OR-AMS Meeting Summary

“3rd Annual Weather Sampler”

On September 18, 2008, fifteen members (including two AIH members) came for good drink and food…and to share their weather projects. We held our event at the McMenamins - Ringlers Pub on West Burnside, in downtown Portland.

Phil Welke took a trip to Australia and New Zealand. He collected various newspaper reports on the winter type weather they were experiencing. Phil also mentioned to us some new weather terminology that he learned about the weather. Phil snapped pictures of the B.O.M. Alice Springs. Phil also showed us the "Evapometer" - an instrument used to measure the amount of water that has evaporated.

Steve Pierce broke down the last 137 years of winter in Portland. Snow-fall by decade was presented with a data handout that showed rankings of the most amount of snow to the least amount by snow. The data also ranked the winter in terms of snowfall from 1 to 136. Steve was also able to get the NWS data that had been missing since ASOS was implemented in Portland. NWS still won't confirm all the data, but Steve's legwork will make them go back and change any data errors.

Bobby Corser updated us on the Central Oregon Radar topic from last year. Both U.S. Senator's offices want to talk again after November. He also updated the AMS group on some of the new things that will be coming online here shortly including the Facebook Chapter and update on the winter weather meeting.

Note-taker: Bobby Corser, 2008-2009 OR-AMS President