by Jessica Gregg McNew, DisasterRelief.org Writer
New technology has made weather forecasting easier in recent years. But it hasn't replaced the eyes and ears of the volunteer storm spotters who track severe storms for the National Weather Service.
At the Weather Service's New Braunfels office in Texas, meteorologists are able identify and issue warnings for 90 to 95 percent of the severe storms that blow through the central part of the state each year.
That's a high percentage of storms, especially since only 10 years ago, the Weather Service aimed for a goal of identifying 60 percent or more of severe storms, says warning and coordination meteorologist Larry Eblen.
The improvement is due in part to Doppler radar, but also to the storm spotters who hit the streets and watch the skies when the Weather Service forecasts bad weather.
In Eblen's view, the trained spotters are indispensable, since they provide on-the-scene, up-to-date information that backs up other Weather Service technologies such as radar and satellite.
One example occurred last year when a supercell -- a severe storm system that can easily spawn tornadoes -- sped across Central Texas on May 27. The National Weather Service quickly alerted the Travis County Emergency Services Department, which alerted storm spotters in the county, says Pete Baldwin, Director of the Emergency Management Division.
As Doppler radar began to pick up tornadic activity, so did the spotters, who confirmed twister sightings. With that information, the Emergency Services Department stepped up its response to handle the crisis and better help residents, Baldwin says.
The storm system generated an F-4 tornado that remained on the ground for six miles near Pedernales and caused extensive damage. It also spawned an F-5 tornado, the strongest type of twister there is, which killed 27 people in the nearby town of Jarrell.
When a deadly weather event like that occurs, every detail is important and emergency crews must act fast, Baldwin says. That's why it's to so valuable to have people in the field, describing what they see.
"We have every confidence in the new technology, but there is nothing better than a trained spotter," Baldwin says.
Last week, when Doppler radar indicated that a twister was forming in Travis County, storm spotters reported no sightings of funnel clouds or damage, quickly putting to rest any unnecessary response and alleviating residents' fears, Baldwin says.
That kind of information "gives us more credibility. It provides us with another level of information so we know how to respond," he adds.
A network of up to 1,500 weather buffs, concerned citizens and amateur radio enthusiasts are part of the Central Texas storm spotters program and scan the skies above 33 counties. Many are volunteer firefighters, career rescue workers or police officers who became involved in helping the Weather Service through their own work.
Others are licensed amateur radio operators who provide important communications during a time of a disaster.
"We are excited about working with them because they are extremely technically capable. They are the most resourceful human beings on the earth. ... They are the ultimate techno-crats," Eblen says.
Here's how the program works. When severe weather looms, the Weather Service will issue a watch or warning and then activate the storm spotters in the threatened area. In rural areas, the spotters will travel to a designated site and report what they see. In a more populated area, he or she may simply report from home.
All kinds of facts are important to the meteorologists back at the New Braunfels office and to emergency services managers. Spotters describe the size of any hail they see -- pea-size or larger is a sure indication of a severe system. They also report heavy winds, especially winds that rip off tree limbs or even uproot trees.
In addition, they look for heavy rain and reports of standing water in low-lying areas. Although Texas is synonymous with tornadoes, flash flooding is a big problem and occurs after about half of the severe storms in Central Texas.
Of course, storm spotters also keep a lookout for funnel clouds and wall clouds, which are low-hanging clouds under the base of a thunderstorm. Another ominous cloud formation is the flanking line storm, a rapidly building storm tower at the end of a storm system.
All of this information is reported to meteorologists through an amateur radio operator who works out of the Weather Service office when the storm spotters are activated.
Ray Taylor, an amateur radio operator who became a storm spotter seven years ago, trains other radio operators in emergency communications and often works out of the Weather Service office when alerted. He says it's volunteer work he really enjoys.
When the deadly tornadoes hit Central Texas last May, he and his wife were returning from a friend's house and Taylor, who has communications equipment in his van, hit the streets to immediately offer his help.
It's that kind of dedication that has made the storm spotters program such a great resource, according to Baldwin.
"I can't say enough about the storm spotters," he says.