The meeting was held at the National Weather Service Office in Jackson. Presentations were made by NWS Jackson Lead Forecaster Eric Carpenter and local NWA President Vincent Webb.

Meeting Minutes

Call to Order
The second NWA/AMS meeting of 2011 started at 6 p.m. and was officially opened by Corresponding Secretary, Mr. Eric Carpenter at 6:30 p.m.  The Chapter meeting was held at the NWS office in Flowood, MS.  Time was allowed for the catering by the Time Out Sports Café before assembling into the meeting.

Rolls
Recording Secretary Ms. Nancy Lopez took attendance, and the sign-in sheet confirmed 18 attendees.

Minutes Approval
Ms. Lopez briefed the group on the activities and minutes from the March 3, 2011 meeting which were approved.   An announcement was made that minutes were made available to another website, and now should be posted three places.

New Business
Treasurer, Ms. Joanne Culin gave an update on the financial report.  The last balance in March had funds totaling $180.  The group collected more dues of $20 at the meeting, to be used to pay for the caterer.

Mr. Eric Carpenter, NWS Forecaster then started his power point presentation analysis of the April 25-27, 2011 historical tornado outbreak.  This information was also used at the JSU (Jackson State University) weather camp.  He described the number of tornados vs. straight line wind events, showed damage photos and damage surveys.  He used the SPC (Storm Prediction Center’s) materials from the events including soundings, and said it was the first EF5 tornado since the Candlestick Park tornado in 1966.  The staff on call those days also recalled their version of the events that struck Mississippi and Alabama over the duration.

The second part of the meeting was presented by NWA President Mr. Vincent Webb on his post-graduation storm chase trip from May 23 to 25 this year.  He traveled across Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee for one week in his own car, videotaping and storm chasing several funnel clouds and tornados.  One clip showed footage of several harrowing near misses of vehicles and a semi-truck in direct path while parked on the side of the road.  He had to reverse the vehicle at one point to get out of harm’s way, and he checked on a nearby school before leaving the area.

Adjournment
The meeting concluded at approximately 7:47 p.m.  The next meeting date is being planned for September.

Minutes submitted by Nancy Lopez, Recording Secretary.

The meeting was held at WAPT-TV in Jackson. Our guest speakers were Ethan Huston, WAPT Meteorologist and local NWA chapter Vice-President, and David Hartman, WAPT Chief Meteorologist.

Meeting Minutes

Call to Order
The third NWA/AMS meeting was opened by NWA President, Mr. Vincent Webb, in Dr. Loren White’s absence  at 7:13 p.m.   The meeting was held at WAPT TV Station, 7616 Channel 16 Way, in Jackson, Mississippi.

Rolls
Recording Secretary Ms. Nancy Lopez took attendance, and the sign-in sheet confirmed seven attendees, three of which were station hosts or guests.  There were higher absentees, partly due to holiday and scheduling conflicts.  Prior to the meeting, an e-mail poll recommended trying a scheduling program.

Minutes Approval
Mr. Webb briefly discussed his progress on the Chapter website before inquiring on minutes from the October 14 meeting, and any new business.

New Business
Ms. Lopez gave an update on the financial report in the absence of Treasurer, Ms. Joanne Culin.  Ms. Culin provided an e-mail that funds of $180 had been collected, and she had visited Bank Plus to open a checking account.  However, an EIN or tax number is needed to open an official business account.  One member thought the report number was 503C, and another suggested checking the East MS Central Chapter bylaws.  Ms. Culin reported sifting through websites such as IRS to find online help, and off the record, the AMS bylaws link with Chapter info is: http://www.ametsoc.org/amschaps/handbookweb2.pdf.

Ms. Lopez announced acceptance of participation for the AMS Chapter poster presentation in January 2011. She requested photos or written forecasts or materials on particular events to include in the poster.  However, the deadline is short, and the abstract was submitted with a final due date of Monday, November 29.

