— The Clements High School Senior Advanced Government and Economics class recently visited the National Weather Service at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

The class, taught by Jason Black, had the chance to visit the NWS’s “Command Center” to see the day-to-day operations of the group and learned about the work the National Weather Service does for the North Alabama region.

The group wanted to see how a government agency receives funding and uses it to assist citizens. The group learned about the work that goes into predicting severe weather and even forecasting the aspects of daily weather, such as temperature and rainfall.

Dave Nadler, warning coordination meteorologist, was very helpful and insightful on all subjects dealing with predicting weather, communicating with emergency management personnel, and getting warnings out to affected areas during inclement weather.

The students also had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Kevin Knupp, who is a widely known and well-respected professor of Atmospheric Sciences at UAH. Dr. Knupp and his doctoral Ph.D. students discussed with the class the scientific details of the events of the April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak in North Alabama.

Within days of the outbreak, Dr. Knupp along with members of the National Weather Service Survey Team toured affected areas such as Clements, Tanner and East Limestone.

Dr. Knupp pointed out that, “Mr. (Jason) Black took them over every section of damage in each community, which lasted over a period of days. Mr. Black was also helpful in giving information about the people in these areas that were affected in 1974 as well, which is the information they need to help predict the reasons for reoccurrence of tornadoes in the same area.” 

Dr. Knupp and his assistants also talked about the work they have been doing to try and determine the cause of the tornado outbreak and why certain super cell thunderstorms did not develop into something more serious.

The students toured the storm tracking vehicles that Dr. Knupp and his staff use to track tornados and collect data. UAH and Dr. Knupp’s research is dedicated to saving lives by collecting data to assist in predicting tornadoes that will save lives.

Black, the son of former EMA Director Spencer Black, said he was very excited to take his students on this field trip.

Limestone County unfortunately has been and most likely will again be affected by severe weather. Black is always striving to make his students understand how important it is to be involved and the importance of family, community and volunteering to make Limestone County a better place.

Bronson Warren, a senior at Clements High School, said  about the experience: “It was very interesting to learn about everything that actually goes into predicting the weather because we take it for granted every day. It is a grueling task.  From now on, I believe all of us that made the trip will watch the weather more attentively and with respect for those protecting us.”