Full of Beans! Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center (MARFC) Hydrologist Scott Kroczynski (foreground) and MARFC HAS Dave Solano (background) sample chili during the first annual Chili Cook Off held at the NWS office in State College, PA. The WFO State College Electronics staff hosted the event and Electronic Systems Analyst Les Thario and Information Technology Specialist Sue Bingham were the judges. The "Judge's Choice" award went to chili provided by Warning Coordination Meteorologist Dave Ondrejik and the "People's Choice" award went to Senior Forecaster John La Corte. Contact Ondrejik for a copy of the winning recipes at david.ondrejik@noaa.gov. Photo by Dave Ondrejik

Hydrologist Rick Ullom with a visitor at the 2005 Georgia Water Resources Conference. NOAA’s NWS Southeast River Forecast Center (SERFC) co-sponsored the 2005 Georgia Water Resources Conference. The biennial conference took place on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens from April 25-27, 2005. The overall theme of the SERFC effort this year was the communication and response during September 2004, when Hurricanes Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne pounded Georgia. This theme was reflected in the SERFC exhibit prepared by Ullom and the session moderated by hydrologist Mark Fuchs. The exhibit consisted of a large collage of satellite imagery showing each of the seven named tropical systems to affect the SERFC area during the 2004 hurricane season, along with a tabletop water model depicting examples of minor, moderate, and major flooding along a stream. Based on comments from attendees, the session was highly instructive not only in how the SERFC provides critical information to the public, but in how key hydrologic agencies interact during times of potentially significant flooding.

Tucson Service Hydrologist, Mike Schaffner, and Bureau of Indian Affairs natural resources manager, Clark Richins, examine flood control dike near Bylas, AZ. Minor flooding impacted the Bylas area in February 2005. WFO Tucson is working to establish three new forecast points within the Gila River basin in south east Arizona: Gila River near Calva, Eagle Creek near Morenci, and Bonita Creek near Morenci. The former will warn for the community of Bylas. Forecasts will be provided by Colorado Basin River Forecast Center. Photo by Tom Evans, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, WFO Tucson.

On May 1, 2005, five WFO Spokane employees participated in the Corporate Cup division of the 29th annual Lilac Bloomsday Run in Spokane, WA. This was the third year that the "Drought Busters" participated together as a team. Team members included (seated, from left) Forecaster Paul Bos, Hydro Met Tech Stan Savoy, (standing, from left) Forecaster Tracy Cox, Service Hydrologist Charles Ross, Lead Forecaster Matt Fugazzi. These five joined almost 40,000 other runners in this annual event billed as the largest timed road race in the world. Corporate Cup teams are made up of five representatives from any company or organization, and they compete against each other for bragging rights as the "fastest corporation in town."

Take a look at other NWS news, as submitted for the NOAA Weekly Report.