The meeting was then turned over to Mr. Ethan Huston, morning meteorologist at WAPT TV and current NWA Chapter VP.  Mr. Huston informed the group that he actually missed the October Chapter Meeting because he was being honored by his starting station, WOUB TV in Athens, Ohio.  The station is a PBS affiliate in Ohio.  The Broadcasting Alumni honored him for being the first person as a Broadcast Meteorologist originating at their station.  Ms. Huston provided a slide slow of his visit and the station background, and his volunteer availability of visiting schools.

Next, Mr. David Hartman, long-standing and well-renowned Chief Meteorologist at WAPT TV, took the group on a station tour starting in the Weather Center studio.  Mr. Hartman spoke of the station’s affiliation with Hearst, and pointed out logistics of airing their weathercasts and operating the computer equipment.  He highly detailed the different radar capabilities.  The Center has multiple radar capabilities, from older Fast Track versions, to state-of-the-art VIPIR radar storm shield and Baron-produced products.  The different products can show anything from warning rings to indicate storm rotation, and the GR Analyst which can display cross sections of storms.  He showed a cross section of the Yazoo City storm, and the sudden storm that occurred yesterday, before pointing out where the NWS reports and crawls come in.  While the new technology is improved and helpful, he explained the demands that can occur during severe weather between all the forms of communication available and trying to answer them.  Mr. Huston then walked the group through the audio and Master Control booth before meeting some news staff, and returning to the main starting point of the meeting.

Adjournment
The meeting concluded at approximately 8:00 p.m. with pizza and soft drinks for those with an appetite.  The next meeting date is not yet scheduled but was discussed most likely to be after the New Year.

Minutes submitted by Nancy Lopez, Recording Secretary.

The meeting was held at the Golden Corral in Flowood. Our guest speaker was Ashton Robinson, Ph.D. candidate at the University of Oklahoma and research assistant at the Storm Prediction Center.

Meeting Minutes

Call to Order
The second NWA/AMS meeting was opened by AMS Corresponding Secretary, Mr. Eric Carpenter, scheduled at 7 p.m.  This meeting had all the new officers and roles in place for 2010/2011, under Mr. Vincent Webb as the new Central Mississippi NWA President, and Dr. Loren White continuing in the role as AMS President.  The meeting opened at the Golden Corral Buffet and Grill in Flowood, MS.

Rolls
The organization’s Recording Secretary Ms. Nancy Lopez took attendance.  There were 20 total attendees present, consisting of members and guests, with approximately six being guests.  Affiliations and e-mails were collected by sign-in sheet.

Minutes Approval
Mr. Carpenter briefly discussed the minutes from the September 28 meeting, which were approved with a change in Recording Secretary noted.

New Business
Mr. Carpenter welcomed the alumni in town for the Jackson State University 35^th anniversary celebration, and he briefed the Chapter on the event.

Ms. Joanne Culin, Treasurer, gave an update on the current dues fund.  She reported $60 had been collected, and that collections were being accepted at the meeting via check or cash.  She discussed plans to start a bank account, but that a minimum balance of $100.00 was required.  Four members paid during the meeting, with new collections being enough to open an account.

Mr. Carpenter introduced guest Mr. Richard Hartung from the Time Out Café, and gave a plug for his restaurant, with an emphasis on his excellent barbecue.

Mr. Carpenter announced the official change of Recording Secretary from Mr. Ariel Cohen who stepped down last month, to Ms. Nancy Lopez who accepted the role.

The meeting was then turned over to Mr. Ashton Robinson, invited as a special guest speaker and research assistant from the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, Oklahoma.  Mr. Robinson started his student career in the Jackson network, and he isn’t done yet.  He is working on his Ph.D. at Oklahoma University, and talked to the Chapter on his dissertation research called, “Statistical Relationships Between the El Niño Southern Oscillation, the NAO, and Winter Tornado Outbreaks in the U.S.”

