Friday September 22, 2006 was Environment Appreciation Day at the New Mexico State Fair. National Weather Service WFO Albuquerque participated by setting up a small ‘booth’ along Governors Drive. Five members of the Albuquerque office participated in the event including Keith Hayes, WCM, Deirdre Kann, SOO, Ken Drozd, SF, Raymond Jojola, HMT, and Aldis Strautins, GF. A maximum minimum temperature sensor (MMTS) was setup along with a NOAA all hazards weather radio receiver, a radiosonde and balloon, and cooperative observer rain gauge.

While we focused on meeting our customers and recruiting spotters, the conversation topic of the day was the current weather. The temperature under mostly cloudy skies stayed unseasonably cool for this time of year with a reading at the booth of 64 degrees, or 16 degrees below the normal of 80!

Brochures with information on weather hazards across New Mexico, our web site address and contact information were distributed. A number of school teachers and home school educators received materials to take back to their classrooms. A few fair goers just stopped by to say thanks for the good job and that they appreciated the accurate and timely forecasts that the Albuquerque office provides.

Forecaster Aldis Strautins is ready to meet the public at the 2006 New Mexico State Fair.

Some of our customers signed up to join our Albuquerque Storm Spotter Enhancement Team, or ASSET, and a pamphlet describing the program is available. The primary objective of the ASSET program is to obtain timely and accurate reports of all types of significant weather. Reports from volunteer spotters improve our products and services in a number of ways. More information on becoming a spotter and ASSET can be found on our Skywarn page.

Thanks to all who visited and signed up as spotters!