A County weather school

2 years ago

The County casts a magic spell;

It’s a place I remember oh, so well.

And should a chance to return emerge

I’d never be able to resist the urge.

And we are working on such a plan —

To start a weather school, man, oh man.

Yes indeed, I’m working on a plan to come back to a place that I’ve missed since the day I left it: beautiful Aroostook County. Though this time I wouldn’t be broadcasting the weather, I’d be teaching it.

Recently, on my Facebook Page, facebook.com/tedintheclouds, I posted that I was hoping to start a weather school in Aroostook County. That post drew many, many replies, with support for the idea unanimous.

One of my key aims is to make the good people of The County sky-aware, so that they can make their own short-range weather forecasts, which not only will aid in their short-range planning, but also, potentially, keep them out of danger. It’s way easier to learn how to read the sky than you think.

My thought is to have a class open to both students and adults.

I need to find a viable site which could seat 30-35 people, and which would have a computer, projector, screen and a whiteboard or blackboard on which to write.

I am also open to the idea of being a traveling weather teacher, going to schools and organizations throughout the County.

Each class would feature an outdoor component. So no matter what the weather is doing outside, we go out for 10-15 minutes, so you’d want to dress for the weather. I’ve taught this class for 20 years, and my “formal” name for it is, “Eyes on the Sky: A Field Course in Weather Observation.” Outdoor observation is a critical aspect of the class, thus the words “field course” in the title.

Weather knowledge can be lifesaving, and that knowledge can be passed from generation to generation, as was recently demonstrated to me by a former student telling me that when he takes his daughter golfing, he also teachers her about the sky, and what the clouds are “telling” them.

I have seen easy-to-recognize vertically developing cumulus clouds in the morning, continue to grow and become thunderstorms. Strong winds from thunderstorms can turn the surface of our tranquil lakes into what looks like an angry ocean. But you would not be caught in that, because you would have seen the sky clues which you will learn in my class.

Please don’t be scared off by thinking this class would be too technical for you. It will be totally user-friendly, going at a nice, slow pace.

My goal in life is to spread the proverbial “weather gospel”. Why? Because teaching people how to be “sky smart” makes them “weather savvy,” and being weather savvy is useful in myriad ways, including keeping you out of potentially dangerous situations, such as going on an errand and experiencing unexpected whiteouts. After taking my class, being surprised by whiteouts will be a thing of the past.

This is, I think, a superb idea for Aroostook County. However, we would need to find a funding source. It would not require an overly large sum. If you know people who agree that this would be a fantastic thing to have in The County, and who might in addition be good grant writers or perhaps have other funding ideas, please have them message me on my Facebook page.

A County weather school? Now that would be very cool.

Meteorologist Ted Shapiro wrote his column “Weather Whys” during the 15 years he was a Presque Isle resident. Although he now lives in southwest Florida, he keeps in touch with his loyal readers in these pages from time to time.