Ask a National Weather Service Meteorologist
To ask a question, click on the mailbox. 
You'll receive a reply from one of our staff members.

Here are a few questions that were answered recently by 
Lead Forecaster Dewey Walston and Forecaster Michelle Margraf: 
June 16, 2002 Edition

From Ken:
Q: What do you expect this summer to be like in terms of temperature and precipitation?

A: The official outlook for the summer shows a slight bias toward above normal temperatures and no bias toward above or below normal precipitation (so near normal precipitation).  Click here to view NOAA's long range weather outlook homepage.  

From Donald:
Q: What is the adiabatic lapse rate?   

A: The adiabatic lapse rate is the rate at which temperature in a (dry) atmosphere drops with increasing height as a result of the atmosphere becoming thinner with increasing altitude.   

From Tom:
Q: I do most of my boating on the Chesapeake Bay.  Is there a channel on the marine radio (CB) that carries the marine forecast?   

A: Weather information is broadcast on our NOAA Weather radio on frequencies between 162.400 MHz and 162.55 MHz.  Click here for information about local NOAA Weather Radio transmitters and service areas.  If you do not get these frequencies on your CB Marine radio, you can purchase a weather radio at most electronic stores.  They are relatively inexpensive.  In addition, most of these radios are equipped with a special alarm that activates the radio whenever severe weather threatens.    

Would you like to learn more about the weather and our atmosphere? 
Check out our Weather Education and Safety Homepage. This site includes pages with topics like "Just for Kids", "Just for Teachers",  safety information, weather terminology, worldwide weather links, historical facts, and many other links to sites weather enthusiasts will enjoy!

We're scanning the internet to find interesting weather web sites.  This month's featured web page is the National Weather Service's Heat Safety Homepage.  This site includes weather facts about why heat waves are so dangerous, how to keep from being a victim of a heat related illness, what the symptoms of heat illness are, and links to sites where safety pamphlets and heat index charts can be downloaded.