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It's Severe Weather Awareness Week, and while thankfully no severe storms are forecast for our region in the near future, an important weather-connected milestone is happening right now at the St. Louis County Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
Beginning this week, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service Duluth is embedded at the EOC, working closely with St. Louis County's Emergency Management team and other departments to better plan for and respond to weather events. The partnership is expected to have no increase in costs for either agency as it simply involves moving a workstation and existing staff from the National Weather Service office to the EOC.
The two entities have a long history of working closely together. In fact, the Weather Service says, in 2024, its Duluth office received the second highest number of weather support requests for Search and Rescue operations of any NWS office in the United States.
"We have discussed in the past just how much we utilize their services and how beneficial it is to various operations we are a part of," said Josh Brinkman, St. Louis County's Emergency Management Coordinator. "Now instead of calling them multiple times a day, we will have someone right here providing potentially life-saving information so we can act faster to better serve our citizens."
"The National Weather Service has been working to become more flexible and nimble in helping the people we serve," said Laren Reynolds, Meteorologist in Charge at the National Weather Service Duluth. "So this just makes sense. If we're on site providing eye-to-eye weather support, think how much more we can help with decision-making."
Weather information plays a key role for multiple St. Louis County departments and the services they provide. Public Works uses information from the National Weather Service as it maintains 3,000 miles of roads throughout the winter months, as well as planning construction projects in the summer. The Sheriff's Office and Public Health use wind direction and other weather information during incidents that require evacuations.
Five meteorologists from the National Weather Service will rotate schedules to provide service Monday through Friday at the EOC. They will provide additional staffing support during major events, including working out of the county's mobile command center as needed.
