NOAA's NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TO PLAY KEY ROLE IN WINTER OLYMPICS
SALT LAKE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE'S WEATHER TEAM IS ANOTHER OLYMPIC FIRST
Public, Private and Academic Experts Team up to Provide Olympic Forecasts

April 5, 2001 — In a few short months, the eyes of the world will turn to Utah as an estimated 3,500 athletes and officials from 80 countries will participate in the XIX Olympic Winter Games.

The Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002 today announced a unique partnership between NOAA's National Weather Service, the University of Utah, and Salt Lake City's KSL-TV to provide the most accurate, timely and venue-specific weather forecasts during the Games.

The Winter Olympics will be staged in Northern Utah Feb. 8-24, 2002. With the Wasatch Mountains rising more than 11,000 feet as it forms the dramatic perimeter of Salt Lake City, the city and surrounding areas will host those competing for top honors in seven winter sports and more than 78 medal events. In addition, the world's top Paralympians take the same stage March 7-16, 2002 for the VIII Paralympic Winter Games. This will be the first time a host city has integrated preparations for both these world-class sporting events.

According to Mitt Romney, president and chief executive officer of SLOC, this is also the first time an Olympic Committee has called on government and private meteorologists as well as academic experts to join together to share forecast responsibilities. SLOC has assembled the special group they're calling the Salt Lake 2002 Weather Support Project. The combined weather team specialists' efforts will provide a safe competition venue for the athletes and weather forecasts for the general public. Romney explained each partner will be responsible for a specific function during the Games.

NOAA's National Weather Service will provide the base-level meteorological and hydrological services used by the weather partners. This includes issuing winter storm warnings to the state's two million residents as well as an estimated one and one-half million visitors expected to come to the Games. The weather service will also brief public safety, aviation operations, security and emergency management officials.

"The weather service and our sister NOAA agencies will work together to ensure the safety of several million people during the Olympic Winter Games. We will continually provide the latest high-tech weather, water and climate information," said retired Brig. Gen. Jack Kelly, director of the National Weather Service. "The public will be relying on us as they plan their commute from venue to venue and how to protect themselves from the outdoor elements."

At least twice each day, the weather service will issue a special hazardous winter forecast during the games for the various transportation corridors leading to the Olympic venues. This forecast will aid the public who will be traveling to and from the various "park and ride" lots and also help transportation officials ensure a smooth flow of traffic.

"We want everyone to be weather-wise and weather-safe during the Games. Our job will be very important to ensure people coming to Utah will be prepared for various winter weather conditions that can change in a short period of time," Kelly said. "We know the National Weather Service forecasts and warnings will be an important tool for people associated with or attending the games."

SLOC's Olympic Games chief meteorologist is Mark Eubank. He will lead the thirteen- member team of private meteorologists who will focus on preparing forecasts for the outdoor venues. At least one meteorologist, equipped with a variety of meteorological data, will be at each venue. This team will also continually brief SLOC management officials, venue managers, coaches and athletes, on weather conditions and forecasts. Eubank's team will be responsible for the forecasts for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Eubank is also KSL-TV's chief meteorologist at the local NBC-TV affiliate.

The University of Utah has developed weather tracking systems designed specifically for Utah and the Games. Five years ago the University received funding from the United States government and began installing weather sensors that detect temperature, wind, humidity and precipitation at each of the venues. Each venue has an average of three sensors.

"The Olympics present a wonderful opportunity for the University of Utah's Meteorology Department to do some much valued service, while at the same time fulfill our role as teachers and researchers," said Dr. Edward Zipser, professor and chair of the University of Utah Department of Meteorology. "Approximately one-third of our students have been involved in some aspect of this weather program. We are excited about the opportunities the partnership with the National Weather Service, KSL and SLOC is bringing to the University both short and long-term, and proud that we can make a contribution."

The joint weather support project forecast team already exercised its collaborative forecasting and communications capabilities during many World Cup and U.S. Finals competitive events staged in Utah this February and March. These events served as good tests for the Games' organizers, sports managers, volunteers, coaches, athletes as well as the weather partners who are working diligently to ensure everything and everyone will be ready and prepared for the Games.

This winter, one of the test events was canceled because too much snow fell just before the event was scheduled to begin. Volunteers at Snowbasin Resort near Ogden, Utah, didn't have time to remove the snow and prepare the course according to the Olympic guidelines before the scheduled start time.

SLOC's Romney said, "As we saw during the downhill and super-G World Cups this year at Snowbasin, the weather is highly variable and plays a key role in Olympic competition. We're confident the weather specialists we've assembled will make the venues safe for athletes and comfortable for spectators."

The official Olympic Weather Center will be located at the weather service's Salt Lake City Forecast Office where the representatives from the private and government meteorological teams will prepare their daily forecasts.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's National Weather Service

NOAA's Salt Lake City, Utah, National Weather Service Forecast Office

Winter Olympics and Paralympics

Media Contact:
Marilu Trainor, NOAA's National Weather Service Western Region, Salt Lake City, Utah, (801) 524-5692 ext. 226

 

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