PAnews.com, Port Arthur, Texas

Communities

Related Photos

  • Warning Coordination Meteorologist Roger Erickson looks at weather forecast equipment at the National Weather Service in Lake Charles. Morgan Jones

    hurricane

Discussion

June 1, 2010

Being prepared now could save your life

Mary Meaux The Port Arthur News

LAKE CHARLES, La. — A 1-foot thick wall inside the kitchen at the National Weather Service-Lake Charles is the first indication that its meteorologists are prepared for some of the worst possible conditions.

Farther inside, five work stations — each featuring multiple computer screens — monitoring atmospheric conditions 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Roger Erickson, warning coordinator meteorologist, points out the three panel graphic display screens and a fourth screen for text alerts covering 16 Louisiana parishes and six Texas counties plus 60 miles offshore.

Erickson has been pretty busy of late visiting business and industry in both states in a bid to bring about awareness to the 2010 hurricane season.

The high-tech equipment panned out thousands of miles to a hemispheric picture of the coast of Africa, the area where tropical disturbances are born.

“There are pros and cons to this,” Erickson said. “Seeing something two weeks ahead, the con is ‘where is it going to go? To the Gulf? The east coast?’”

Under normal conditions, when a disturbance is far from any land mass, updates are made periodically. As the situation changes updates are more frequent and as a storm approaches updates are made every 15 minutes, then every five minutes.

While the forecast coverage area currently experiences drought conditions, a small shower popped up on one of the screens. With swift fingers Erickson zeroed in on an area near Buna, broke down different weather elements and created a projectory. With that information a warning could be issued within one minute had the minor shower turned out to be threatening.

This scenario plays out daily at the NWS and is ramped up when necessary.

Text Only
Communities
Subscribe today
Community Photos
CMS.jpg

Courtesy Photo
The Central Middle School Band capped off a successful year by competing in the Solo and Ensemble Contest on May 5th. Forty-eight students brought home 66 medals.  Band members who won honors are: Danny Abdullah, Syrina Akbari, Abigail Albright, Max Barclay, Joel Bardwell, Jordan Bardwell, Brandon Baumgardner, Anthony Bennett, James Brindza, Cullen Cessna, Vanessa Daigle, Collin Elliott ,Dyan Emerson, Cyle Hubbard, Colin Jackson, Jennifer Jones, Jordan Jones, Jase Keel, Jessica Koons, Marissa Licatino, Todd Luke, Kade McCorvy, Jordan Mitchell, Kelby Myers, Mason Ouzts, Sara Pierce, Kayla Prestridge, Daniela Rodriguez, Noah Ross, Shae Sanders, Chandler Smith, Brian Speight, Erin Stilley, Arriana Torres and Tommy Truong Central's Band Directors are Joe Vargas and Michelle Melancon. On May 15th, the Band will hold its final performances of the year. They will play in Central's auditorium at 9 AM. Later that evening, they will be part of the Nederland ISD Band Pageant at the Performing Arts Center.  

Video
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium 50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
Facebook
Sports Tweets
  • Sports tweets

    Anonymous The Port Arthur News Tue, May 31
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com