NWS Gaylord Open House Sept. 21st, 2024

⛅❄️ Open House - 2024 🌪️☔

Ever wonder how weather forecasts are made? Why and how a weather balloon launch is done? How severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings are issued? And just how that big green "soccer ball" on the hill south of Gaylord detects rain, storms and snow? Learn the answers, and MUCH more, at our NWS Gaylord Open House on Saturday, September 21st from 9am to 1pm! This is a FREE event!!! Bring the whole family -- all ages are welcome!

Meet the crew of NWS Gaylord -- a dedicated group who work around the clock, 365 days a year, to provide critical and sometimes life-saving weather information when you need it.

Several other NWS partnering agencies and groups will also be on-hand to showcase their cool equipment and what their jobs entail. Check out the "Who Else Will Be Here" tab below for details!

*No smoking, drugs, alcohol, or weapons allowed on the premises. No pets except for trained service animals. No bags or backpacks allowed inside the facility.

National Weather Service Gaylord, MI

OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, September 21st
9am to 1pm

* F R E E *

nws gaylord

Countdown to the Open House:

Location / Parking
Things To Do
Who Else Will Be Here
Thank You
Questions/Contact

National Weather Service
8800 Passenheim Rd.
Gaylord, MI 49735

Where to park:

Primary parking will be along both sides of Passenheim Rd. Our driveway entrance and main parking lot will be reserved for accessible parking Please note the small parking lot to the south of the office will be closed for the event.

overhead view of the NWS la Crosse and parking areas

Below is sampling of planned Open House activities!

Tour our office (last one begins around 12:45pm) - learn about our office, how the radar works, and how forecasts are made
Weather balloon demonstrations at the top of each hour (10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm)
Check out electronics and observing equipment used by the National Weather Service
Damage survey demonstrations (10:15am, 11:15am, 12:15pm)
Hands-on activities, demonstrations, and games for kids
Reading time with Owlie Skywarn (9:45am, 10:45am, 11:45am, 12:45pm)
Emergency vehicle displays
Browse other agency booths - see their equipment and learn what they do (see "Who Else Will Be Here" tab for details)
Meet your local NWS meteorologists and ask your weather questions
Local food truck (food available for purchase)
Enter drawing to win a weather radio, rain gauge, or mobile wind sensor
...and more!!!

Images from Our Last Open House in 2016

Organization	Planned Activities (subject to change)
Otsego County EMS and Emergency Management	Otsego County Emergency Management will be here to display some of their equipment and talk about community preparedness.
NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary - Alpena	Folks from the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary will be on hand to display all that the Marine Sanctuary does in and around Lake Huron.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources - Hartwick Pines	MI DNR personnel from Hartwick Pines will discuss their work to preserve and enhance the natural resources of MI.
Emmet County Sheriff's Department	An Emmet County sheriff's department deputy will be flying a drone and demonstrating its capabilities.
Central Michigan University	Central Michigan University's student chapter of the American Meteorological Society will be on-site with a display booth talking all things education in meteorology.
Otsego Lake Fire Department	Otsego Lake Fire Dept. will be on hand to display some of the equipment they utilize to keep the community safe.
Northern Michigan Skywarn	The Northern Michigan Skywarn Severe Weather Network is a team of trained weather spotters that work together with the National Weather Service in Gaylord to relay time weather reports.
Otsego County CERT	The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

An open house is a HUGE endeavor requiring many months of planning and many dedicated people to make it a success. We hope everyone's efforts will enrich the day and provide a fun learning experience for all who attend! We express our sincere thanks to the organizations below for their time and efforts.

Questions? Looking for additional information?

Please reach out to Matt Gillen, matthew.gillen@noaa.gov