There is a long and distinguished history of weather observations, reports, and forecasts from the National Weather Service/US Weather Bureau in Topeka, Kansas. This history extends back to the 1850s and spans numerous locations, duties, responsibilities, and personnel.

The earliest known Topeka weather records were made by volunteer observers beginning in 1858 and continued intermittently through 1877. The observations were made with the aid and guidance of the Smithsonian Institution, and are still on file in the National Archives. From January 1878 to May 1887, daily temperature and precipitation records were kept in cooperation with the U.S. Army Signal Service by Professor J. T. Lovewell of Washburn College.

On June 1, 1887, a First Order Station of the U. S. Army Signal Service, was established in Rice Hall on the Washburn College campus with Sergeant J. B. Jennings in charge of the station and staff. Weather records begun this day in 1887 for Topeka continue to the present. In 1890, Congress passed the Organic Act, establishing the U. S. Weather Bureau as a civilian agency under the Department of Agriculture, taking over duties of the Signal Service.

Eighty years later, in October of 1970, the Weather Bureau was renamed the National Weather Service, an agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Throughout the years, the Weather Bureau, and later National Weather Service, occupied several locations in Topeka before settling at the current location in 1976 at 1116 NE Strait Avenue on the northwest edge of Billard Municipal Airport:

1887 - 1892 Rice Hall at Washburn College

1892 - 1908 Columbian Building (Knox Building), 112 W. 6th St

1908 - 1918 Mulvane Building, 6th and Kansas Ave

1918 - 1933 New England Building, 5th and Kansas Ave

1933 - 1959 Federal Building (Post Office), 5th and Kansas Ave

1944 - Present Phillip Billard Municipal Airport (3 locations)

The “Official“ observation site for Topeka was transferred to the airport location from downtown on August 14, 1946, with comparative and climatological records kept at the Post Office building until April 1959.

There have been only nine Meteorologists-in-Charge since 1887 for weather offices in the Topeka area, with two of the officials serving over 30 years.

Some milestone events in the history of the Topeka National Weather Service office:

Below are photos of our office, equipment, and staff in action! Our staff perform a wide variety of duties, ranging from everyday forecasts and weather support to equipment installation and maintenance. We take part in various outreach events throughout the year in addition to conducting scientific studies and presentations.

Maintaining one of our many cooperative observer stations across the region.	Several meteorologists helping girls at a Women in Science seminar.	An electronics technician working on the radar pedestal.	Launching a weather balloon.

Installing a river gauge on a local bridge.	A meteorologist working on a forecast using the AWIPS computer system.	The KTWX radar located near Alma, KS has been scanning the skies over NE Kansas since 1995.	Children launching a weather balloon during an open house.

Presenting severe weather research at a local conference.	A welcome sign at our open house in 2016.	A meteorologist demonstrating warning operations.	Showing the public how floods can occur using a hydrologic model.

One of five Automated Surface Observation Systems (ASOS) across NE Kansas.	Taking a rainfall observation at the office, one of four measurements taken each day.	Staff conducting an office tour during an open house.	A meteorologist teaching about lightning to girls during a Women in Science Day class.

The upper air shelter at the NWS office, which houses the equipment needed to launch a weather balloon.	Technicians working on an ASOS site.	Technicians raising the wind tower on an ASOS site.	The public lining up to take an office tour during our open house in 2016.

NWS partners set up outdoor booths for the office's open house.	A crowd gathers for the launching of a weather balloon during the open house.	A technician working on an observation site.	An office staff member running a tornado machine for a group of children.

NWS partners set up outdoor booths for the office's open house.	Educating the general public at a local mall during severe weather awareness week.	Teaching young girls about how thunderstorms form.	A meteorologist presenting on tornado risk communication.

The KTWX WSR-88D radar near Alma in the morning hours.	An NWS booth at a local mall during the Kansas severe weather awareness week.	Preparing a radiosonde for flight on a weather balloon.	The old WSR-74 radar tower still stands next to the office, though it was decommissioned in 1995.

Our office biannual newsletter, the "Topeka Tiller", was replaced by an annual stakeholders report in 2023. The report is put together by the forecast office staff after the conclusion of the calendar year and is published in the first 1 to 2 months of the new year. It is intended to be a summary of highlights from the past year, including but not limited to local events, climate information, and upcoming activities. Articles will also feature the programs and techniques used by the NWS Topeka to keep the public informed and safe.

There are many opportunities that exist at the National Weather Service for college students to gain valuable work experience, both as paid employees and as unpaid volunteers. In fact, many current NWS employees began their careers by having participated in such programs themselves while in school. These opportunities provide potential employees an early start to building a foundation within the field of meteorology and a step toward a successful NWS career. Many managers throughout the NWS look for recent graduates with actual NWS experience when hiring new employees. It is also a great way for recent graduates to receive positive recommendations to hiring managers by being able to list NWS personnel as references.

