Uphill Battle

ATOP MOUNT LEMMON, Ariz. -- (From left to right) Capt. Tim Villaran, 25th Operational Weather Squadron flight commander, Marc Touchton, 25th OWS meteorologist, Lt. Col. Lee Byerle, 25th OWS commander, and 25th OWS forecasters Senior Airman Carlos Calle and Airman 1st Class Michael Neahr, pose for a photo following the completion of the inaugural Mount Lemmon Half Marathon on Oct. 17. Also completing the race was Senior Master Sgt. Gabriel Lacayo, 25th OWS operations superintendent. The marathon is billed as the toughest marathon in the world and the only uphill marathon in the United States. (Courtesy Photo)

Deployed Forecaster

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Staff Sgt. Ashley Barnett, a weather forecaster for the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, collects data from a TMQ-53 weather sensor to observe conditions and update forecasts at an undisclosed air base in Southwest Asia, Oct. 28, 2010. The 386th AEW forecasters work behind the scenes to provide Air Force and Army personnel with accurate, up-to-date forecasts so flying missions can continue in support of operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. Barnett is deployed from Air Mobility Command’s 305th Operations Support Squadron, 305th Air Mobility Wing, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Laura Turner)

Braving the weather

A special operations weather team operator looks out the back of a CH-47 Chinook to locate a landing site during an operational training exercise April 15, 2010, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The exercise was part of Red Flag-Alaska 10-2 and enables units to sharpen their combat skills by exchanging tactics, techniques, and procedures and improves interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Willard E. Grande II)

Braving the weather

A team of special operations weather team operators hurry to board a CH-47 Chinook during a training operation for Red Flag-Alaska 10-2 April 15, 2010, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The operators are deploying weather pods that will take several different types of readings that could affect air and ground operations down range. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Willard E. Grande II)

Red Flag WX specialists do more than predict the weather

Staff Sgt. CeCe Ybarra, a Red Flag weather forecaster deployed from the 48th Operations Support Squadron at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, briefs Red Flag aircrews prior to a mission. Sergeant Ybarra provides weather support for more than 1,200 servicemembers from the U.S. and United Kingdom participating in the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Weathering the storm

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The 28th Operational Weather Squadron monitors weather patterns within Air Force Central Command's area of responsibility in the Middle East Jan. 26. The meteorological information is used to plan war-fighting missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Tony Richardson)