Meteorologist-in-charge retires after more than three decades of forecasting

John Livingston, the meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service bureau in Spokane, has retired after more than two decades of forecast improvements.

Livingston oversaw a series of changes that have led to more accurate forecasts and warnings.

“It’s been a great career,” he said.

When Livingston arrived in Spokane 22 years ago, he was assigned to a staff of eight housed in a small building at Spokane International Airport.

A short time later, the weather service opened a new office at 2601 N. Rambo Road, north of Fairchild Air Force Base. The staff grew to 25.

A new Doppler radar dome, visible for miles around, was built next to the office. The radar, which has been deployed across the U.S., has given communities a major tool to see weather events as they develop.

In addition to the radar, the weather service deployed a series of new weather satellites that track weather around the world, including infrared images that can be seen at night.

As Livingston leaves his post, the weather service is getting ready to activate a new satellite with improved technology, including a lightning map tool.

Known as GOES 16, the satellite is being tested before it’s put into operation. (GOES is an acronym for Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite.)

The satellite is among a group of four new spacecraft that will give the weather service greater ability to detect thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, flash floods, solar flares and geomagnetic storms. Images will be sent back to earth every 30 seconds.

In addition to radar and satellites, Livingston has seen huge changes in computerized forecast models.

The weather service’s meteorologists rely on a series of forecast models to develop outlooks for weather days in advance.

“Forecasts have improved drastically over my career,” Livingston said.

Two of the forecast models are known as the Global Forecast System and the North American Model.

The weather service operates in the public domain and sends its raw data to companies that provide weather reports to the public.

Smartphones take advantage of that and provide phone users with forecasts days in advance.

However, many of the private companies offer limited human analysis of the information. The weather service over the years has provided a human analysis of data to hone forecasts.

The point forecast system, which can be accessed directly from the weather service website, pinpoints upcoming weather from any location in the U.S.

A point forecast can be useful for all outdoor activities, including boating, fishing, camping, hiking and climbing. Livingston recommends checking the forecast regularly in advance of any outing. It’s at mobile.weather.gov.

The weather service also has been working to improve emergency warnings through public and private agencies, he said.

An example is the November 2015 windstorm in which the weather service gave warning of the danger days in advance.

Wildfires, thunderstorms, floods, ice storms and heavy snow are among other dangerous weather events in the Inland Northwest for which the weather service issues warnings.

Educating the public on how to be weather-savvy is a major goal of the agency, Livingston said.

Damaging weather events now receive a thorough analysis by the weather staff after an event occurs. Often, that analysis can be used by state and local government officials to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance.

That occurred following a major snowstorm in 2008.

Despite all of the technological upgrades, Livingston acknowledged that forecasters don’t always get it right. “You are not going to be right all of the time,” he said.

But forecasting accuracy has improved during his 30-plus years with the weather service.

Livingston said that forecasting snow is probably the most difficult challenge in the Spokane region because of the variability of elevation, temperature and storm patterns.

“It can rain downtown and snow on the South Hill,” he said.

Before coming to Spokane, Livingston worked in Florida and Texas, where hurricanes and flash floods are the major weather threats, he said.

He said his staff members often seek to stay in Spokane even if they have a chance for a promotion in another bureau.

Livingston, 60, said he plans to stay in Spokane as well and is looking forward to new challenges.

“I have done what I can,” he said. “It’s time for someone else to come in.”