Forecaster Retires Year Early, Leaves Station Unstaffed

The National Weather Service station at Lewiston is no longer staffed, but it is not officially closed.

Weatherman Ron Linder retired after his Saturday shift - more than a year earlier than he anticipated when he came to Lewiston in February.

His position will not be filled because, according to Carl Weinbrecht, warning coordination meteorologist at Boise, by the time it was advertised and someone was hired, the money might not be there to pay the person’s salary.

There are a number of proposals concerning the Weather Service, but none are certain, Weinbrecht said.

As the public law that restructured the National Weather Service now stands, the Lewiston station is supposed to stay open until at least Jan. 1, 1996, as a public safety measure, Linder’s predecessor, Dennis Hess said.

The public will be not be noticeably affected, Weinbrecht said.

Boise will assume responsibility for notification of severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, flash floods and snow advisories. Forecasts will come out of Boise until additional radar equipment is installed in Spokane.

The Spokane system will be operable sometime in July 1996.