Ramstein Air Base - Wikipedia

I worked at Det 2, 31st Weather Squadron with NATO/USAFE and the cluster of Air bases, e.g, Hahn, Bitburg, Spangdahlem, Wiesbaden and Sembach and Zweibrucken. There were several bases in the UK, Spain (2) and in Italy, I think there two or three bases with Aviano being one.

The picture you see here was home of the 86th TFW, composed of the 512th and 526th Fighter Squadrons. The base ops building also had the Base Weather Station (US/Det 2) and control tower.

We had the Weather Support Unit (WSU) and the European Forecast Unit (EFU/Kaiserslautern/Kapaun) and us at Bases Weather. From time to time, I did weather forcecasts on AFN Radio.

Our unit (Base Weather/Det 2, 31WS) had a conference call each evening to agree on the Weather Discussion and forecast. Ultimately it was always our call, at Base Weather, to make the final forecast call.

VFR conditions (Unlimited visibilty and Ceiling). IFR, pilots sit. Under certain circumstances they can fly. Dual alternates. Usually the uniformity of let's say fog, is usually homogeneous until the Inversion broke.

I remember one night, asking the other two units how they could have clouds and rain with 8%-13% RH (Surface, 850, 700, 500 and 300mb heights). 850mb is roughly 5,000 feet. 300mb at/near 30,000 above the surface.

Important because each of these levels play a part in a forecast. I analyzed those various levels for troughs, Lows and Highs (Ridges). Again, I asked these units how they can forecast rain with that low of Humidity. They acquiesced a bit, bringing in a bit of clouds when they initially were calling for a 30% Rainshowers and Thunderstorms. I disagreed and went with Clear in my forecast.

Fast forward a week. The High was drifting Eastward and a Cold Front was in the Benelux (Brussels, Netherlands and Luxumberg). Our discussion did NOT include this situation as it was a transition to more cloudiness. All of a sudden the Benelux, France and English Channel saw huge thunderstorms.

I was feeling a bit strange about Skies being clear. And for good reason. I started rifling through OBS across Europe and then I noticed a Windshift near France. Immediately at this shift, Severe storms were developing. I surmised that we were in for a bit of fun.

I was wondering about movement, so I started to interpolate for the timing and arrival of this system. I used a very basic and rudimentary method of advecting this system into our area. It proved to be rather accurate. I put out winds 35G49, Severe Thunderstorms and the like.

At abouth 9ish, I had this forecast out and a Colonel was complaining because my forecasts thwarted his sorties. He explained the tops winds were 15-20kts. In so many words, I told him that I forecast a given parameter (potential).

After amending the forecast, it hit with significant lead time! Winds of 88kts, hail and frequent lightning started to happen. Our commander asked how I pulled this off. Simple arithmetic and vectoring. Finding a relative speed and motion. I was a new forecaster and maybe I was winging, but with some inkling of what forecasting.

A four-star general said it was one of the best reviews that he had seen in recent memory. Best of all, lives and property were secure. I did not vacillate and reasoned that +/- the goal. We hit a grand slam.

Man, those were the days!

That may have been my coup d' grace. Maybe ;). I worked with the Tampa Tribune, WSM in BNA (Nashville), Disney Radio, World of Outlaws, the Speed Channel, TNN, World Racing Group, the Ground Round racing Modifieds of upstate NY, MA, CT and Maine. To name a few.