After the question and answer session, Ms. Latrice Maxie of NWS, announced that there were a few more places available for the banquet at Jackson State University on Friday, October 15, 2010, and to call if interested.

Adjournment
The meeting concluded at approximately 8:25 p.m.  The next meeting date is not yet scheduled.

Minutes submitted by Nancy Lopez, Recording Secretary.

The meeting was held at the National Weather Service Office in Jackson. This was the first meeting of the 2010/2011 year. The chapter’s name was changed from “Jackson Chapter…” to “Central Mississippi Chapter…”, new officers were selected, and ideas for future meetings were discussed.

Meeting Minutes

The first NWA/AMS meeting of the 2010-2011 year was opened by Chapter president, Eric Carpenter. A number of business matters were discussed including the election of officers. Eric Carpenter is stepping down from the President position. Vincent Webb has been chosen to replace Eric. Vincent is a senior at Brandon High School (BHS), is enthusiastic with a number of ideas to help the Chapter. These ideas include: updates to the website, photo glossary, Paypal method to pay dues, creation of a Facebook site with meeting information and advertisement of events, and a desire to have regular monthly meetings.

Eric proposed changing the name of the group from Jackson to encompassing more of Central Mississippi. This was agreed upon by the members and the name was changed to the Central Mississippi Chapter of the NWA/AMS.

Joanne Culin is taking over treasurer responsibilities from Brad Bryant. She will be responsible for bank account information and will be looking into this over the coming weeks.

Ethan Huston volunteered to take over the role of NWA Vice President

2010/2011 Officers:

• NWA President: Vincent Webb
• AMS President: Dr. Loren White
• AMS Vice President: Barbie Bassett
• NWA Vice President: Ethan Huston
• Corresponding Secretary for AMS: Alan Gerard
• Corresponding Secretary for NWA: Eric Carpenter
• Treasurer: Joanne Culin
• Recording Secretary: Ariel Cohen

JSU is having their 35th anniversary for the meteorology program, and Latrice Maxie discussed this. The date will be Thursday October 14th, and will include a luncheon from 11am-1pm. There will also be a training workshop on campus. Anyone interested is welcome to come for the training and lunch, please let Latrice know. There will also be a scholarship banquet on Friday October 15th. If anyone is going they will need to RSVP.

Ashton Cook Robinson will be attending the workshop and we are planning to ask him if he would be willing to give a presentation at the next meeting. We would also like to go to a restaurant of Ashton’s choosing. These activities will occur on October 14th–in two weeks.

Per Loren White, the last week in Feb./first week of March, the Doppler on Wheels from Boulder will be here. There was a discussion about them coming to talk to our local chapter in the last week in Feb. Another location to meet would be a TV station for future meetings. Ethan Huston said this would be possible. Another idea for the November meeting would be to have a member of the NWS staff give a presentation.

Vincent Webb showed us a video of pictures of his time at the Howard University weather camp in Washington D.C. He then showed video of his storm chase during the April 24th tornado. Meeting adjourned at 8:04pm. Next meeting Oct. 14th and will be announced shortly via e-mail.

Minutes submitted by Ariel Cohen, Recording Secretary.

The meeting was held at the National Weather Service Office in Jackson. Our guest speaker was Kevin Pence, Science and Operations Officer from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Birmingham, AL.

Meeting Minutes

The second meeting of Jackson Chapter’s NWA/AMS in 2007 was held on Thursday, March 22, 2007, at 7:00 pm, at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Jackson, MS. The meeting was opened by chapter President Eric Carpenter, with 13 people in attendance.

Discussion was initiated by Eric Carpenter in the opening session, concerning the chapter’s orders of business:

• Eric Carpenter is currently holding on to the money for the chapter’s treasury, which currently amounts to $185.00.
• Carolyn Bryant, Chapter Webmaster, has been able to get the web page established. Several improvements have been made since the last meeting.
• Eric Carpenter suggested that the chapter needs to be more formal with membership dues and documentation. The chapter will begin to keep record of membership and dues beginning in January.
• Dr. Loren White has agreed to update the officers with the American Meteorological Society.

