National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Showers and Storms in the East; Dangerously Hot and Dry in the West

A frontal boundary will bring scattered showers and storms to portions of the Central and Eastern U.S. through the end of the week. Meanwhile, dangerous heat will intensify across the Intermountain West and expand into the Central U.S. by early next week. Elevated wildfire conditions will develop across portions of the Northern/Central Plains and air quality issues will persist in the Northwest. Read More >

Recognizing outstanding service to America, NOAA’s National Weather Service has named Robert Watts a 2012 recipient of the John Campanius Holm Award for outstanding service in the Cooperative Weather Observer Program. The award is the agency’s second most prestigious and only 14 are presented this year to cooperative weather observers from around the country.

The award was presented to Mr. Watts during a ceremony at East Kentucky University's Manchester Campus on October 4th, 2012.  Watts is an employee of East Kentucky University and the manager of the Lilley Cornett Woods Appalachian Ecological Research Station in Letcher County.  He has assisted the National Weather Service by taking daily weather observations for 38 years.

Robert Watts presented with the John Campanius Holm Award - October 4th, 2012

Pictured (left to right): NWS Jackson Observation Program Leader David Stamper, NWS Jackson Meteorologist-in-Charge Shawn Harley, NWS Jackson Hydrometeorological Technician Tabitha Brewer, and Holm Award recipient Robert Watts.