Enjoy!  — Brian 

https://www.skywarn.us/features/stories#h.p_WxiJzBRTw2M_

Eyes on the Skies — Time Out!, By Pauline Schreiber, Daily News Staff Writer

FARIBAULT — When severe weather threatens, teams of volunteer skywatchers in different areas of Rice County prepare to go out in the field for observation. 

Unlike the early days of skywatching, John Rowan, Brian Klier and Adam Bjorklund have modern technology to help guide their observations. 

The three are members of the Faribault/Rice County skywatch group. The Lonsdale, Northfield and Morristown areas also have groups of volunteers ready to go into the field when a severe weather watch is issued by the National Weather Service. 

Rice County’s Emergency Management Department trains skywatchers, and when severe weather threatens Rowan acts as the observations coordinator. He goes to the basement of the Rice County Law Enforcement Center and uses equipment that enables him to track the location of the skywatcher vehicles in the field, communicate with them verbally, and watch National Weather Service radar on computers. 

Meanwhile, field observers like Klier and Bjorklund, with wireless, portable computer terminals in their vehicles, drive toward the inclement weather. They watch the National Weather Service radar report on their computer screens to determine where the severe weather is headed and drive to that location to observe the clouds. 

“Why you still need ground spotters, even with the sophisticated weather radar they have today, is that radar can only predict where a tornado might be forming,” Klier said. “Radar can’t tell if there is a wall cloud, a funnel cloud or a tornado on the ground. That’s why skywatchers are still very much needed when severe weather threatens.” 

Bjorklund demonstrated a portable wind meter, another tool used by field observers to report back wind speed, direction and barometric pressure. This information is helpful in determining where severe weather is headed. 

Skywatchers report their sightings to Rowan. If a tornado, straight-line winds or other life-threatening severe weather is sighted, he reports the findings to appropriate emergency-management personnel, such as Mike Monge, Faribault’s director of fire and code enforcement; Rick Rabeneck, Rice County’s emergency management director; and emergency management supervisors in Lonsdale, Northfield and Morristown. 

“Most of all of us are volunteers. The equipment we carry in our cars we buy. We do this because we enjoy watching the weather, and by doing so help warn people of the county so they can take shelter before a tornado or other severe weather hits,” Rowan said. 

The skywatchers are helped by deputies, other law officers and firefighters who also take the county-provided skywatch training each spring. Even experienced skywatchers like Rowan, Klier and Bjorklund take refresher courses every two years. Rowan has been an weather observer for 14 years; Klier since 1990, when he was a junior in high school and his father piqued his interest; and Bjorklund for the past five years. 

“We have footage of the 2000 tornado by Northfield that we use in our training,” Rowan said. 

In 1998, on March 29, the night of the famous St. Peter tornado, another tornado touched down in the northwestern part of Rice County, including the city of Lonsdale. 

Klier also remembers the night of the Faribault Heritage Days parade that same year, when he was out watching some very “serious weather” headed toward Faribault from the west. “They quickly canceled the end of the parade, but a lot of people got drenched with the heavy rains. There was also strong winds and dime-sized hail in places. It was quite the system.” 

All three warned when people hear the severe weather sirens go off, they should seek shelter and not go outside and look at the sky. 

“In this county, sirens are only sounded when a tornado or straight-line winds are coming our way,” Rowan said. “People shouldn’t be outside gazing at the sky. They need to take shelter.” 

Tornadoes have occurred at all hours of the day, Klier said. However, right before supper time is when more form than any other time of day. 

“We do this because we really like weather and enjoy watching it develop,” Klier said. “But, we also do it because we’re giving something back to the community, in a small way, by helping protect people.” 

When the severe sirens go off, Rowan said, “people can turn (on) their radios … and listen to the weather advisory. They should not call 911. Unfortunately, too often, when sirens sound, people call 911. That ties up that emergency phone system. Instead, listen to the radio, or more importantly, take shelter. Go to the basement or into a room without windows. Take weather warnings seriously. The decision to sound sirens are not taken lightly. There’s a real weather threat when they go off.”

Weather week 

Monday, April 18
Warning system: Severe weather warnings are prepared and issued by the National Weather Service. A severe weather or tornado watch means conditions are such that a severe thunderstorm, hail, straight-line winds or a tornado could develop. A tornado or thunderstorm warning means they are imminent and to seek shelter. 

Tuesday, April 19
Hail and other damage: Nationally, the annual damage toll from hail alone is about $1 billion. Hail, thunderstorms, straight-line winds and heat waves cause extensive damage in Minnesota every year. High temperatures can quickly cause heat exhaustion, especially in children and elderly people. 

Wednesday, April 20
Lightening: Last year, 90 Minnesotans lost buildings and belongings because of fires caused by lightening. The damage totaled $2.727 million. Lightening kills and injures more people than any other summer weather threat. 

Thursday, April 21
Tornado Drill Day
The statewide tornado drill is set for this day. In Faribault, sirens will go off at 1:45 p.m. and 6:55 p.m. The first drill allows daytime employees and students to practice their emergency plans at work or school. The 6:55 p.m. drill allows evening and nighttime employees and families to practice emergency plans at home or work. Mock tornado watches will be issued locally at 9 a.m. for the first drill and at 4 p.m. for the evening drill. All agencies are responsible for giving the all clear notice when they have finished their drills. 

Mike Monge, director of fire and code and services for the city of Faribault, and Rice County Emergency Management Director Rick Rabeneck encourage all businesses, schools, medical facilities and families to practice their severe weather plan. Friday, April 22
Flash floods: On average, five flash floods occur in Minnesota annually, most of them in June. Half of flash-flood fatalities occur in vehicles.

— Information from Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management office.