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
Severe Storms Reach the Southeast This Week

Severe Storms Reach the Southeast This Week

The last week of April was pretty stormy for

6 May 2026 5:05 PM
Late Season Snow for Colorado and Wyoming

Late Season Snow for Colorado and Wyoming

Parts of Colorado and Wyoming received up to

6 May 2026 4:55 PM
Flood Threat Down South Helping Drought Conditions

Flood Threat Down South Helping Drought Conditions

What To Expect:With an active pattern in stor

6 May 2026 4:30 PM
Northeast in for Some Heavy Rain

Northeast in for Some Heavy Rain

WHAT TO EXPECTThe Northeast is forecast to ge

6 May 2026 11:00 AM
The Countdown to Hurricane Season

The Countdown to Hurricane Season

Ready for hurricane season? As a reminder, w

6 May 2026 10:00 AM
Severe Threat Continues Through Tuesday

Severe Threat Continues Through Tuesday

Portions of the Midwest just wrapped up their

5 May 2026 2:05 AM
Florida Storms Bring Isolated Flooding

Florida Storms Bring Isolated Flooding

Rainfall & ForecastAfternoon thunderstorm

4 May 2026 12:55 AM