National Weather Service Forecast Office Aberdeen, South Dakota

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After our encounter with the Clark, SD mesocyclone, we decided to visit the NWS to share pictures, video, and information.  We were offered food/drinks and the use of workstations to aid in our stormchase.  This was one of the friendliest NWS offices I had ever visited.

The Doppler Radar protects South Dakota citizens from severe weather, but the wise owl protects the Doppler radar from severe bird infestations.

I was afraid that the owl would be scared away, but we learned that the wise old owl was actually a dummy intended to scare away birds.  Funny enough, the dummy did not fool the birds for too long.  The NWS still has to clear out the bird nests.  I suggested taking the owl down and hanging a scarecrow from the side of the tower.

A new storm pops SE of the office.	Meteorologist Stan Keefe monitors the storm on Doppler Radar.
	The workstation displays reflectivity images from different layers of the storm.

It is time for the balloon release.	Meteorologist Ken Gillespie prepares the balloon. The transmitter on the balloon will send back valuable weather data giving a profile of the atmosphere above eastern South Dakota.
It is time for release.	The hydrogen-filled balloon races into the sky.

	The computer displays atmosphere wind profiles at other NWS stations across the nation.
More storms develop south of Aberdeen, SD.