THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412110043
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CAPE HATTERAS LENGTH: Long : 112 lines
For Wallace H. Demaurice, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service station at Buxton the past few weeks have been like nailing up the shutters and saying goodbye to an old family homestead out there on the lonely sand dunes.
Demaurice has been crating and shipping most of the scientific instruments at the Buxton meteorological center on Hatteras Island. The equipment is going to Morehead City, where a new super-radar threatens to take over the storm-tracking duties of the 40-year old Hatteras radar.
Demaurice also has been packing off the remaining Buxton technicians in preparation for shutting down the famed Outer Banks weather station next year.
At present, only the valiant 40-year-old radar and three pieces of human equipment remain functioning at Buxton with Demaurice. In a few months, electronic robots will take over.
But hold it! Clippety-clop, and Hi Yo, silvery moon!
On Friday, Steve Harned, a good guy in a white hat, rode out of the West, sort of, with word for Demaurice that the Great Father of All Forecasters, up in Washington, is having second thoughts about eliminating the radar at Cape Hatteras.
Harned is the Raleigh-based meteorologist in charge of U.S. Weather installations in North Carolina.
For months, the National Weather Service has been installing elegant new WSR-88-D Doppler radars around the country in a $2billion modernization program designed to improve forecasting.
As state-of-the-art storm-seeking equipment becomes available to overlap areas previously covered by smaller weather installations, older stations like Hatteras will be shut down.
Harned notified Demaurice that the National Research Council will join with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which runs the Weather Service, to investigate more fully the wisdom of closing down some of the older radar stations - including Buxton.
``We are seeking comments by Jan. 3, 1995, from anyone who may feel that current weather services may be degraded as existing radars are decommissioned or as field offices are closed, consolidated or automated during modernization of the Weather Service,'' said Harned.
``We want to be sure nothing falls through the cracks before we shut any of these older installations.''
The Hatteras radar was originally developed during World War II and has regularly reached out 200 miles or more to put the finger on deadly hurricanes approaching the Outer Banks.
``It's never let us down,'' Demaurice said.
``But you wouldn't believe what we've had to do to keep that old equipment working.''
Demaurice chuckled over the coincidence that the announced study of the obsolete radar phase-out program came in the same week that Dr. William Mason Gray, a Colorado State University scientist, predicted that next summer would see a dangerous increase in the number of severe Atlantic hurricanes.
Thanks to the guardian Hatteras Island radar and homey local fishing forecasts, Demaurice and his Buxton meteorologists have long been welcomed as members of the family among year-round residents of the Outer Banks.
But one of the new WSR-88-D radars is now on line at Newport, N.C., just west of Morehead City. Other WSR-88-Ds are being installed at Wakefield, Va., 30 miles west of Norfolk, and at Wilmington, N.C.
Harned believes that when all the new radars are operating - along with a WSR-88-D in Raleigh - the old radars at Cape Hatteras and at Norfolk's airport will no longer be necessary to cover the mid-Atlantic coast.
But the study could disrupt that plan.
Still, for months, Demaurice and the Buxton forecasters have been shipping crates of scientific weather equipment to Morehead City, leaving the old radar for last.
``We've kept on manning the Buxton radar, and four of us worked around the clock for three days when Hurricane Gordon moved up the coast,'' Demaurice said.
``But we're so shorthanded now that we can only manage two eight-hour shifts at the radar.''
In view of the new study announced by Harned, one forecast seems fairly certain: It will be a cold day - or even a warm day - on Hatteras before that old radar is finally shut down.
Harned pointed to a statement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Washington which said:
``The Secretary (of NOAA) shall not close, consolidate, relocate, or automate any field office or decommission any NWS radar until the public has had an opportunity to identify areas of concern . . .''
The release further specified that Congress must be notified before any radar is discontinued and that no action against a radar can be taken by NOAA until 30 days after Congress has been informed.
The new Congress hasn't even convened yet, so one remaining Buxton technician said last week that when the old radar looks out into the murk off Cape Hatteras, it just might see everything coming up roses.
And Demaurice, who is eligible for retirement, says Washington has indicated it would be nice if he sticks around for a while to see what happens. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
SHOULD CAPE HATTERAS' RADAR BE SAVED?
The National Research Council and the U.S. Commerce Dept. is
inviting public comment on planned closing of the Cape Hatteras
Weather station radar at Buxton, N.C.
The Hatteras radar has been the main weather eye on approaching
hurricanes for more than 40 years. But the National Weather Service
believes new radars at Morehead City and Wakefield, Va., will
provide better coastal protection.
Anyone who wants to comment on whether the old Hatteras radar
should be kept in service may write to Julie Scanlon, National
Weather Service, 1325 East-West Highway, 9372, Silver Spring, Md.,
20910.
Comments are due by Jan. 3.
For more information, call Scanlon at 301-713-1413 or Nick
Scheller at 301-713-0454.
by CNB