Southwest Michigan AMS/NWA
September 14, 2016 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
NWS Grand Rapids
4899 South Complex Dr.
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
President Brandon Hoving (National Weather Service Grand Rapids) called the meeting to order on September 14 at 7 p.m. Seventeen people attended the meeting. President Hoving, Chapter Treasurer William Marino (NWSGR), Chapter Vice President Warren Wheeler, Chapter Webmaster Linda Paige attended. Chapter Secretary Steve Derry was excused.
Treasurer Marino gave a report and discussed the dues as a calendar year of January to December.
President Hoving discussed the next meeting at the Gerald R Ford airport on November 2. Bruce Applebach, who is the airport's operations manager, will provide a discussion on how weather impacts the operations at the airport.
Vice President Wheeler discussed a potential speaker for early 2017. Dr. Karen Koshiba with the Center for Severe Weather Research in Boulder Colorado. She has an impressive CV, and has the ability to explain complex weather topics in an easy to understand format. Warren explained that he would cover the cost of her hotel is the chapter could cover her plane ticket. The chapter has enough in the account to cover the cost. President Hoving will initiate a “doodle poll” to judge the interest from the chapter members.
The chapter will conduct a winter forecast contest as we have in previous years.
The featured speakers for this meeting were Bill Marino and Brandon Hoving. Bill gave a discussion regarding the very warm summer across West Michigan. Dew point temperatures were oppressive in the 70s and even near 80 degrees at times. For the state this was the eleventh warmest. June and July were exceptionally dry for much of West Michigan. August turned soggy. Grand Rapids observed the second wettest August on record with 7.97 inches. The wettest August was in 1987 with 8.46 inches. Bill finished with a brief discussion of the observed tornados. Four EF1 and 2 EF0 tornadoes were observed. Brandon continued the tornado discussion with a breakdown of the tornadoes observed on Saturday, August 20. He gave an overview of the synoptic environment and transitioned to an explanation of the mesoscale and near storm environment that favored rotational updrafts. He discussed each tornado and showed tracks with the EF scale determination. Part of this included a discussion of the damage surveys their office performed.
Brandon adjourned the meeting at approximately 9 p.m.
Sincerely,
Linda Paige
Chapter Webmaster