WBAN was Weather Bureau, Army, Navy. It was a form where surface observations were recorded. Those were…let’s see it if can remember from left to right…time of the observation…ceiling or cloud heights…visibility, present weather i.e. fog, thunderstorm etc, SLP, temp, dewpoint, wind direction and speed, pressure in inches… i.e. 994 meant 29.94 inches, and then column 13 where you could expand on what you could see such as CB 20 E movg W, or whatever you thought was appropriate…and then of course your initials so they could blame you later. :>)

The NWS no longer takes this type of observation it’s been contracted out except maybe in the Alaska and Pacific Regions.

I beleive the form is now the 10C…and if I start talking about the Circular 9 please tell me to up my medication. :>)

Tom

I certainly would like to hears some of those paraweather stories. HALO in…hump out. I BELIEVE IT!

God!

BTW-Ummm…what is WBAN?

Sal

If I told you how paraweather operated in Vietnam you wouldn’t believe it…a M-16….a .45 a WBAN…a radio and a sling pyschrometer. And you better have some good boots. Cause they ain’t comin’ after you.

HALO in…hump out.

Tom

Yes, it does answer my question. Thanks!

Yes, I checked out Popeye. Interesting stuff, too. Wow, what havoc that rainfall caused!

Yes, I have read about many Grey Berets assigned to Army units nowadays. I saw a USAF CWT sarge wearing a 10th Mountaineers patch on his Air Force cammies!

Sal

Weather is weather,but when I was in the AWS we concentrated strictly on the “air patch” meaning only what effected our base…that was a long time ago and may have changed, but in my day we weren’t even allowed to discuss weather with non-military folks…meaning if a local news station called I could not help them. Our mission was strictly to protect the aircraft and the AFB…nothing else. The USAF I assume is still primarily dedicated to aviation weather while the NWS is responsible for the protection of life and property for all citizens.

By the way, did you check out Popeye…I could tell you stories about that, but as far as I know I have never been released to talk about what I know about it. The only reason I mentioned it was because the Project itself was outted many years ago.

There has been a considerable change in USAF weather whereas the very few Gray Berets fom back in the day are now assigned to Army units like the Ist Cav and the 82nd so I’m assuming that there are many more now.

I hope I helped, but may have confused more than explained.

I’m moving this post to a newer one because I didn’t see you question until today.

Tom

I’d like to have been more specific in my answer, but I’ve spent my entire career in the Southern Region so severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes are really my forte. Snowstorms, other than the rather puny, but nonetheless interesting storm in South Texas is a rarity to me, Nor’easters are just something I’ve read about. I’ve only been to New York once and that was probably before you were born. We all know the dynamics, but that’s not like working it yourself.

I’ll defer any questions about snow to David, who is in the “frozen tundra” of Montana and has apparently also worked in Alaska, another frightenly cold place to southerners.

So David it’s up to you for anything WAY UP NORTH. :>)

Thanks, Tom…a coastal creature who likes it hot and humid. :>)

As I said in an earlier post meteorology is now just a hobby…yeah right…my latest comments to those who ask me for a forecast is “take two umbrellas and call me at the office” of course I no longer go to the office, so sorry about that, but having said that I’ll send your viewers/blog posters to a site that may be able to answer their legitimate questions.

http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/lanina_new_faq.html

Tom