WLKY participates in our Partners Operational Weather Simulation program

John Belski and Tiffany Savona, meteorologists at WLKY in Louisville, participated in our Partners Operational Weather Simulation (POWS) program at NWS Louisville on Thursday, November 17. The training, conducted on our Weather Event Simulator (WES), is designed to give our partners a firsthand experience of what it is like to be responsible for issuing potentially life-saving warnings as the radar analyst for a past severe weather event. After each major hazardous weather event in our area, we archive the data so that we can train on the event later.

After a briefing to discuss the environmental setting, current radar trends, WES knobology, and how to issue a warning, John and Tiffany were on their own to analyze data and issue warnings for severe thunderstorms and/or tornadoes as needed. The simulation included receiving reports as thunderstorms raced through the area, similar to real time on the day of the event.

In the images below, John Belski and Tiffany Savona analyze radar data on the WES while NWS Louisville Lead Forecaster Ryan Sharp monitors their progress. In John's words, “I have much greater respect for the decisions you all have to make. Having good communications on storm reports is really important to help make some of these decisions easier.”

We hope more of our TV friends from Lexington, Bowling Green, Evansville, and Louisville, as well as other NWS partners, take advantage of this exciting opportunity!

Tiffany Savona and Ryan Sharp at the WES