The Southern Plains Cyclone A Weather Newsletter from your Norman Forecast Office for the Residents of western and central Oklahoma and western north Texas We Make the Difference When it Matters Most! Volume 2 Summer 2004 Issue 3 Behind the Scenes at the Norman Forecast Office Meet Your Weatherman Cheryl Sharpe By Rick Smith, Warning Coordination Meteorologist The National Weather Service’s ther caused by the weather or made main mission is to provide information worse by the weather – tornadoes and to help save lives. This is the reason we severe thunderstorms, flooding, ice come to work everyday. We are part of a storms, blizzards, wildfires, and heat network of 122 local weather forecast waves, among others. But, did you offices that cover the entire United know that the Norman Forecast Office States, with each office responsible for a also plays a key role in assisting with specific group of counties. The people at non-weather related disasters? each of these offices work hard to pro- From the Murrah Building bombing vide the best local weather information in 1995 to wildfires and other non- possible. weather related emergencies, the NWS At the Norman Forecast Office, we provides support and information in a take this responsibility seriously and variety of situations. ¡Hola! I am Cheryl Sharpe, one of strive to be the best when it comes to pro- We are staffed 24 hours a day every- the general forecasters at the Norman viding information you can use to help day of the year with at least two people Forecast Office. In addition to my regu- make decisions, plan activities, or just on shift at all times to allow us to re- lar duties as a meteorologist, I also assist live your day-to-day life in Oklahoma spond. However, when there is a signifi- the Webmaster with articles for the office and north Texas. cant event, it takes many more people to website, answer e-mail addressed to the The main reason we are here is to provide the information and services you Webmaster – sometimes in Spanish!, and help manage significant events. Most do miscellaneous computer tasks. Dur- often, these events are ones that are ei- See Behind the Scenes on Page 6 ing my first several years at Norman, I actually worked primarily as a computer programmer, but now, my programming Fire Weather Services from NWS Norman activities are relegated to mostly minor applications and troubleshooting. By Scott Curl, Forecaster My path to this position was a long and twisty one. It all began with my in- The National Weather Service fore- and prescribed burn purposes. Forecasts terest in weather when I was growing up cast office in Norman provides continu- are subdivided either by county or into in central Illinois. The strong summer ous information to the fire fighting com- meteorologically similar zones. Some of thunderstorms fascinated me. However, munity across Oklahoma and western the weather elements that are forecast for I had many other competing interests, north Texas. The staff at the Norman the first three or four 12-hour periods are: and meteorology did not become a long- office provides the fire fighting commu- term interest until I was in my teens. nity a suite of fire weather products to • Cloud cover About that time, my hometown was hit help keep your land and property, as well • Precipitation type by a deadly F3 tornado. Earlier that as yourself and your family, safe year- • Precipitation chance same year was the very intense January round. The following is a summary of • Air temperature 10th, 1975 storm that brought quite a va- the products that the forecast office in • Humidity Norman provide to aid the fire weather riety of weather to the Midwest. Of • Wind speed and direction community in keeping you safe. course, the Super Outbreak of April 3rd ...The Fire and 4th, 1974 was still recent history. Fire Weather Forecast Beyond 36 to 48 hours, the forecasts con- Weather Forecast is a routine product After experiencing these events, I knew tain general guidance information. issued twice a day to provide forecasted what I wanted to after high school; I values of the weather parameters neces- See Fire Services on Page 2 See Weatherman on Page 6 sary to the fire community for planning The Southern Plains Cyclone Page 2 Fire Services: From Page 1 In Weather History: The Ten Year Anniversary Site-specific or Spot Forecasts... tremely dangerous and controlling fires of the Lahoma Storm Spot forecasts are a site-specific fire nearly impossible. When red flag condi- weather forecast product that usually tions exist, extreme fire behavior can be By Karen Trammell covers the next 24 to 36 hours. They in- expected with any fire that ignites. A Meteorologist Intern clude forecasted values of many of the Red Flag Warning will be issued immedi- same weather elements as the routine ately when there is