Consolidating Forecast Services for Garrett County to Baltimore/Washington NWS
REISTERSTOWN, MD (November 9, 2020) — Residents of Garrett County, Maryland, who have historically relied on weather forecasts and alerts from the National Weather Service Pittsburgh, will experience a change starting tomorrow, November 10. The National Weather Service (NWS) is transitioning weather forecast responsibility for Garrett County, along with Cecil County, to the NWS Baltimore/Washington Weather Forecast Office in Sterling, Virginia. This strategic move aims to streamline weather services across Maryland, particularly along the critical I-95 corridor and west of the Chesapeake Bay.
This consolidation means that NWS Baltimore/Washington will now be the single source for NWS forecasts and warnings for all Maryland counties situated west of the Chesapeake Bay, in addition to Cecil County. The NWS Philadelphia Weather Forecast Office in Mount Holly, NJ, will continue to provide services for Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties. Meanwhile, the NWS Wakefield, VA office, serving the Hampton Roads area, will remain responsible for Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties.
Russ Strickland, Executive Director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), highlighted the benefits of this change. “The I-95 corridor is often a key dividing line for weather patterns in Maryland. Having one NWS office responsible for this area will significantly enhance coordination,” Strickland stated. He further emphasized the strong existing partnerships with all NWS forecast offices serving Maryland and expressed confidence that this consolidation would further improve joint operations and communication among the three offices moving forward.
Previously, MEMA engaged in weather coordination calls with all four NWS offices, along with local emergency managers and state agencies, especially before major weather events. With this transition, these critical coordination efforts will now involve three NWS offices, promising a more efficient and unified approach.
James E. Lee, Meteorologist-in-Charge at NWS Baltimore/Washington, explained the rationale behind the transfer. “This transition allows us to better serve the needs of our state and local emergency management partners in Maryland. It will provide more streamlined and consistent forecast and warning services from the Chesapeake Bay all the way to the mountainous regions of Garrett County in western Maryland,” Lee said.
Garrett County’s connection to the National Weather Service Pittsburgh dates back to the 1990s. At that time, the doppler radar located at the Pittsburgh office offered superior coverage for the area. However, advancements in weather technology have significantly improved data sharing capabilities between NWS offices. NWS Baltimore/Washington is now fully equipped to deliver comprehensive forecasts and warnings for Maryland’s westernmost county, utilizing the entire network of NWS doppler radars and local weather observations.
John Frank, Director of Garrett County Emergency Management, underscored the importance of timely and accurate weather information for his region. “In our Hazard Mitigation Plan and Emergency Response Plan, severe winter weather is identified as the most significant threat to Garrett County,” Frank noted. He believes that “condensing NWS stations across Maryland and achieving faster weather alerts will enhance situational awareness for our dedicated volunteers and staff, ultimately improving service to Garrett County’s residents and visitors.”
Expanding NWS Baltimore/Washington’s responsibilities to include Cecil County also brings a valuable advantage. With this change, both shores of the Susquehanna River will now receive forecasts and warnings from the same NWS office. This is particularly beneficial because flood risks in this area tend to be similar across the river during the same weather events.
Richard K. Brooks III, Director of the Cecil County Department of Emergency Services, echoed the positive impact of the transition. “This move to the Baltimore/Washington Weather Forecast Office will streamline forecasts and strengthen weather products in Maryland, especially concerning the Interstate 95 corridor,” Brooks stated. He anticipates that it will “significantly aid in creating a unified weather picture along this vital transportation route in Maryland.”
To support this service transition, the National Weather Service is offering free online SKYWARN weather spotter classes for residents of both Garrett and Cecil counties. The Garrett County class is scheduled for November 17, and the Cecil County training will be held on November 18, both from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For further details about this transition, please visit the Baltimore/Washington Forecast Office news headlines.
CONTACT: Jorge Castillo, [email protected], 443-381-3518
Ed McDonough, [email protected], 410-446-3333
24/7 line: 877-636-2872
NWS BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON CONTACT: Chris Strong, [email protected]
