Are snowflakes fallin' on your head? Are you getting pinged by ice pellets? NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory is requesting observations of winter precipitation from volunteers in a 150 km radius of Norman.
More than 2,600 observations have been received during the past two years. In its third year, the successful project has a new name: W-PING ? the Winter Precipitation Identification Near the Ground.
W-PING is looking for young, old and in-between volunteers (teachers, classes and families too) to watch for and report on precipitation. W-PING volunteers can spend a little or a lot of time making observations by clicking a link from either the NSSL Web page or the Norman National Weather Service Forecast Office home page on the Internet.
The report asks for the reporter's date, time, location, and precipitation type. Temperature, wind speed and direction reports are optional. There is no commitment, and no minimum amount of reports.
"With the added information from the public, we expect to improve our ability to use radar data for winter precipitation identification," explains NSSL researcher Kim Elmore.
NSSL will collect radar data during winter storm events within about 90 miles of Norman. Because the radars cannot see very close to the ground, NSSL will use public observations of what is actually happening at the surface to compare with what the radar has detected.
The information NSSL receives from W-PING volunteers will support scientists in developing new radar technologies and techniques to determine what kind of precipitation--such as snow, ice, or rain--is falling at any given location.
For more information, go to www.nssl.noaa.gov/projects/winter/.
Local news
NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory looks to local community to help with research
- Local news
-
-
County prisoners moved to new jail
Cleveland County sheriff’s deputies began moving prisoners from the detention center adjacent to the courthouse to the new F. DeWayne Beggs Detention Center at Franklin Road and U.S. 77 early Saturday morning....
-
School board elections Tuesday
Voters go to the polls Tuesday in four Cleveland County school districts. Cleveland County Election Board Secretary Jim Williams said this will be the first election using the new voting system. Polls will open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on ...
-
Identity theft crackdown sweeps nation
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Justice Department recently announced a national sweep cracking down on suspected identity theft perpetrators as part of a stepped-up effort against refund fraud and identity theft....
-
Darry Stacey seeking county commission seat
Darry Stacy, a fifth generation Oklahoman and lifelong resident of Cleveland County, announced Friday that he will be a Republican candidate for the District 2 Cleveland County commissioner seat....
-
Communicating finances is good for relationship
If Valentine’s Day makes you think of flowers, candlelight and whispering sweet nothings into your sweetheart’s ear, maybe it’s time to think again. While many factors can play into whether a relationship endures for the long term, ...
-
The Week Ahead: China has mighty appetites
America’s banker visits its grocer in the coming week. When Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping tours the U.S., his itinerary includes expected stops in Washington, D.C., and California. But he’s also scheduled to stop in Iowa. Usually ...
-
I-35/Robinson Street interchange project
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation awarded the bid for the Interstate-35 and Robinson Street interchange project on Feb. 6. Silver Star Construction Company of Moore, was awarded the bid at $2,730,900 — $373,700 lower than the ...
-
Public hearings
Residential Code informational meeting 6- 8 p.m., Feb. 16 Multipurpose Room, Norman Municipal Complex 201 West Gray Street The Norman Department of Planning and Community Development is hosting a public information program on the city’s ...
-
Business briefs
The Norman Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association will meet at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at Norman Public Library, 225 N. Webster. A librarian will speak about Valentine’s day and how it came about and a book display. RSVP: ...
-
Annual license renewals due
Trade Contractors and Journeymen (Electrical Mechanical and Plumbing) licenses, as well as Sign and Structure Moving Contractors are up for renewal with the city Norman. On Feb. 17, the 1,669 license renewal notices will be mailed to ...
- More Local news Headlines
-
County prisoners moved to new jail
