[Scan-DC] NOAA moving and open house

[Brian Rokus]

>From the current public information statement. Note the open house in October which will include 
Skywarn training and emergency management vehicles...
 
... National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington to move next week... The week of September 22nd, NOAA/S National Weather Service (nws) Baltimore/Washington weather forecast office (wfo) located in Sterling, Virginia, will move from its existing location adjacent to Dulles international Airport, to a new location about one-half mile away. This move is necessary in order for the Airport to expand its runway system. During the move week of September 22-26th, the NWS Baltimore/Washington WFO will establish temporary operations at the National Weather Service WFO in State College, Pennsylvania. The temporary operations will be staffed by forecast staff from the NWS Baltimore/Washington WFO. From Monday, September 22 at 8:00 am EDT, through Friday, September 26 at 5:00 PM EDT, NWS Baltimore/Washington WFO staff will be present at three facilities 24x7... the old facility, the new facility, andthe NWS State College WFO.All of our operational products during the transition, including forecasts, watches, and warnings, will be issued from NWS State College by NWS Baltimore/Washington WFO staff during the move week. The transition from the old facility to the new facility, and its impact to the public, customers, and partners of the NWS Baltimore/Washington WFO, is planned to be seamless. Phone calls through the move week will still be taken on the old phone numbers at the old facility. New phone numbers will become operational at the new facility during the move week. After our move, our old phone numbers will be shut-down and replaced with a message containing the new numbers to call. All of our contact numbers will change - with the exception of our Skywarn spotter (800) hotline which will remain the same. The new general office phone number at the new facility is:703-996-2200 public lineThe new office address is:NOAA/National Weather ServiceBaltimore/Washington weather forecast office43858 Weather Service RoadSterling, VA 20166In recognition of the new facility, the NWS Baltimore/Washington WFO is hosting a public open house on October 18-19, 2008. There will be Tours of the new WFO, demonstrations of the latest technologies and techniques used in creating weather forecasts and warnings, Skywarn spotter training classes, local emergency management Mobile command vehicles, and many more fun and informative things for the entire family. Additionally, on Saturday, October 18 at 1:00 PM, therewill be a new facility dedication ceremony. For more informationon the open house and dedication ceremony, please see our webpagelocated at http://www.Weather.Gov/Washington.If you have any questions, please contact meteorologist-in-charge jim Lee at 703-260-0107, extension 222, or warning coordination meteorologist Chris strong at 703-260-0107, extension 223.