Page 20 - Desert Lightning News, So. AZ Edition, Aug. 4 2017

20 August 2017 Desert Lightning News www.aerotechnews.com/davis-monthanafb
Airmen from the 25th Operational Weather Squadron pose for a photograph July 19 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The 25th OWS works 24/7 to monitor the base’s weather conditions and their potential effects on operations.
Story and photos by Airman 1st Class MICHAEL BEYER
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
From mid-June to late September, monsoon not only brings with it heavy rains and severe thunderstorms, but also sends a surge of personnel from the 25th Operational Weather Squadron right to the unit’s operations hub.
“It’s definitely a lot busier,” said Airman 1st Class Cody Leahy, 25th OWS forecaster. “We issue more watches, warnings and advisories for each zone.”
The 25th OWS adjusts its operations by taking into account the cyclic and predictable behavior of monsoon.
“We have extra workers on the floor during the day time and into the evening hours,” said Master Sgt. Ann Barrett, 25th OWS super- intendent.
Rain isn’t always the problem with monsoon.
“The biggest risk with the thunderstorms isn’t necessarily the rain, but the winds associated with them,” Leahy said.
Both winds and lightning within close proximity hinder airfield operations at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
“Crosswinds, winds that blow across the runway instead of up and down the runway, that are more than 15 knots can stop A-10 opera- tions,” Barrett said.
While precautions exist, such as monitoring lightning, many times forecasters must decide whether to shut down flying operations or proceed as scheduled.
“We usually err on the side of caution,” Leahy said. “Because that’s personnel, that’s aircraft, that’s millions of dollars, (and those are) peoples’ lives.”
Despite the challenges and increased tempo during monsoon, the 25th OWS remains busy year-round. After monsoon is over, forecast- ers monitor the weather activity in the states of Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
“We shift from being busy with the desert during monsoon then we shift up north,” Barrett said. “We don’t get a break.”
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25th OWS ramps up operations for monsoon
Tech. Sgt. Ryan Mendiola, 25th OWS weather forecaster, monitors weather data
July 19 at D-M. Forecasters from the 25th OWS monitor weather conditions for the Airman 1st Class Cody Leahy, 25th OWS forecaster, monitors base wind velocity western part of the continental U.S. and weather conditions at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.