NWS Louisville Visits Fort Knox Weather Operations

A group from the National Weather Service office in Louisville, joined by Kentucky Mesonet Systems Meteorologist Patrick Collins, visited Fort Knox Weather Operations on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. In addition to Patrick, the NWS Louisville group included our hydrologist, two meteorologists, and three student volunteers, all from the University of Louisville. The group met up with Mark Adams, Station Manager of Weather Operations at Fort Knox. The group had an opportunity to not only see, but actually climb up in the Doppler weather radar (KLVX) located on the base. Mark Adams also gave a terrific tour of the weather station, located on Godman Army Airfield. It's always interesting learning about how the mission of Fort Knox Weather Operations differs from (and is similar to) that of the National Weather Service. NWS Louisville appreciates the exchange with the meteorologists at Fort Knox.

Being located on the airfield, Mark Adams also delivered an opportunity to climb into the cockpit of a twin-turboprop Beechcraft King Air.

Pictured (L to R): Patrick Collins (Kentucky Mesonet), Steven Peak (UofL), Clay Wooton (UofL), Mike Callahan (NWS Louisville), Cody Moore (UofL), Evan Webb (NWS Louisville), and Mike Crow (NWS Louisville)

Following the tour at Fort Knox, Patrick Collins then lead a visit to the Kentucky Mesonet weather station in Bullitt County, KY (located at Bernheim Forest). Patrick discussed the instrumentation at the mesonet site and the ongoing efforts to expand and maintain the network. Finally, the group made a stop at the river gauge on the Salt River at Shepherdsville. NWS Louisville Service Hydrologist Mike Callahan talked about various types of river gauges and benchmarks set by the United States Geological Survey to help determine river levels during a flood.

Check out more photos from the day below!