Following the opening session, Eric Carpenter introduced the guest speaker for the evening, Kevin Pence, Science and Operations Officer from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Birmingham, AL. Mr. Pence worked at the NWS office in Jackson, MS, beginning in 1981. He then took the SOO position at the NWS office in Birmingham in 1993, and he has held this position since.

Mr. Pence’s topic of discussion was on the April 8, 1998, tornado outbreak. Specifically, he focused on a supercell that produced F3, F5, and F2 tornadoes in the Birmingham County Warning Area.

The first tornado touched down at 7:01 pm in east Pickens County, and lasted until 7:29 pm when it ended in Tuscaloosa County. This first tornado was rated an F2 on the Fujita scale, and resulted in zero fatalities and two injuries.

The second tornado was at least a half mile wide and had a track over 30 miles long as it tracked through Jefferson County. This tornado was initially weak, with a rating of around F0 to F1. The storm intersected with a gravity wave, which approached from the south. Around the time this occurred, the tornado intensified, becoming an F5 tornado. This tornado resulted in 32 fatalities and 250 injuries. This tornado dissipated before reaching the Interstate 65 corridor.

The third tornado developed after the supercell took on a bow characteristic. This tornado touched down in St. Clair County, and was given an F2 rating. Another 2 fatalities were added to this supercell’s death toll with this tornado.

This supercell took on a “classic” characteristic as it developed and moved through Jefferson County, with features such as a hook, V-notch, and forward flank. The rotational velocity was maxed out. Once this supercell moved out of Jefferson County, it took on more of a bow characteristic. This supercell continued into Georgia, producing 3 more tornadoes, and overall resulting in 35 fatalities and 286 injuries between Alabama and Georgia, with the majority occurring with the F5 that moved through Jefferson County.

With the event, there were also several other storms across north Alabama. One supercell produced hail that busted through windshields. A storm survey was conducted with this storm, but no confirmed tornado was found.

Overall, the Birmingham Weather Forecast Office issued 109 warnings between 12z on April 8th, through 10Z on the 9th. Of these warnings, 88 occurred between 22Z and 05Z. This made for an average of 12.5 warnings per hour, or 1 warning every 4 minutes and 48 seconds for 7 hours. Needless to say, the tornado outbreak of April 8, 1998, was a significant event in Mr. Pence’s career.

Following Mr. Pence’s presentation, Chad Entremont invited everyone to look at the archived radar data from the April 8, 1998, event on GR2Analyst.

The meeting was adjourned by Eric Carpenter.

The meeting was held at the Ichiban Chinese Buffet in Flowood. Our guest speaker was James Spann, chief meteorologist at ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Meeting Minutes

The first meeting of Jackson Chapter’s NWA/AMS in 2007 was held on Thursday, January 11, 2007, at 7:00 pm, at the new Ichiban Chinese Buffet. The meeting was opened by chapter President Eric Carpenter, with 21 people in attendance.

Discussion was initiated by Eric Carpenter in the opening session, concerning the chapter’s new web page. Carolyn Bryant, Chapter Webmaster, has designed the new Jackson Chapter web page and it is now on-line. The chapter officers will be working on content for the page, including by-laws and other chapter information, to be added soon.

Following the opening session, Eric Carpenter introduced the guest speaker for the evening, James Spann from ABC 33/40 in Birmingham. Mr. Spann began to speak on how we, as meteorologists, are beginning to become disconnected with people with all of the statistics we use. He also spoke on how much the television industry has changed, and will change, since he first began his career in television meteorology. He spoke on his opinion of how to handle severe weather events during a transitional time such as the one we are in now.

