Weather Observer Org

27/06 :  Forecasting

   To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Tesmond Hurd and I am the lead forecaster at the La Grande Weather Service.
You probably haven't heared of this company before. You can check out our website,
after I tell you about us and a possible job. I operate weather station DW1820 for
the CWOP. I have seen that you operate a personal weather station (PWS).

La Grande Weather Service provides detailed forecasts for La Grande, OR and the Grande
Ronde Valley. As the lead forecaster, I have to do forecasts every day. My hopes are
you might be interested in forecasting for the La Grande Weather Service (LGDWS). Our
company is a non-profit and non-government organization.

Please note all our forecasting jobs are volunteer. I hope this doesn't prevent you
from becoming a forecaster. If you become a forecaster...you get to make forecasts
to fit your schedule so you won't have to do it when you're not able to. You get to
provide forecasts for the local area. Our forecasts are more accurate for current
weather, because unlike the National Weather Service, we can look out our windows and
see what is going on.

I appreciate the time you took to read this e-mail. If you are interested, or have any
questions, don't hesitate to e-mail back.


On behalf of LGDWS,

Tesmond Hurd
Lead Forecaster
tesmond.hurd@live.com
La Grande Weather Service

WEBSITE: www.lagrande.weatherchecker.us
FORECAST: www.lagrande.weatherchecker.us/local-forecast
[Submitted by thurd]

13/10 :  New ASOS Sensor Improves Wind Measurements

   New ASOS Sensor Improves Wind Measurements

The Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) Product Improvement Program will deploy a replacement wind sensor beginning this month. The new sensor, known as the Ice-Free Wind (IFW)sensor, will report wind information using the three-second World Meteorological Organization gust standard.
ASOS Ice Free Sensor
The new ASOS wind sensor, the Vaisala 425NWS, is a sonic anemometer with no moving parts.

The current ASOS wind sensor, the Belfort 2000, uses rotating cups to measure wind speed and a vane to measure wind direction. Over a two-minute period ASOS uses 24 five-second averages to determine the two-minute average wind speed and direction. Every minute ASOS stores the highest five-second average speed for the past minute, along with its direction, in the 12-hour archive for additional processing. This highest speed value is used to determine if a gust and/or a peak wind remark will be reported.

The new ASOS wind sensor, the Vaisala 425NWS, is a sonic anemometer. It has no moving parts and is designed to operate better in winter weather conditions. As with the Belfort sensor, over a two-minute period, ASOS uses 24 five-second averages to determine the two-minute average wind speed and direction. But the highest three-second running average speed is stored for gust and peak wind processing.

While there will be little difference in two-minute average wind speed and direction reporting, the changes in gust and peak wind reporting may be significant. "The mass of the moving parts in existing sensors limits responsiveness. The new sensor will be more responsive to short-term gusts," according to Rick Ahlberg, ASOS Product Improvement Manager, NWS Office of Science and Technology. "We can expect to see more gusts and peak winds reported with the new sensor."

The IFW sensor will be deployed at all ASOS locations over a 9-month period beginning this month. More specific information will be issued by the responsible weather forecast office for each individual site when the IFW is implemented.

More information on IFW implementation plans and status can be found on the surface observation program web page at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ops2/Surface/index.htm.