Forecasters keep Robins aware, prepared Published Dec. 2, 2011 By Chrissy Miner 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Late afternoon, Nov. 16, employees here found themselves crowded into hallways and other designated shelter-in-place locations, as the siren on giant voice roared. The award-winning weather flight here had just issued a tornado warning on the installation, which trigged a frequently- rehearsed movement of the masses into designated safe locations. Almost programmatically, phone calls launched to check on loved-ones and Facebook updates were posted to the Web. Quickly, the wellness checks turned into confusion and distress. "What do you mean my kids are on the school bus?" exclaimed one mother. "How can that happen; wasn't a tornado warning just issued?" 1st Lt. Devan Lynch, weather flight commander, offers some insight into the mother's concern that day. "Unlike the National Weather Service, our watches and warnings are for a much smaller area of interest," said Lynch. "A Robins weather watch or warning is valid for a five-mile area of interest centered on Robins, whereas a NWS warning may cover hundreds of square miles in one issuance." While the base was under a NWS 'watch' during the issuance of the base tornado warning, NWS never issued a warning which would have impacted the region off-base. The day began as typical, with a comprehensive situational awareness and forecast discussion briefing given by Senior Airman Nicole Gilmore. As the day progressed, the weather flight kept a stern eye on the increasingly changing state of the atmosphere. By early afternoon, the team decided conditions were favorable for tornadoes in the region, including Robins. The weather watch was upgraded for the potential of severe weather at 1:15 p.m. As the storms advanced, the weather team, in conjunction with the regional forecasting center at Barksdale AFB, used Doppler weather radar to interrogate the storm cells. Rotation within the cells was indicated by velocity data, which led to the issuance of the tornado warning. "Using the latest in weather radar, satellite, and lightning detection technology, we initiated the tornado warning at 3:20 p.m.," said Roddy Nixon, senior meteorological technician. "We observed a wall cloud, commonly associated with tornado producing storms, as it moved across the northern perimeter of base." Fortunately, a tornado never touched ground on Robins that day. However, the storm did produce over a dozen reports of wind damage, hail, and tornadoes just east of the base. The close call that day stresses the need for preparedness when dealing with severe weather, says Nixon. "Both forecast offices, here at Robins and at NWS Atlanta, place a high premium on preparedness for the occurrence of severe weather," he said. "We are constantly reminding members of Team Robins to remain vigilant." "Watches mean 'think' and warnings mean 'act', no matter who issues them," added Lynch. "There is no room for a lax attitude when it comes to severe weather!" Severe weather preparedness actions can be found on the Robins public website, under additional links, Weather, and Severe Weather Awareness.