We're Celebrating our 25th Anniversary in Lincoln!

Sunday, September 27th marks our 25 year anniversary of full-time operations in Lincoln.

Weather balloon observations had begun in February of 1995, but because that was the only function of the office at the time, our office was initially only open part time. It wasn't until September 27, 1995, that the equipment and operations of the Springfield and Peoria NWS offices were relocated to Lincoln, and we began operations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We took over aviation forecasts for central Illinois from the Chicago NWS office in April 1996, and public forecasts in July 1999.

The first employee of our office was Ernie Goetsch, who was named the Meteorologist in Charge in 1994, while the office was still under construction. He remains the only Meteorologist in Charge we have had. Four other staff members have also been here for the last 25 years.

Click here for a pictorial history of our office.

25th anniversary image