The National Weather Service was established in 1870 as the Weather Bureau and has since expanded to include 122 offices and 158 radars across the country. It can now be difficult to secure an internship with the NWS due to increased competition, but retirements are expected to increase opportunities around 2020. The document then provides details about the application process for NWS internships, the program structure and responsibilities, and tips for securing a position.

1. By Max Wiosna
11/10/11
At Internship Night

2.  Established in 1870
 Known as the Weather Bureau back then
 122 offices
 Expansion occurred in the late 80s and early 90s
 158 radars
 WSR-88D
 Fully operational by the late 80s and early 90s
 Now it’s very tough to get in
 But, retires expected to increase around 2020

3. • Found out about it from John Quinlan
• Pretty much first come first serve
• SUNY Albany students get first dibs
• LSC students have done this in the past
• Starts sometime in June and ends in late August
• You don’t get paid!
• I drove 95 miles sometimes from CT
•And drove 45-50 miles sometimes from NY
• SOO organizes it and the staff trains you

4.  Independent Self Study
 Online courses and Exams
 Software exam
 AWIPS
 DLOC Radar exam
 Upper-Air
 Need to pass all of them to continue
 Participation in NWS Operations
 Term Paper and Final Documentation

5.  Visits
 ASOS
 COOP
 Hydrology
 MetEd courses online
 Shift work
 Q/q shift & G/g shift
 Q : 3pm-9pm
 Q: 3pm-11pm
 G: 6am-2pm
 G: 6am-9am
 Midnight shift
 12am-3am
 Balloon Launches
 Launch window: 1030z-1130z & 2230z-2330z
 Projects
 GIS
 Interview
 Joe Villani

6.  CO-OP
 Go out in the CWA
 Visit cooperative observers
 Look at equipment to check for functionality
 ASOS
 Replace/update equipment
 Go see if it’s working properly
 River Gages
 Check the equipment
 Go out and find them

7.  Complete three MetEd courses
 Can be found at UCAR online
 Also complete online TAF exam
 And complete Basic Hydrological Services
Distance Learning Course on MetEd UCAR

9.  G/g Shifts
 The G shift is the longer shift
 Launch the upper-air balloon 12z
 Help the intern with monitoring it
 Help produce the RTP/RWS
 Help produce the HYD
 Complete the student AFD
 Also for this shift in particular do a set of TAFs
 The g shift is mainly for you to do the launch at 12z
 After the balloon is released:
 Pretty much do everything like the G, except the TAFs
 Q/q Shifts
 Complete the climate product
 Student AFD
 RTP/RWS
 0z upper-air launch

17.  Occur at 12z and 0z
 Inside preparation
 You prep the sonde
 Calibrate it
 Baseline
 Outside Preparation
 Assembly
 Call the airport for clearance
 Release the balloon
 Monitor and quality control the data

20.  Interviewed Joe Villani
 Grew up in Central Ny
 Loves lake effect snow
 Also severe weather
 He’s a Lead Forecaster
 Warning coordinator
 Radar watcher
 Also makes changes to the radar

21.  Don’t wait until the last minute
 Don’t take no for an answer
 Be repetitive
 Don’t lie about yourself
 Always tell the truth
 Make yourself look good
 Be patient and wait for a reply
 Do not call or email them
 You can only hurt yourself by doing so
 Make sure you have done everything you can