Weather team protects base resources, life

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jason McCasland
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  When clouds roll in, the sky turns black, and sirens wail warnings of inclement weather, a dedicated team of Airmen work together to protect resources and life.

Weather forecasters from the 26th Operational Weather Squadron and the 2nd Operation Support Squadron weather flight use weather information to predict potential weather patterns that can impact the Barksdale mission and people.

"We take information that we receive from the 26th and coordinate with the pilots to let them know of any possible weather problems during their flight," said 1st Lt. Scott Vaughn, 2nd OSS weather flight officer. "The combined effort between us and the 26th also helps us to take that same information and issue weather alerts to the base."

Their products they produce not only help with mission planning, Airmen and their families can use it to plan and prepare as well.

"We monitor storms and potential weather problems at least four days out from the Barksdale area," said Tech Sgt. Sandy Bates, 26th OWS shift supervisor. "We monitor a 13 state region for regular and inclement weather conditions, and if we see anything that potentially change into something more we flag it, predict it and watch the situation."

With 13 states to watch, the 26th OWS breaks down the states into three regions with teams to keep an eye out for inclement weather conditions, in each one.

"If we identify anything in our specific regions, we can monitor the storms closely and issue out warnings to the base through the 2nd OSS and command post," Bates said. "This way the base populace can prepare for a possible incoming storm, flood or worse. The more people know and the sooner they know the better they can prepare."

When dangerous weather is fast approaching, time becomes a critical factor in base preparedness. This is when the weather squadrons takes huge amounts of data and turns it into critical information for the base.

"We compile all the information from the regions into in a daily threat assessment and discuss possible weather conditions that can affect Barksdale and other bases as well," said Master Sgt. Kenneth Montenegro, 26th OWS region 2 flight chief. "We take all that information and if need be, issue alerts for possible inclement weather at least two hours out from our area."

With the combined team effort of two weather units, Barksdale has its eye on weather and helps keep Airmen safe from storms by notifying them when severe weather blows in.

"When it comes to weather alerts, our false alarm rate is less than 25 percent," Vaughn said. "We are the best at what we do, and the information that we provide can help save lives with early notifications."