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• Students gained an in-depth understanding of how we are all affected by the weather
• Pre and post evaluation was used to determine that learning has taken place
• Healthy competition to encourage students to put more effort into their studies
• Schools included inner city/underprivileged children
• Classes were chosen and honored with free trip to the zoo to teach others about animals and how they are affected by the weather
• Research & geography skills enhanced.

• Raise funds to help build a Weather Museum that will host exciting interactive exhibits for kids and adults!
• Encourage a learning interest in meteorology and oceanography
• Encourage teachers to include oceanography/meteorology in their lesson plans
• Bring attention to the fact that each and every thing is affected in some manner by the weather
• Educate the public about dangerous weather conditions and how to respond in these situations

• Zoo needs new habitat for the spectacled bear. This event involved media coverage which will also benefit the zoo.

Sponsors of the event were: Reliant Energy, ARAMARK, The Terrace, Halliburton, Office Depot, BP, Ace Mart, Access ATM, AM Express, Corporate Expressions, Family Eats, Inc., FastSigns, Houston Texans, IBEW Local 716, Joyce Long & Associates Wellness Center, Jubilant Cargo, Inc., The Hall Group, Inc., The Idea Source, Inc., and Tiger Tees. Jim Bynum and Phil Free both donated the photography services for the event.

Weather Research Center Board of Directors and The Weather Museum’s Advisory Board provide many of the volunteers for the planning of the event. The Center has great volunteers who stepped up the challenge of hosting Weather Day at the Zoo. Groups such as Prairie View A&M ‘s Tri Beta Biological Honor Society, Houston Lamar High School’s Community Service organization, University of Houston Downtown Math Association of America, Aldine’s Ladies of Distinction and Halliburton Company’s volunteers.

According to meteorologists at Weather Research Center rainfall has in 2001 surpassed the 70-inch mark, which is the first time since 1997 and only the 8th time since records have been kept. The total rainfall for Houston in 2001 was 71.18 inches above normal at Bush Intercontinental Airport and 72.55 inches at Hobby Airport. This makes 2001 the 7^th wettest year on record.

Normal yearly rainfall for Houston is 46.07 inches at Bush IAH and 45.70 inches at Hobby Airport. The following table represents the 8 other years in which Houston has received over 70 inches of rain from 1900-2001:

The wettest year on record was 1979 when 83.02 inches of rain fell at Hobby Airport. That was the year that Tropical Storm Claudette visited Houston and dumped a record 43 inches of rain in Alvin in 24 hours. The next wettest year was 1981 when 82.14 inches of rain fell at Hobby Airport. The record for Bush IAH is 70.16 inches set in 1973 which will be broken this year with the heavy rains which accompanied Tropical Storm Allison.

Notice four out of the eight years had more than 13 inched of rain in the month of June. Most of the heavy rainfall events were associated with tropical systems during the months of May through October.

If you use the OCSI which is an index that Weather Research Center usually uses to predict the landfall of tropical systems, Houston had a better than normal good chance of receiving over 60 inches of rain this year. Since 1900, there have been there have been 18 years in Houston when over 60 inches of rain fell either downtown, Hobby Airport or Bush Intercontinental.

Each summer, Weather Camp becomes an exciting opportunity for people of all ages to learn more about weather from actual meteorologists! Topics include forecasting, tornado formation, and hurricane tracking. New: two classes offered in Spanish this year!!!

June 17 (10am-3pm) *June 26 (10am-3pm)

June 19 (10am-3pm) *June 28 (10am-3pm)

June 21 (1pm-4pm) July 12 (1pm-4pm)

Weather Research Center and the American Meteorological Society hosted a putting contest during the exhibits at the Annual AMS meeting in January. This was a great event and all participants had a great time. Sponsors were ITT and Harrison Corporation.

Several contestants made the 20 foot putt and were close on the 60 feet putt. There were two people who attempted the $10,000 50 feet putt. This was a great way to raise funds for the Weather Museum.

WEATHER RESEARCH CENTER PLANS TO EXHIBIT AT OTC 2002

Plan to come by and visit us at our booth 4478. We will have popcorn and other fun features again this year. OTC Exhibits will be in the new exhibition building at Reliant Park.

ANSWER TO LAST MONTH’S TRIVIA QUESTION:

-23ºF on February 8, 1933 in Seminole, Texas

Where did the term meteorology come from?