Your National Weather Service Derek Deroche Meteorologist National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office Kansas City/Pleasant Hill.

Your National Weather Service

Derek DerocheMeteorologist

National Weather Service Weather Forecast OfficeKansas City/Pleasant Hill

Who We Are? 122 Weather Forecast Offices located in the US and its 122 Weather Forecast Offices located in the US and its territoriesterritories 9 NCEP offices which provide special services on a national 9 NCEP offices which provide special services on a national level (Storm Prediction Center, Climate Prediction Center, level (Storm Prediction Center, Climate Prediction Center, Tropical Prediction Center)Tropical Prediction Center) 13 River Forecast 13 River Forecast CentersCenters 21 Central Weather 21 Central Weather Service UnitsService Units 6 Regional 6 Regional HeadquartersHeadquarters Federal governmentFederal government Department of Department of CommerceCommerce National Oceanic and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Atmospheric AdministrationAdministration

NWS Kansas City/Pleasant HillYour NWS OfficeYour NWS Office

• 44 Counties across Northern/Central Missouri and extreme Eastern Kansas

• Covering 24,139 square miles and over 2 Million people!!

• 20 Meteorologists staffed 24x7x365 dedicated to public safety

• 44 Counties across Northern/Central Missouri and extreme Eastern Kansas

• Covering 24,139 square miles and over 2 Million people!!

• 20 Meteorologists staffed 24x7x365 dedicated to public safety

Surrounding NWS Offices•Pleasant Hill

•Davenport, IA

•St. Louis

•Paducah

•Memphis

•Springfield

•Wichita

•Topeka

•Pleasant Hill

•Davenport, IA

•St. Louis

•Paducah

•Memphis

•Springfield

•Wichita

•Topeka

What We DoProduce Weather, Water and Climate

Forecasts and Warnings For All Americans To Protect Life and Property To Enhance the National Economy

Data and Products: Government Agencies Private Sector The Public Global Communities

Weather and data are becoming more important to economy and business decisions

“The annual cost of electricity could decrease by at least $1 billion if the accuracy of weather forecasts improved 1 degree Fahrenheit.” -USA Today, 6/19/01

What We Do The NWS is the only OFFICIAL voice for issuing warnings during life-

threatening weather situations! Provide support to other government agencies with specialized

products such as aviation and fire weather forecasts. Support local officials during emergencies and hazardous situations. Provide forecasts and data to the public and private companies River and flood forecasts and services Largest weather data collection

network in the world NOAA Weather Radio Skywarn Spotter Program Cooperative Observation Program Outreach projects

Skywarn Spotters Nearly 250,000 trained spotters nationwide (stationary and mobile) “Ground Truth” Identify and Describe Local Storms Information supplements Radar and Satellite Data

Storm Chasing Why chase storms? (cost, training, etc.) Can it be a profession? Duty as a chaser