By Althea Peterson
The Norman Transcript

Chamber committee announces festival, public tours


If you weren't one of the estimated 1,100 visitors at the National Weather Center dedication, there are still upcoming opportunities to experience Norman's newest research facility.

The Norman Chamber of Commerce Weather Committee, which celebrates its second anniversary, announced the upcoming National Weather Festival, and public tour schedules for the NWC at its monthly meeting Tuesday.

The National Weather Festival is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 4 at the National Weather Center, 120 David L. Boren Blvd. at the corner of Jenkins Avenue and State Highway 9.

Admission is free and open to the public.

Keli Tarp, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) public affairs specialist, said the festival will have a wide variety of activities for people of all ages.

"We'll have hourly balloon launches, children's activities and food vendors," Tarp said. "It will be the first truly open to the public open house of the National Weather Center."

Other activities include weather technology demonstrations, weather-related information and products from local vendors, an open house of the center, and an inaugural storm chaser car show, which Tarp said already had 10 entries.

Kevin Kloesel, assistant dean of the OU College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, said the NWC also offers public tours Monday-Friday. Individuals interested may participate in the 1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday tours, which last about one hour. Group tours of up to 50 people are also available on Tuesday and Thursday. However, Kloesel said reservations are required for all tours.

"This is a government facility," Kloesel said. "Please call us or e-mail us in advance."

For more information, e-mail kkloesel@nwc.ou.edu or call 325-1147.

The next weather committee meeting will be Nov. 21, featuring Jeff Kimpel speaking on NOAA activities.