Tracie Harrison

Tracie Harrison

Course: Meteorology 1010-400

Instrutor: George Ramjoue

Date: July 5, 2014

WEATHER FORECASTING

Map issued 19:29Z on July 2, 2014 until 12:00Z Friday July 4, 2014

City: West Yellowstone, Montana, Station number KWYS

Airport Station: MT WEST YELLOWSTONE ICAO: KWYS  IATA: WYS

Lat: 44 40N / Long:111 07W 2025   X    W   8 US

Map interpretation

Isobars located over Montana are space 4 millibar interval at 1012 and 1008 representing the pressure.

A low pressure front air mass is moving from the Canadian and upper United States west coast towards a high pressure front settled over Idaho, Utah, Montana and Wyoming. As the colder low front moves more rapidly than the warm front, I interpret they would meet over western Montana. Warm air would be lifted producing cumulonimbus clouds and possible rain showers for July 4th.

CONDITION 48 Hours Later

Interpretation of METAR report

Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS):Output produced by METARs form (0005 UTC 05 July 2014) found at http://aviationweather.gov/adds/metars/KWYS 042350Z AUTO 22011G18KT 10SM CLR 28/03 A3016 RMK AO2

Airport is West Yellowstone, MT042350Z= Date 04th day at 2350 hours Zulu,

22011= Wind Direction 22 at speed 11 knots. 10SM= Visibility 10 Statute Miles.

CLR= Clear sky 28/03= Temperature 28 C dew point 3C

A3016= Altimeter is 30.16mm HG RMK= RemarksA02= Automated site with precipitation meter.

Doppler Rader Image 

Precipitation values on July 4, 2014, were between 0.1 to isolated 4.0 inches was recorded as predicted by NWS.

Source: http://water.weather.gov/images/spacer.gif

REFLECTION:

Daily I make choices affected by weather, normally what to wear, but also evening activities and making weekend plans. Meteorologists today use many available resource tools; radar, satellite image and humidity to interpret the weather. Predictions of weather can be subject to too many variables. Unexpected weather phenomenon such as fast moving fronts and changing wind conditions can affect a weather forecast.  Interpreting the weather is what meteorologist actually do on a daily bases. Weather that is interpreted is only as good as the source and interpreter. Even with the best information provided a prediction is only an educated guess.

Timely interpretation about severe weather can minimize damage and possible loss of life. Early storm warning systems are now being used in high severe weather areas.  Multiple industries rely on the ability to interpret weather from crop planning to avalanche control. Weather is involved in everything that we humans do and can control a countries economic when drought and flood plague a region.

Weather forecasting, I have learned is extremely difficult and takes skill and knowledge along with modern technology.