SWO

Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Quimby, a battlefield forecaster attached to Task Force Wings, launches a tactical weather balloon to measure winds at flight levels, while holding an instrument to measure elevation during a Joint Operations Aviation Exercise at Fort Bragg, N.C., Aug.23. His wingmen measure wind direction and record the findings. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Lauren McQuone, Detachment 4, 18th Weather Squadron)

Storm Clouds Gather

Storm clouds gather as Polish Air Force Capt. Sebastian Bernatowicz, a weather forecaster in the Polish Military Hydro-meteorological Service, makes a test reading from the deployable TMQ-53,a highly sensitive atmospheric measuring device at the Joint Multinational Training Command's Grafenwoehr Training Area in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Dec 6, 2011 during the Cadre Focus winter exercise. JMTC regularly hosts and facilitates multinational training exercises in support of U.S. and NATO forces. (U.S. Army photo by Michael Beaton)

Space Weather

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Staff Sgt. Matthew Money, left, and Staff Sgt. Jonathan Lash, forecasters with the 2d Weather Squadron's space weather flight, monitor the near earth space environment at the squadron's space weather operations center located inside the Air Force Weather Agency here. The 2d WS squadron’s worldwide space weather team of roughly 50 active-duty members, civilians and contractors continually analyze, forecast and provide alert notifications for the entire Department of Defense as well as a whole host of other government agencies.

Award Winner

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Tech. Sgt. Adam Smith, an applications programmer with the 14th Weather Squadron here, works at his computer on May 3. Sergeant Smith recently earned the Outstanding Communications-Computer Systems NCO of the year award. He will accept the award in a formal ceremony in Washington D.C., next month. (Courtesy photo)

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)

Guardsmen forecast weather

SANDSTON, Va. -- Senior Master Sgt. Stephen Gamache and Senior Airman Christopher Tuck track weather systems moving across Virginia during the snow storms that ravaged the region in February 2010. (Photo by Sgt. Andrew H. Owen, Virginia Guard Public Affairs)