Making a Weather Making a Weather
Forecast Forecast
Gunston Middle School Career Day Gunston Middle School Career Day
by Scott Handel
by Scott Handel
November 17, 2009
November 17, 2009
What causes weather?
What causes weather?
CLOUDS!!
How do Clouds Form?
How do Clouds Form?
Looking at the Current Weather Looking at the Current Weather
Visible Satellite ImageRadar Image Infrared Satellite Image
Looking at Computer Forecasts
Looking at Computer Forecasts
What do we forecast?
What do we forecast?
Thunderstorms
What do we forecast?
What do we forecast?
Lightning
What do we forecast?
What do we forecast?
Hail Hail
What can hail do?
What can hail do?
What do we forecast?
What do we forecast?
Flash Floods
What do we forecast?
What do we forecast?
Tornadoes
Tornado Damage
Tornado Damage
Hurricane Isabel making landfall on September 18, 2003
What do we forecast?
What do we forecast?
Hurricanes
Flooding from Hurricane Katrina
New Orleans, LA
What do we forecast?
What do we forecast?
Snowstorms
Final Forecast
Final Forecast
Why Become A Meteorologist?
Why Become A Meteorologist?
Weather Affects Everyone! Weather Affects Everyone!
Being Able to Predict the Weather Being Able to Predict the Weather Saves Lives!!!
Saves Lives!!!
How to Become A Meteorologist How to Become A Meteorologist
Take an interest in math and physics. Take an interest in math and physics.
Pursue higher education and internships Pursue higher education and internships
Become a weather watcher for your Become a weather watcher for your local TV station
local TV station
Visit your local weather service office Visit your local weather service office
Get familiar with weather forecasting Get familiar with weather forecasting tools: i.e. satellite and radar images tools: i.e. satellite and radar images
Observe your surroundings!!!! Observe your surroundings!!!!
More Information More Information
Current Forecasts Current Forecasts
• www.noaawatch.gov www.noaawatch.gov or or www.weather.gov
www.weather.gov
Online School for Weather Online School for Weather
• www.srh.weather.gov/jetstream/ www.srh.weather.gov/jetstream/
Fujita Tornado Damage Scale Fujita Tornado Damage Scale
Scale
Scale Wind Wind Estimate Estimate
(MPH) (MPH)
Typical Damage Typical Damage
F0 F0 < 73 < 73
Light – Some damage to chimneys, Light – Some damage to chimneys, branches broken, signs damaged.branches broken, signs damaged.
F1 F1 73-112 73-112
Moderate – Peels surface off roofs; mobile Moderate – Peels surface off roofs; mobile homes pushed off foundations orhomes pushed off foundations or overturned.
overturned.
F2 F2 113-157 113-157
Considerable – Roofs torn off frame Considerable – Roofs torn off framehouses, mobile homes demolished, large houses, mobile homes demolished, large trees snapped
trees snapped
F3 F3 158-206 158-206
Severe – Roofs and some walls torn off Severe – Roofs and some walls torn off well constructed homes, trainswell constructed homes, trains overturned
overturned
F4 F4 207-260 207-260
Devastating – Well-constructed homes Devastating – Well-constructed homes leveled; cars thrown and large missiles leveled; cars thrown and large missiles generatedgenerated
F5 F5 261-318 261-318
Incredible – Strong frame houses leveled Incredible – Strong frame houses leveled off foundation and swept away, trees off foundation and swept away, trees debarkeddebarked
