National Weather Service Amarillo, Texas facts for kids
 Logo of the National Weather Service Amarillo office |
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| Agency overview | |
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| Jurisdiction | Federal Government of the United States |
| Headquarters | 1900 English Road, Amarillo, Texas 79108 |
| Employees | 18 |
| Agency executives |
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| Parent agency | National Weather Service |
The National Weather Service Amarillo, Texas is like a superhero team that watches over the weather! They serve 23 counties in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. Their main job is to give weather forecasts for towns and airports in places like Guymon, Dalhart, and Amarillo. This office started way back on January 1, 1892, just five years after the city of Amarillo was founded. They use cool tools like the WSR-88D (NEXRAD) radar and ASOS sensors to check the latest weather. They also use a special computer system called AWIPS to create forecasts, warnings, and advisories.
History of Weather Forecasting in Amarillo
The first weather office in Amarillo wasn't built from scratch. It moved from Fort Sill, Oklahoma! In 1892, a person named Mr. Wayland Bailey moved all the office furniture and tools into the Amarillo Opera House. The weather tools were placed on the roof of this building.
Early Weather Warnings (1894-1902)
Back then, weather information was very different. In 1894, Mr. Bailey thought that cold wave signals and rain warnings weren't very helpful. Cold wave signals were big flags, six by eight feet, raised at the office. But they were often put up after the cold air had already arrived! The Weather Bureau also relied on local newspapers like the "Amarillo Champion" to share weather news.
However, by 1895, Mr. Bailey started to see how important forecasts were. He wrote that people were very interested in the forecasts, especially about the wind. Even today, over 100 years later, knowing the wind's strength and direction is still super important in Amarillo!
First Dedicated Weather Building (1903)
After Mr. Bailey, three more people led the office. Then, in April 1902, Mr. Peter Wood became the first "Official in Charge." He opened Amarillo's first building just for the Weather Bureau in June 1903. This two-story building had the weather office on the first floor and living quarters for Mr. Wood on the second floor.
Recording Amarillo's Weather (1906-1925)
In November 1906, Mr. T.J. Considine took over. He was in charge until he passed away in 1925. Mr. Considine was like Amarillo's first true weatherman! He wrote down all sorts of weather events. He described winters with snow drifts four to five feet high, which stopped street cars. He even recorded record-breaking snowfalls that are still records today.
On June 6, 1908, Mr. Considine wrote about what might have been Amarillo's first recorded tornado. He saw "several funnel shaped clouds" about two to three miles away. One of them touched down, damaging a house and a windmill.
Focus on Aviation and Growth (1930s-1960s)
The Weather Bureau in Amarillo grew from a one-person office to one with several employees. In the early 1930s, the focus shifted to the fast-growing aviation (airplane) industry. A separate Weather Bureau office was set up at English Field airport in 1932.
In June 1940, the Weather Bureau moved into the Department of Commerce. Then, in April 1941, the downtown office closed. All weather observations moved to the Amarillo Air Terminal. Mr. Henry Winburn became Amarillo's first "Meteorologist in Charge" and stayed in that job until he died in 1962.
Women in Weather (1943-1946)
During World War II, many men went to fight, creating a shortage of workers. This led to many women joining the Weather Bureau! The Amarillo office had eleven female observers from 1943 to 1946. However, the very first female employee was Miss Angela Considine, who worked for her father as an assistant observer in 1920.
Pioneering Tornado Warnings (1949)
For a long time, the Weather Bureau didn't issue tornado warnings. They thought it would just cause panic. In fact, the word "tornado" was avoided until warnings started in 1950. But Mr. Winburn didn't let that stop him! In May 1949, he went on the radio to warn people in Amarillo about a coming tornado. Six people sadly died in that tornado, and a local newspaper criticized the Weather Bureau. However, an investigation showed that Mr. Winburn's office did a great job, especially given the rules at the time. They even received praise from the head of the Bureau!
New Technology (1952-1961)
Mr. Winburn also helped bring in the first weather radars. In 1952, a "Radar Storm Detection Unit" was installed. This was a modified radar from World War II! Then, in 1961, one of the Weather Bureau's first network weather radars (WSR-57) was set up in Amarillo. Other cool changes included warning teletype communications in 1955 and transferring Upper Atmospheric (Radiosonde) observations to the local office in 1956.
Modern Era (1975-Present)
The Amarillo Weather Bureau office stayed at the Amarillo Terminal until 1975. Then, a new building was built at 1920 English Road to hold all the new technology and bring in the computer age. By this time, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had been created, and the Weather Bureau became the National Weather Service.
The office moved to its current location at 1900 English Road in 1989. This new office was built for the latest technology and a larger team. More meteorologists (weather scientists) were added. This meant the office became responsible for forecasting weather for the entire Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. In 1992, an Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) was set up. This was one of the first in the country! A WSR-88D Doppler Weather Radar was started in March 1994. This radar was the second of its kind in the whole country and the first in Texas!
NOAA Weather Radio
The National Weather Service office in Amarillo broadcasts weather information on several NOAA Weather Radio stations. These stations cover the area where the office provides warnings.
Counties Served
The National Weather Service Office in Amarillo, Texas, watches over the weather in these counties 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
Oklahoma Panhandle
Texas Panhandle