high confidence that Fire Weather Forecasts but are valid for a Red Flag criteria have been or will be met The morning of August 17th, 1994 much smaller area. Spot Forecasts are within the next 24 hours. These criteria began pleasantly for residents of Okla- issued for wildfires, prescribed burns, are based on the state of the local vegeta- homa and western north Texas, but what smoke management, search and rescue tion, temperature, humidity, and wind began as a serene summer day on the operations, aerial spraying, and other speed. The warning is continued until Plains ended as anything but for many similar instances, and are available to any the critical fire weather pattern ends. residents of northern and central Okla- federal, state, or municipal agency at any Red Flag Fire Alerts...Red Flag Fire homa. Giant hail driven by winds in ex- time upon request. Alerts are issued by the Oklahoma De- cess of 100 miles per hour pounded Fire Weather Watch...Much like partment of Agriculture, Food, and For- homes and businesses across Major, when a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is estry if weather conditions favorable for Garfield, Kingfisher, and Canadian coun- issued to alert you when conditions are unusual or extreme burning conditions ties. Other severe thunderstorms also right for the development of severe thun- are occurring and are expected to con- affected residents of western Oklahoma derstorms, a Fire Weather Watch is is- tinue for a prolonged period. Red Flag and western north Texas, although not to sued to alert fire and land management Fire Alerts, which should not be con- the extreme extent as those to the north agencies that there is a high potential for fused with Red Flag Warnings, serve as an and east. conditions to become favorable for ex- advisory to the need for added safety pre- Thunderstorms were ongoing in treme fire behavior with any fire that ig- cautions prior to burning anything out- Kansas as the day broke on the 17th but nites within the next 24 to 72 hours. A doors. While the NWS is not explicitly early in the day, were not expected to af- Fire Weather Watch also means there is responsible for these alerts, forecasters fect Oklahoma or western north Texas. a high potential for the development of a are often consulted to gauge future However, these storms eventually moved Red Flag Warning to be issued in the weather conditions. State emergency into the area during the afternoon hours. subsequent 24 to 72 hour period. The management officials and the State Fire An outflow boundary from the initial watch remains in effect until it expires, is Marshal are also consulted prior to is- round of storms helped produce the even- canceled, or upgraded to a Red Flag sance of an alert. Information about Red ing storms in western Oklahoma and Warning. Flag Fire Alerts can be found at www.oda. western north Texas. Red Flag Warning...A Red Flag state.ok.us/redflag/forred.html. The worst severe weather and major- Warning is issued by the NWS when cur- Fire Danger Statement...Fire Dan- ity of the damage were produced by a rent or forecasted future conditions are ger Statements are issued when there is a single supercell thunderstorm that moved capable of making fighting fires ex- very high or extreme fire danger. Unlike south-southeastward along a path from the other fire weather products, which near Manchester to near El Reno during New National Weather are directed to fire and land management the early afternoon hours. As the storm agencies, this product is the only public first entered Oklahoma, penny-sized hail Service Radio fire weather product issued by the Nor- and wind gusts to 70 miles per hour were man forecast office. Very high and ex- reported in the Manchester area. The Transmitter On the Air treme fire danger conditions are deter- severity of the hail and wind reports soon mined based on greenness and dormancy grew to mammoth proportions. The city The eleventh National Weather Serv- of vegetation and forecast afternoon of Lahoma took a direct hit from the ice Radio transmitter in the Norman maximum temperature, afternoon mini- storm, as hail to 3 inches in diameter fell Forecast Office’s area of responsibility is mum relative humidity, and wind speed. and wind gusts to 113 miles per hour now broadcasting forecasts and state- Any Red Flag Fire Alerts or burning bans were measured. Remarkably, the thun- ments and ready to warn Oklahomans of that may be in effect are also included in derstorm winds were strong enough to threatening weather. The newest trans- the product. destroy the anemometer on the Okla- mitter, station WNG654 located in Still- The forecasters in Norman will be homa Mesonet’s weather observing sta- water, was officially brought on air at continuously monitoring the fire weather tion located just west of Lahoma.