For his method, he begins by getting on the air the night before to talk about the expected weather the next day. He also suggests that it would be good to have someone from the National Weather Service join him in this discussion. He also has a live stream of data, internet videos, weather blogs, E-forecasts (which is an email product), and weather faxes to get people the information on the expected weather the night before. The main point he makes is to use the technology that is changing the business to prepare people for the severe weather.

During a severe weather event, Mr. Spann has long form TV coverage of the event. He also has a live internet stream, long form radio coverage, his blog is up to date, and he uses E-Warn (which is a pager system). He also has a system of instant messaging set up that he uses during severe weather. This will allow for him to receive storm reports and get them out on the air as soon as he receives them. He is in contact with the National Weather Service offices, storm spotters, and other weather interests, to get storm-related information.

Mr. Spann also says that we have a False Alarm Rate (FAR) problem that we need desperately to fix. The more we warn and nothing happens, the less our customers will trust us. He suggests that a way to minimize this problem is to train and utilize more “skywatchers.” He also suggests that a skycam network be installed, and that the instant messaging system be better utilized, to get critical information to the National Weather Service for consideration in warning decisions.

Overall, Mr. Spann discusses that with the change in technology, we need to quickly adapt. This is the best way to get information to our public and minimize false alarms. By doing this, our customers will trust us more and react more seriously to warnings issued.

The meeting was adjourned by Eric Carpenter.

Minutes submitted by Ashley Wester.

The meeting was held at the National Weather Service Office in Jackson. Local chapter president and NWS Jackson Meteorologist-in-Charge Alan Gerard gave a presentation on the National Weather Service’s Warning Event Simulator (WES).

Meeting Minutes

The May meeting of the AMS Jackson chapter was held Monday, May 20th at 7 pm, at the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Jackson, MS. The topic of the meeting was the new Weather Event Simulator being used by the National Weather Service for hazardous weather training. This presentation was an opportunity for those in attendance to learn more about the current and future status of meteorological training for severe weather, radar meteorology, and the meteorology of other hazardous weather phenomena.

The meeting was opened by President Alan Gerard, and Dave Biggar followed with the treasurer’s report. The next chapter meeting was proposed for late June, and potential topics and speakers were suggested for future meetings. Officer elections were discussed for the 2002-03 chapter year, but an official election did not take place. Nominations were made for the 2002 Susan Oakley award for public service. It was decided that this year’s award should be presented to Bill Weisenberger, Madison County Emergency Management Association Director. Through Mr Weisenberger’s hard work and devotion, recovery has been easier for Madison County residents struck by a devastating F4 tornado last November.

Following the chapter business session, Mr. Gerard began his presentation on the NWS Warning Event Simulator (WES), a training tool being implemented at NWS offices around the country. This simulator follows in the spirit of other training simulators, such as the flight simulator used to train pilots for unexpected emergencies. Through advanced data archiving, the WES recreates a severe weather event, and allows meteorologists to experience the event in a real-time environment. The simulation is run on a linux box running Advanced Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) software. During the simulation, meteorologists are responsible for analyzing the same weather data that was available during the actual event, including all observational, radar, and model data. Based on the data, the meteorologist is responsible for making warning decisions, and issuing warning products.

In his demonstration of the WES, Gerard ran through a simulation of the April 8th, 1998 severe weather outbreak, centered over northern and central Alabama. This case is being used at all NWS simulator sites. During the simulation, Gerard explained weather and radar analysis techniques used by NWS meteorologists in the warning decision making process. He pointed out certain mesoscale features in surface and satellite imagery, that offered important clues to the near storm environment and the expected storm type.

In an effort to increase relations with the media, NWS Jackson, MS has proposed that area broadcast meteorologists experience the WES. The NWS Jackson believes this learning experience would increase their communication with the media during times of severe weather.

Gerard concluded his presentation with a question and answer session. Questions concerning the November 24th tornado outbreak were raised, and Gerard displayed archive data from this event, focusing on the F4 tornado that struck Madison County.

The meeting was adjourned by Alan Gerard.

Minutes submitted by Eric Carpenter.