Weather Workshop 2012

This seminar series is presented by operational meteorologists from the National Weather Service Forecast offices in Seattle and Spokane, Washington, Portland and Medford, Oregon, and the National Weather Service Unit co-located with Seattle ARTCC.

Each meteorologist has been routinely involved in forecasting the weather over the Pacific Northwest for many years, including forecasts for the general Public, Aviation, Marine, Fire Weather users, and for Hydrology.

Presented with the support of the National Weather Service

All seminars for the Weather Workshop occur in the Founders Room
Classes begin at 9:15 AM

2012 Workshop Outline:

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Seminar Time: 10:30 AM Saturday, February 25th, 2012

Aviation Weather Center Overview with a focus on Airmet Production

Presenter: Liam Lynam, Aviation Meteorologist, Aviation Weather Center, National Weather Service, located in Kansas City, MO.

Seminar Description:

A seminar on what the Aviation Weather Center (AWC) provides to the aviation community. The discussion will focus on products the AWC provides on a routine basis with a focus on how Airmets are produced over the CONUS.

Presenter Bio:

Liam Lynam is an Aviation Meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Aviation Weather Center, located in Kansas City, MO. Mr. Lynam’s government career began in 2003 with the United States Air Force after receiving a B.S. degree in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington. While on active duty he was a Lead Meteorologist at Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, Alaska; deputy weather flight commander, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, providing spot weather forecasts to aviators over Southeastern Europe and Southwest Asia, and finally the training flight commander for the 15th Operational Weather Squadron at Scott AFB, IL (just outside St. Louis, MO). Liam also found time during his military career to complete a Master's Degree in Meteorology at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. He left the USAF in 2011 and joined the AWC as an Aviation Meteorologist during the winter of 2011.

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Seminar Time: 1:00 PM Saturday, February 25th, 2012

Inland Northwest Flying Weather

Presenter: Michael Fries, Meteorologist, National Weather Service, Spokane, WA

Seminar Description:

Flying conditions often change drastically east of the Cascades. In this presentation, we will explore the varied weather phenomena east of the Cascades such as snow, freezing precipitation, and fog. The phenomena will be examined with special attention to their effects on the aviation community.

Presenter Bio:

Mike Fries came west after completing a B.S. degree in Meteorology at Saint Louis University in 2002, a M.S. degree in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2004, and working for the National Centers for Environment Prediction in Camp Springs, MD, through 2006. Since 2006, Mike has been at the National Weather Service in Spokane working as the aviation focal point throughout his time in Spokane.

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3:30 PM Saturday, February 25th, 2012

Reading RADAR: A Primer for Pilots

Presenter: Clinton Rockey, Meteorologist, National Weather Service, Portland, Oregon

Do you find that interpreting a radar image is similar to a finding Waldo game? No more. This seminar will focus on the basics of the National Weather Service doppler radar. Will cover basics of radar and how radar works, as well as limitations of the radar capabilities. In additions, learn how to recognize various weather phenomena, and hidden messages for pilots, on doppler radar images. Emphasis will be on the effect of these phenomena on the aviation community.

Presenter Bio:

I am Clinton Rockey, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service forecast office in Portland, Oregon. I grew up and lived in Kansas (25 years), experiencing all kinds of weather. After graduation from the University of Kansas, I moved to Boston. After a short four year stint in Boston, I relocated to Eugene, Oregon to start my forecasting career with the National Weather Service as a weather observer. Since 1995, I have been stationed at the forecast office in Portland, where I continue to forecast for marine and aviation, as well as for fire weather. I have been a pilot (VFR only) since 1997.

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11:30 AM Sunday, February 26th, 2012

Adverse Winds for Pilots

Presenter: Jim Vasilj, Meteorologist, ARTCC Center Weather Service Unit, Auburn, WA

Adverse winds are responsible for most weather-related accidents. Adverse winds include crosswind, gust, tailwind, variable wind, and sudden wind shift. Changes in winds can also cause a change of runway configuration and reduced arrival rates at airports.

Presenter Bio:

Jim Vasilj is a meteorologist with the Seattle Center Weather Service Unit, located at the FAA's Seattle ARTCC in Auburn, Washington. He has worked as a meteorologist at American Airlines and with the National Weather Service in New Orleans and Seattle. His aviation-related duties included briefing flight dispatchers, management, and air traffic controllers. He also has written terminal forecasts, aviation discussions, and issued icing, turbulence, and volcanic ash related warnings.

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2:30 PM Sunday, February 26th, 2012

All about ASOS

Presenter: Allen Kam, Meteorologist, National Weather Service, Seattle, WA

ASOS is the primary surface weather observation system that provides critical surface weather at airports for aviation. ASOS is an automated system that takes observations in a very different way than a weather observer taking a manual observation. These differences are important for pilots to understand in order to make optimal and safe use of the observation. This seminar also includes suggestions on how to interpret weather observations in conjunction with satellite and RADAR data.

Presenter Bio:

Allen Kam has been a meteorologist with the National Weather Service for over 25 years, with the last 19 years at the Seattle Forecast Office. He has been the Aviation Focal Point the entire time in Seattle as well as the liaison with Seattle Flight Service until it closed in January 2010. Allen earned his private pilot license in 1983 at Boeing Field and has kept flying ever since. He received a B.S. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington in 1984.