After a two year hiatus, the National Weather Service in Milwaukee/Sullivan, returned to staff an exhibition booth at the 2015 Wisconsin State Fair. Through a collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the National Weather Service (NWS) staffed a booth in the north pavilion of the Natural Resources Park for the eleven day run of the fair, from August 6th through August 16th.
Over 100,000 visitors passed through the north pavilion during the duration of the fair. Most of them stopped by the NWS exhibition booth to examine the information on Wisconsin severe weather, enter a raffle to win an All Hazards NOAA Weather Radio, make a guess at estimating hail size, or pick up an informational brochure on services provided by the NWS and its partners. NWS staff also demonstrated the services provided by the NWS local and national websites. Radar information was very popular when showers threatened the fairgrounds.
Younger visitors were attracted to the simulated tornado machine and other tornado toys.
Thanks to the Wisconsin Division of Emergency Management for providing the All Hazards NOAA Weather Radios as raffle prizes. Over 1700 visitors entered the raffle drawing to win a weather radio.
The five lucky prize winners are:
Congratulations!
We hope to see everyone at the 2016 Wisconsin State Fair.
Marc Kavinsky
National Weather Service - Milwaukee/Sullivan