Thanks to Gary Stone, Extension Educator, for sharing this information last summer. It is a good time to share this again as programming indoors/outdoors gets into full swing during severe weather season.
Are you planning an outdoor event? Help keep everyone safe by adding this free weather forecasting service to your planning and risk assessment process. The NWS Weather Forecast Service can provide you with a local forecast for lightning, precipitation, high winds, and severe storms.
Consider using this service for 4-H camps, fairs, plot tours, field days, livestock tours, rodeos and more. It is better to be proactive and having alternative plans in place, than reacting to hazardous weather conditions.
Make a request. Contact the Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM) at your local NWS office. They are happy to help! The WCM will provide you with the link to a simple online form to request the forecast service. Be sure to plan ahead so forecasters have time to research the forecast for your event. Don’t wait until the last minute to make a request.
National map of NWS offices and their contacts: https://www.weather.gov/srh/nwsoffices
Submitted by Soni Cochran, scochran2@unl.edu