Dallas to Dexter: The Journey of a Weather Balloon

news image
Special Stories
22 Feb 2018 12:49 PM
How strong is the jet stream? Enough to take a standard National Weather Service upper-air observation balloon on a journey nearly a thousand miles! https://twitter.com/weatherdak/status/966741182532304896 Twice a day, every day NWS offices across the country launch radiosondes, or balloons with attached weather observing instruments. Scientists use the data collected as the balloon travels upwards in the atmosphere to build vertical profiles, which are essential to understanding the structure of weather systems. When collected at a large number of locations, upper-air observations help establish the initial conditions for computer models that forecast weather and climate conditions. On Thursday morning, the NWS office in Fort Worth, TX received word that one of their balloons got caught up in the powerful jet stream of the current storm system and traveled all the way to Dexter, MI. That's nearly 1,000 miles away! https://twitter.com/NWSFortWorth/status/966750854878564354 For WeatherNation, Meteorologist Karissa Klos.
All Weather News
More
T.S. Erick to Strengthen, Hit Mexico

T.S. Erick to Strengthen, Hit Mexico

Eastern Pacific OceanWe are keeping our eyes

17 Jun 2025 4:20 PM
Active Pattern Sparks Mid-Atlantic Flood and Severe Threat

Active Pattern Sparks Mid-Atlantic Flood and Severe Threat

A Moderate Risk for excessive rain has been i

17 Jun 2025 1:15 PM
100 mph Winds Reported in Kansas with More On The Way

100 mph Winds Reported in Kansas with More On The Way

As a frontal boundary moved through unstable

17 Jun 2025 1:15 PM
Record Breaking Heat in the Southwest

Record Breaking Heat in the Southwest

A powerful heat wave continues to grip the So

17 Jun 2025 12:20 PM
Southern Heavy Rain & Severe Threat

Southern Heavy Rain & Severe Threat

Thunderstorms are blowing off the east side o

16 Jun 2025 2:10 AM
Northwest: From Heatwave to Thunderstorms

Northwest: From Heatwave to Thunderstorms

SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOKSInto MondaySevere thun

16 Jun 2025 2:00 AM
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY: Here is the Forecast

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY: Here is the Forecast

Okay. Explanation needed. Dr. Jim is the only

15 Jun 2025 9:50 AM