WEATHER SERVICE OPEN HOUSE SET

PADUCAH, KY. -- People will have an opportunity to see the new technology and day-to-day activities at work at the National Weather Service office in Paducah May 8.

"We're hosting an open house," said David Blanchard of the office. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

The Weather Service, which has been in Paducah since 1984 -- it previously was at Cairo, Ill. -- keeps the public informed about weather and river conditions over a 58-county area of Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois, Southwest Indiana and Western Kentucky.

The Weather Service uses a highly technical and sophisticated radar system known as WSR-88D, weather surveillance radar 1988 Doppler, which allows meteorologists to see wind velocities and wind fields to determine severe weather.

"We can now see wind fields in mid-atmosphere, which is a big plus in determining severe weather," said Blanchard.

The Weather Service is located near the U.S. 60-Fisher Road intersection near Barkley Regional Airport.

Due to limited parking at the office, which was constructed in 1995, free parking will be offered at the airline terminal parking lot at Barkley. Free shuttle service will be provided from the terminal to the office by the Paducah Area Transit Authority.

The public will get a look at the Doppler radar, including displays of archived or live severe weather events within the Paducah service area, said Blanchard.

An overview of the river forecasts and warnings, aviation and public forecast responsibilities as well as severe weather operations will be presented.

Visitors also will be able to see the latest technological advance -- the Advanced Weather Information Processing System (AWIPS), said Blanchard.