WFO Miami MIC Rusty Pfost and SOO Pablo Santos (far right) explain WFO operations to DOC Dep. Sec. Kassinger and his daughter Anna, as NHC Director Max Mayfield looks on. (Photo: Courtesy WFO Miami)

U.S. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Theodore W. Kassinger paid a visit to the National Weather Service Forecast Office and National Hurricane Center in Miami February 17. Meteorologist-in-Charge Rusty Pfost guided the Secretary through the Weather Forecast Office and utilized a poster display to help explain the many forecast and warning responsibilities and functions of the Miami office and the 121 other WFOs throughout the nation. They also discussed the interactions with local universities on mesoscale modeling efforts and rip current forecasts. Secretary Kassinger was specifically interested in the hydrology program.

Science and Operations Officer Pablo Santos explained mesoscale modeling and the interactions of the land and the Gulf Stream. He also discussed wave models and the lack of buoys in the Gulf Stream - which presents a challenge for marine forecasting.

Warning Coordination Meteorologist Jim Lushine detailed the very successful rip current program that originated in the Miami WFO and was quickly adopted as a national effort. Secretary Kassinger said he was aware of the rip current program and also expressed a keen interest in lightning safety outreach. After spending nearly two hours meeting NWS and NHC staffers and reviewing numerous operational functions, Secretary Kassinger expressed his appreciation and said he was quite impressed with everything he learned during the visit.