Wednesday, January 28, 2026
www.thepapersonline.com
Serving Kosciusko County and parts of Elkhart, Marshall & Noble Counties
Know Your Neighbor . . . . . 2➤ Entertainment . . . . . . . . 6-7
Vol. 55, No. 31
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
PREDICTING THE WEATHER — Maddi Johnson is a forecaster at the local National Weather Service office. It is one of 122 NWS offices in the U.S.
NWS forecasters work around the clock to protect lives, properties By PHOEBE MUTHART Editor Weather affects nearly everyone - from farmers and truck drivers to schools and people commuting to and from work . Behind the forecasts are meteorologists at the National Weather Service . Located between Syracuse and North Webster, the NWS office has been operating for 30 years . Its mission is to protect lives and property, according to Maddi Johnson, a forecaster at the NWS . “We work with seven counties, including five in Michigan and eight in northwest Ohio,” said Johnson The office is staffed around the clock . Typically, two meteorologists are on duty, but during major weather events - such as severe storms, tornadoes, or blizzards - staffing can increase to as many as eight people . “Meteorologists are here 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Johnson . Staff members work rotating shifts - day, evening and overnight . Because meteorologists must also commute in severe conditions, forecasts affect them personally as well . Johnson said she once had to sleep at the office on a blow-up mattress because severe weather made it unsafe to travel home to Fort Wayne . Forecasters analyze data to predict the weather up to seven days in advance, with model updates every 12 hours . During severe weather, staffing
levels increase to ensure timely warnings . Johnson explained the NWS is the only government entity authorized to issue official watches, warnings and advisories, including heat advisories . Meteorologists must obtain radar certification before they can issue severe weather warnings . In the summer, it is usually tornadoes or heat advisories . “We also issue flood warnings and in the winter we monitor the cold temperatures, snow and ice,” said Johnson . “Tornadoes are the hardest to predict,” she added . “We issue tornado warnings for TV stations .” The NWS is also the only official agency that conducts damage surveys after events such as tornadoes . As for the large white dome outside the building, Johnson said it houses a satellite . “It’s just a protective shield,” said Johnson . Weather satellites capture images of clouds and weather systems from space and are essential for forecasting and tracking weather in real time . They provide data on cloud cover, temperature, humidity and help infer wind speeds and precipitation . The office also issues marine forecasts for Lake Michigan and aviation forecasts for South Bend and Fort Wayne airports . Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to assist forecasting by analyzing past weather patterns . The NWS provides data to television stations and works closely with county emergency management di-
rectors, especially during severe weather events such as tornadoes . Predicting weather is not an exact science . Weather apps use the same general data sources as TV stations - both public and private - but forecasts can vary . A 40% chance of rain means measurable rain is possible, not guaranteed . “Because they (data) are coming from different sources,” said Johnson, “there may be a mismatch .” Forecast accuracy decreases the farther out it goes . Five-day forecasts are about 90% accurate, while seven-day forecasts are closer to 80% . Beyond 10 days, accuracy drops to about 50% . The local office is one of 122 weather NWS service offices nationwide and regularly collaborates with offices in Chicago, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Cleveland and Indianapolis . Daily briefings are held at 10:15 a .m . every day . The regional NWS office and training center is in Kansas City, Mo . For more information or a local forecast visit weather .gov/iwx .
WEATHER SATELLITE — Inside this dome is a satellite. Weather satellites capture images of clouds and weather systems from space and are essential for forecasting and tracking weather in real time.