NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OPEN HOUSE SPRING 2008

William Perry and Phil Hysell

 

The National Weather Service in Blacksburg hosted an Open House to the public Saturday, April 5th, 2008. The day before, we had school groups tour the office. We totaled 209 school kids on Friday, and 457 visitors Saturday.

Here are a couple of comments from the public:

    "I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and your staff for a great tour.  Everyone was so nice and made us feel so welcomed."
   
    "Thanks for inviting us to the Open House...I was impressed all the way around:  with your presentations, with the setup,
and even with the crowd sticking around to see the office...and what a crowd it was!

 

The Open House was an opportunity for the public to visit our office and see the tools meteorologists use to make forecasts and issue warnings. There were videos on weather safety, visits to the weather balloon launch facililty, and other indoor and outdoor exhibits. Here are a few of the photos taken during those two days.

The National Weather Service thanks those visitors who came by to see our office.

Entrance to the office and presentation setup

 

Meteorologist-In-Charge, David Wert greets visitors
   

Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Phil Hysell discusses weather safety

 

Science Operation Office, Steve Keighton explains the
forecast process

 

Table of Weather Instruments Used by Meteorologists

 

Meteorologist Phil Manuel explains the anemometer (measures wind speed)

 

     
Weather Balloon Being Inflated         Weather Rock on Display

 

Local Red Cross Bus and Virginia Tech Geography Storm Chase Van

 

Salem Fire Department Safety Display