Columbia Weather Systems

Accurate weather data leads to more accurate incident reporting, which can lead to better outcomes. Successful management of emergency incidents increasingly depends on reliable on-scene data and communication technologies. F or incident command, planning and personnel accountability can include weather monitoring technology with seamless inclusion of met data in incident reporting for documentation and analysis. Weather data is one piece that leads to a fuller and more detailed big picture. Weather data is a component of several NFIRS modules. Incident reports can include conditions during the incident such as wind and humidity, as well as weather conditions that contributed to the incident such as freezing temperatures. Analysis includes how weather conditions impacted the incident itself and response such as tactics and personnel – what was effective, what can improve, how to be prepared for next time. With rapid deployment, on-scene portable or vehicle-mounted we...

Fire departments are frequently tasked with responding when hazardous chemicals are accidentally released into the environment, especially in an inhabited area. Many crucial decisions such as approach, staging, and potential evacuation, rely on accurate, up-to-the minute local weather data. One key tool is toxic PLUME MODELING which combines information about the chemical release with meteorological data overlaid on a map. Weather conditions greatly impact toxic cloud movement . Up to date meteorological data is imperative for monitoring cloud movement to ensure responders and local inhabitants stay out of harm’s way. “Depending upon meteorology, the toxic cloud could be several miles long, but only a few blocks wide. Changing wind patterns could cause the plume to shift or meander in another direction,” says John S. Nordin, Ph.D. in his article “Evacuation or Shelter in Place.”* Plume modeling software can often accept met data from Internet sources and/or directly from...

Extreme summer heat, winter freeze, weather-related disasters. Professional weather monitoring improves the SAFETY of incident response with calculated parameters for perceived temperature and alarm notifications for extreme conditions and operational safety. “One of the most overlooked elements that affect firefighting operations and the health of firefighters themselves is the weather conditions we operate in,” said Tom Warren, retired assistant chief, Providence RI, in a Fire Engineering article. 1  Besides having a direct impact on firefighter health, weather impacts the severity of fires, increasing risk and safety hazards. Summer months bring danger of heat-related disorders and fire due to dry fuel conditions. High heat and humidity can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. The variability of wind can pose safety and fire control problems, which can result in fatalities. In winter, on-scene operational considerations include the impact of cold temperat...

If the cold of winter or the warmth of summer impacts the operation of your company, visit our website .

“The risk involved in fire suppression can be reduced if firefighters and fire managers pay attention and understand weather conditions that impact fire behavior,” states the Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, a training manual developed in conjunction with the National Interagency Fire Center. This principle applies to hazmat as well as urban and wildland-urban interface fire response. Weather monitoring is a cornerstone for predicting fire behavior. Government agencies partner with the National Weather Service to provide forecasts with local offices including Fire Analysts and Meteorologists. Additionally, on-site monitoring provides the edge in real-time decision-making. For example, a Fire Behavior Outlook* [i] concludes: “Be alert to the potential influence of thunderstorms on your fire – outflow winds, even miles from a storm, can dramatically increase fire behavior very quickly.” Here are a few examples of how weather parameters affect fire behavior: [ii] ...