N. Webster NWS Office Conducts Grand Opening
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH WEBSTER - The skies were clear and the temperatures were warm Wednesday.
Appropriate atmospheric conditions for the opening of the National Weather Service's newest weather forecast office.
Michael Sabones, joined by local and federal elected officials, NWS representatives and area media, celebrated the new facility with a dedication ceremony.
"It's just great to be in this new building," he said. "I can't say enough for my staff and the job they were able to do in very cramped conditions."
The Northern Indiana Weather Office has been housed in temporary quarters at the doppler radar site between North Webster and Syracuse on Ind. 13.
"This is the culmination of eight years of hard work," said Rep. Tim Roemer, (D-Dist. 3). "We are now able to provide the citizens of northern Indiana the safety the advanced technology this office offers in forecasting the weather for 37 counties in three states."
The Northern Indiana Weather Office is equipped with the state-of-the-art Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System, according to Sabones. The system allows the NWS meteorologists the ability to bring all available resources into making accurate weather predictions.
"The AWIPS allows us to integrate various information platforms - radar, satellite imagery, and weather maps - to make better forecasts," Sabones said. "When Grissom Air Force Base closed, there was a question if northern Indiana, southern Michigan and northwestern Ohio could be adequately covered by existing weather offices.
"The opening of the office is a testament to the NWS and its commitment to the people of this area," he added.
The weather offices will be responsible for a 125-mile radius of the North Webster office, Sabones said. It joins a system of 122 other forecasting offices and 300 observing offices in the lower 48 states, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and Puerto Rico.
According to Jack May, acting director for the central region of the National Weather Service, Wednesday's dedication is just another step in the NWS strategic plan to provide the United States the most up-to-date technology in forecasting weather for public safety and the health of agriculture.
"The NWS took your concerns to heart when they decided to bring this office to this area," he said.
The office and its 22 employees will provide northern Indiana with 24-hour weather coverage, which, according to Roemer, will make the area a safer place to live.
"With this office, some child may be struck on the side of the road because he was out waiting on a school bus that never showed because of severe winter weather," he said. "With this office lives will be saved because there will be plenty of warning given of severe weather, such as tornadoes and severe thunderstorms." [[In-content Ad]]
NORTH WEBSTER - The skies were clear and the temperatures were warm Wednesday.
Appropriate atmospheric conditions for the opening of the National Weather Service's newest weather forecast office.
Michael Sabones, joined by local and federal elected officials, NWS representatives and area media, celebrated the new facility with a dedication ceremony.
"It's just great to be in this new building," he said. "I can't say enough for my staff and the job they were able to do in very cramped conditions."
The Northern Indiana Weather Office has been housed in temporary quarters at the doppler radar site between North Webster and Syracuse on Ind. 13.
"This is the culmination of eight years of hard work," said Rep. Tim Roemer, (D-Dist. 3). "We are now able to provide the citizens of northern Indiana the safety the advanced technology this office offers in forecasting the weather for 37 counties in three states."
The Northern Indiana Weather Office is equipped with the state-of-the-art Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System, according to Sabones. The system allows the NWS meteorologists the ability to bring all available resources into making accurate weather predictions.
"The AWIPS allows us to integrate various information platforms - radar, satellite imagery, and weather maps - to make better forecasts," Sabones said. "When Grissom Air Force Base closed, there was a question if northern Indiana, southern Michigan and northwestern Ohio could be adequately covered by existing weather offices.
"The opening of the office is a testament to the NWS and its commitment to the people of this area," he added.
The weather offices will be responsible for a 125-mile radius of the North Webster office, Sabones said. It joins a system of 122 other forecasting offices and 300 observing offices in the lower 48 states, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and Puerto Rico.
According to Jack May, acting director for the central region of the National Weather Service, Wednesday's dedication is just another step in the NWS strategic plan to provide the United States the most up-to-date technology in forecasting weather for public safety and the health of agriculture.
"The NWS took your concerns to heart when they decided to bring this office to this area," he said.
The office and its 22 employees will provide northern Indiana with 24-hour weather coverage, which, according to Roemer, will make the area a safer place to live.
"With this office, some child may be struck on the side of the road because he was out waiting on a school bus that never showed because of severe winter weather," he said. "With this office lives will be saved because there will be plenty of warning given of severe weather, such as tornadoes and severe thunderstorms." [[In-content Ad]]