Forecasters provide key insight before the storms

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Lauren Snyder, 18th Operations Support Squadron weather forecaster, uses a laser range finder on Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 6, 2012. Military weather forecasters use the laser range finder to measure the height and distance of a specific cloud or landmark from the position of the range finder to help them determine the altitude and distance of a cloud formation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Hailey R. Davis)

Forecasters provide key insight before the storms

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Lauren Snyder, 18th Operations Support Squadron weather forecaster, watches monitors while weather stirs around Okinawa on Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 6, 2012. The satellite radar technology allows weather personnel to predict lightening and high winds in different areas around the island and in other countries such as China and Guam. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Hailey R. Davis)

Forecasters provide key insight before the storms

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Lauren Snyder, 18th Operations Support Squadron weather forecaster, speaks with a customer over the phone on the weather update for the following day on Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 6, 2012. Weather forecasters continually monitor the weather to provide up-to-date mission support. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Hailey R. Davis)

Forecasters provide key insight before the storms

Published June 6, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Hailey Davis
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Okinawa narrowly escaped its first typhoon strike just days after typhoon season began, but most Kadena residents weren't caught off-guard thanks to a typhoon readiness system and the base's weather forecasters.

Typhoon Mawar changed course at the last minute hitting cooler waters and heading off to the east, explained Master Sgt. Joseph Round, flight chief of the 18th Operations Support Squadron weather flight.

According to Round, typhoons are generally detected by the 18th Operations Support Squadron's weather flight about a week before they hit the island. The weather flight continuously monitors satellites and works with the Joint Typhoon Warning Center based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to get up to date information on storm wind speeds.

"We saw [Typhoon Mawar] a week out," said Staff Sgt. Michael Theos, 18th OSS weather forecaster. "We could see it on our forecasted models and knew there was a good chance we were going to get hit. [We told] people that between Monday and Tuesday night we were going to have 40 knots or so ... we were pretty spot on Friday with [the information] we had."

As a typhoon approaches and wind speeds on island increase, the weather flight calculates when the wing commander should change the island's Tropical Cyclone Conditions of Readiness, or TCCOR levels.

"The 18th Wing commander, (Brig. Gen. Matt Molloy), is the island's authority for TCCOR changes," Theos explained. "When we recommend TCCOR changes to him (based on the information we have) and he makes the final decision." Theos said.

When there is not a typhoon in the area, forecasters continuously monitor satellite radar for indications of thunderstorms that may impact areas near the island where Kadena pilots conduct flight training.

Theos said the weather flight also informs the unit commanders about weather storms that may threaten mission requirements or personal safety during events such as change of command ceremony out on the flightline.

The 11-year veteran forecaster said they can provide up to the minute updates on storm locations using satellite radar systems.

"We have the capability to provide weather updates anywhere in the world," said Theos.