NOAA’s story map takes you inside tornado alley to NOAA’s Norman, Okla., campus. It’s here that some of the world’s most significant scientific and technological breakthroughs are born. From the front lines of meteorology and the way forecasts are made, to a revealing look at what’s on the horizon, you’ll see how NOAA continues to change the face of weather forecasting. Catch the action in America’s heartland!
NOAA’s Norman, Okla., facility lies within Tornado Alley, one of the world’s most tornado-prone areas. In the glass-walled corridors, all eyes are on the sky.
Many of the world's severe weather experts work in Norman. Some focus on research and keep our nation's radars running. Others forecast severe thunderstorms and tornadoes for the lower 48. NOAA forecasters cover Alaska and Hawaii in their own regions.
For Norman staff, work is personal as well as a professional passion. They know how life-changing severe weather can be. As this story map was being developed, eye-witnesses reported over 825 tornadoes tearing through the Great Plains. More advanced radar, more precise warnings, and forecasters who identified risks days in advance helped spare lives during this year's unprecedented stretch of tornado activity.
Continue reading at NOAA.
Image via NOAA.