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<br />\' <br /> <br />B. WEATHER FORECASTING/OPERATIONAL PLANNING <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />Radio and television weather programs can provide a general <br />indication of expected storm development within the operational <br />area. Unfortunately, media information is insufficient in detail <br />to successfully conduct an operational weather modification program <br />in real-time. The Weather Channel does an excellent job of <br />presenting 24-hour non-stop television weather updating, including <br />radar and satellite data; this channel is monitored at by WKWM <br />personnel in their homes and other places. The WR"WM field office is <br />unable to receive The Weather Channel except at prohibitive costs. <br />However, a small TV set does provide access to the regular <br />networks' weather updates, advisories, alerts and occasional real- <br />time Doppler radar displays during storm periods. Any of the three <br />network broadcasts are helpful when monitored in the background <br />during operations. Their staff exhibits a high degree of <br />professionalism in providing the viewing public timely important <br />severe weather information. <br /> <br />I <br />I I <br /> <br />The WKWM meteorologist prepares the daily operational weather <br />forecasts at the the field office. Weather data are ~ransmitted to <br />us automatically via telecopier link from the company, JEPPFA.~. By <br />our using a computer and modern, another company, Weather Network, <br />Inc., gives us access to upper air data, station forecasts and <br />observations over a much larger region. Interim weather information <br />is obtained through the DUATS System, the governmental-funded <br />weather and flight planning service available to pilots; it is also <br />accessed via computer and modern. <br /> <br />Representative upper air information is obtained twice daily <br />from rawinsonde ascents launched by "Che National Weather Service at. <br />the Dodge City Regional Airport at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., CDT. Other <br />weather data are analyzed in more detail over larger geographical <br />areas at different levels of the atmosphere so we can track and <br />forecast the approach of meteorological phenomena capable of <br />causing severe weather development. <br /> <br />Pressure, temperature and humidity data are continuously <br />recorded on strip charts mounted on a microbarograph (pressure) <br />and, separately, to a hygrothermograph (temperature and humidity). <br />Data from them are invaluable in our short-term daily forecasting <br />effort. Long-term, the basic information obtained eventually will <br />add to our total knowledge of weather in this area. <br /> <br />Between 11:00 a.m. - ll:30 a.m., CDT, a daily forecas1: is <br />usually complete and an operational plan for the day formulated and <br />telephoned to the pilots at sites remote from Lakin. Operational <br />requirements, administrative work, etc., normally are arranged <br />either before or after the dissemination of the forecast. Fig. 3 <br />shows an idealized flow chart of our daily operations. <br /> <br />14 <br />