Open house Saturday at National Weather Service

If you are fascinated by technology and have an interest in weather, or you want your schoolage children to learn more about the physical world, then an open house Saturday at the National Weather Service bureau office near Airway Heights should be in your forecast.

The event is being held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

As in past years, visitors will get a chance to see the only weather radar in the Inland Northwest; meet the forecasters and technicians; watch a weather balloon being launched; see how forecasts are created; and tour the facilities.

Most people are familiar with Doppler radar images and computer weather graphics.

But seeing the Weather Service office at work is an eye-opening experience. Computers are faster and the digital displays are larger. The sheer volume of information being generated is enormous, and it challenges the visitor to envision the largely unseen air movements that create the weather.

John Livingston, meteorologist in charge, said the open houses usually draw between 200 and 300 visitors. “We get a mix of families and weather enthusiasts,” Livingston said in an e-mail.

At that pace, there should be plenty of room for more people to attend.

He said the most popular attraction is the release of the weather balloon at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

“Our kids’ activities and resources will be expanded this year with hands-on experiences and cool demonstrations,” Livingston said.

The Inland Northwest Chapter of the American Red Cross, which helps provide relief during weather disasters, and the Spokane County Office of Emergency Management will also be at the open house.