person, per year, to inform residents when severe weather threatens.
Weather spotters work hand and hand with the weather service to confirm hazardous weather, assist with present and future warning decisions and to provide verification for research.
Weather spotters compliment Doppler radar and other means of forecasting. When the weather turns foul, sky watchers call Noah and the team at Ruskin.

"We want you to be our eyes and ears," Noah told the group. "Tell us what's happening. Radar is great, but it doesn't tell us what is happening on the ground."

Shillady monitors the weather from his home and reports on rainfall daily at 7 a.m. He talked about his fascination with weather.

"It's nice to come in out of the rain before you get wet."

Bill Rettew Jr. may be contacted at 386-5857 or wrettew@highlandstoday.com

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