Combat weather team forecasts mission success

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan -- Senior Airman Laci Wood collects weather data from a weather observation system while Tech. Sgt. Carlton Hatfield readjusts the system's transmitter. It is one of several methods the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing's combat weather team here uses to gather detailed weather updates hourly for pilots and Combined Joint Task Force 76 operations planners. Airman Wood is deployed from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and Sergeant Hatfield is from Shaw AFB, S.C. (U.S. photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Lindsey)

Combat weather team forecasts mission success

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan -- Staff Sgt. Jim Moullet provides a weather update used for flight planning. Besides hourly forecasts, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing's combat weather team reports local weather data to the Air Force Weather Agency. Sergeant Moullet is deployed from Ft. Polk, La. (U.S. photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Lindsey)

How cold is it?

MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Staff Sgt. Duane Robinson takes an outside weather observation using a weather sensor that judges temperature, wind speed, and moisture here recently. Sergeant Robinson is a weather forecaster assigned to the 62nd Operation Support Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kevin J. Tosh Jr.)

Despite predictable weather, specialists still keep busy

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Senior Airman Jasson Sjoberg pours water into the tactical meteorological observation system as part of a function check to make sure the device, which measures precipitation, is still operational. The last date a measurable amount of precipitation fell at his forward-deployed location was April 13 when the weather flight recorded 0.03 inches of rain. (Courtesy photo)

Weather check

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan -- Staff Sgt. Sherdean Brisendine adjusts the Tactical Meteorological Observation System, a portable system to help forecasters take barometric pressure, temperature, and wind direction and speed readings. She is a 455th Expeditionary Operations Group forecaster here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andrew Gates)

Predicting the weather

UDORN THANI, Thailand -- Marine Corps Sgt. Ryan Cunningham (left) and Staff Sgt. Michael Rudd will use a satellite receiver to provide a timely and accurate weather picture for crews aboard MC-130s, F/A-18s, KC-135 Stratotankers and C-12s during Cobra Gold 04. They are part of a multinational, multiservice team of weather forecasters here. Cobra Gold is an exercise designed to improve U.S., Thai, Singaporean, Mongolian and Filipino combined readiness and interoperability, enhance security relationships and demonstrate U.S. resolve in the region. Sergeant Cunningham is assigned to the Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 at Iwakuni, Japan. Sergeant Rudd is assigned to the 353rd Operations Support Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Michael Farris)