Who: Tom Niziol, Science and Operations Officer for the NOAA National Weather Service Forecast Office in Buffalo, has returned to Salt Lake City and is part of the Weather Support Group. They are providing forecasts and warnings for the 2002 Paralympic Winter Games being held in Northern Utah from Mar. 7-16.

Where: Weather Operations Center at NWS Forecast Office, Salt Lake City

2242 West North Temple, Salt Lake City

When: March 7-16, 2002

6:00 a.m. -6:00 p.m. (Call first to verify what shift Niziol will be working)

What: The Weather Support Group meteorologists provide up-to-the-minute forecasts directly to a variety of key Olympic and venue organizers, transportation and emergency management officials as well as the public. Niziol will help coordinate the forecasts among the other forecasters

Niziol is part of an integrated forecasting team, the first-ever partnership of government, private and academic organizations sharing the operational forecasts for the games. The Salt Lake Organizing Committee formed the partnership between NOAA’s National Weather Service, the University of Utah and thirteen private meteorologists under contract to KSL-TV in Salt Lake City.

At least twice daily, the partners in the Weather Support Group hold teleconference meetings to compare observations and data and build consensus on weather projections for the upcoming days. Winter weather warnings issued by the Weather Support Group could have impact on the Games, causing delays or postponements for certain venues.

The Paralympics bring world-class athletes from around the globe together to compete in a variety of exciting sports - alpine skiing, nordic skiing and ice sledge hockey. An expected 1,000 athletes and team officials representing 36 countries will be participating.

NOTE: Additional information, including an on-line media press kit, is available at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/Saltlake.

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