Jill Szwed from WLEX Visits NWS Louisville for Weather Simulation

Jill Szwed, a new meteorologist at WLEX in Lexington, participated in our Partners Operational Weather Simulation (POWS) program at NWS Louisville on Tuesday, May 16th. The training, conducted on our Weather Event Simulator (WES), is designed to give our partners a firsthand experience of what it is like to be responsible for issuing potentially life-saving warnings as the radar analyst for a past severe weather event. After each major hazardous weather event in our area, we archive the data so that we can train on the event later.

After a briefing to discuss the environmental setting, current radar trends, WES knobology, and how to issue a warning, Jill was on her own to analyze data and issue warnings for severe thunderstorms and/or tornadoes as needed. The simulation included receiving reports as thunderstorms raced through the area, similar to real time on the day of the event.

In the image below, Jill Szwed analyzes radar data on the WES while NWS Louisville Lead Forecaster Ryan Sharp monitors her progress. Jill at one point noted that we were not getting reports about a certain storm she was analyzing. In her words, "It would be a good time for a storm report to come in. I'm sure you all (at NWS) are like we are, just waiting for a good report to come in." When we are debating about issuing another warning for a storm system, just hearing a report of a tree down could help us make a decision that will save people's lives downstream!

We hope more of our TV friends from Lexington, Bowling Green, Evansville, and Louisville, as well as other NWS partners, take advantage of this exciting opportunity!