Position Descriptions

Student Volunteer (Unpaid)

The National Weather Service in Topeka offers unpaid training opportunities for University of Kansas and University of Missouri college students majoring in meteorology or atmospheric science. Students have an opportunity to explore their career options, learn about the National Weather Service, and develop both professional and personal skills. The volunteer program at the NWS in Topeka introduces students to warning and forecast operations, hydrology, data acquisition, aviation and fire weather, research meteorology, graphics production, and decision support services.

Each position lasts for one semester with the student volunteering at the office two days per week for four hours each day (summer schedules may differ). Towards the end of the volunteer experience, the student may choose to work for eight hours once per week to gain the experience of working a full shift. Independent study credit may be earned through an agreement between the NWS and the student’s university. The application deadline for the spring semester is in early November while application deadline for the summer and fall semesters will be in April.

NOTE: Students will not be paid for their volunteer experience at the office.

Requirements:

The National Weather Service in Topeka is looking for highly motivated self-starters who desire career experience to enhance their academic course of study.

Students interested in applying for the student volunteer program should fill out this Application. Completed forms and supporting documents or questions about the program should be emailed to: w-top.webmaster@noaa.gov.

Job Shadow Opportunities (Unpaid)

Job shadow opportunities exist on a limited basis for a period of 2 to 4 hours for students of all grade levels. If you are a student interested in a job shadow opportunity, please email chad.omitt@noaa.gov for more information.

Pathways Student Employment Program (Paid)

The most common form of paid employment opportunities for students in the NWS is through the newly developed Pathways Program. This program is designed for both undergraduates and graduate students and offers participants formal periods of work experience directly related to their academic field of study. Participants may be eligible for permanent employment without competition after successfully completing their education and work requirements. Guidelines and the number of openings are determined on a regional and national scale, and are subject to budgetary limitations.

There is no set schedule for the announcement of NWS Pathways openings at this time. Therefore check the USAJobs website frequently for any updates or openings in the Pathways Program within the NWS. They will be listed under the GS-1399 Series and usually graded a 03/04.

Application Guidelines (Note: Official guidelines can be found in each job announcement.)

Additional information is available at the USAJobs Pathways page

The NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program (Paid)

Undergraduate students may apply for NOAA's Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship. Once a year NOAA solicits applications for a scholarship program in honor of retired South Carolina Sen. Ernest F. Hollings, who promoted oceanic and atmospheric research throughout his career.

Scholarship students will be eligible for awards that include academic assistance (up to a maximum of $9,500) for full-time study during the 9-month academic year; a 10-week, full-time internship position ($700/week) during the summer at a NOAA or partner facility; and academic assistance (up to a maximum of $9,500) for full-time study during a second 9-month academic year. The internship between the first and second years of the award provides the Scholars with "hands-on"/practical educational training experience in NOAA-related science, research, technology, policy, management, and education activities. Awards include travel funds to attend and participate in a mandatory orientation and conferences where students present a paper or poster. In addition, the scholarship student may receive a housing subsidy for scholars who do not reside at home during the summer internship. The application period usually begins in September and closes by the end of January.

Applications for the Hollings Scholarship Program are available online, by e-mail at StudentScholarshipPrograms@noaa.gov, by telephone to (301) 628-2913, or by mail to:

NOAA Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program
NOAA/Office of Education
1315 East-West Highway, Room 10734
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Permanent Employment with the NWS (Paid)

The meteorologist positions at the NWS are graduated both in responsibility and pay. The entry level position is known as a Meteorologist Intern. At times, a new graduate may apply for the next level up which is the General Forecaster position, but most of these jobs are bid as "Status," which means you must already be within the agency to apply for the job. NWS jobs are on the General Schedule (GS) pay scale and range from GS-5 to GS-15 depending on the job. Intern jobs are the lowest grades on the scale with a new graduate usually obtaining a Meteorologist Intern position at the GS-5 grade. If you have a Master's Degree in Meteorology, you may be able to get an Meteorologist Intern job at a GS-7 grade. Meteorology jobs are listed on the USAjobs website under what is called a series number, which is 1340. Therefore, as a new graduate, you would want to search for 1340-GS5/7 NWS Meteorologist Intern job openings. If you have never visited their website, please visit the Tips page that includes a video for finding and applying for jobs in the Federal Government.

More Information on all NWS Careers

Office Tours

We offer office tours as an opportunity to showcase NWS services, provide education, and give the public an opportunity to visit their local NWS office. Do you have a group interested in an office tour? If so, please see the guidelines below:

Tour guidelines:

If you are interested in scheduling a tour, please contact Chad Omitt, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, at 785-234-2592 or email Chad.Omitt@noaa.gov. Please provide the following information with your request:

Restrictions:

Outreach Events

A limited number of in-person outreach and preparedness events are offered each year. Requests for outreach events often include: civic groups requesting a lunch speaker about severe weather safety, a school career day, a school severe weather talk, a booth at a safety fair, senior living centers, conferences, and many other groups.

Outreach requests are granted using the following guidelines:

If you are interested in scheduling an outreach event, please contact Chad Omitt, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, at 785-234-2592 or email Chad.Omitt@noaa.gov

Spotter training and dispatcher training are considered mission critical and are scheduled through county emergency managers or other officials.

Restrictions and terms: