FINAL REPORT

~EATHc~
0~ XIII OLYMPIC
L' ()()(") WINTER
~MES O
Z PLAOD
1980

XIII WINTER OLYMPIAD 1 9 8 0

gordon c tait
I

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

· OLYMPIC SUPPORT UNIT •
~
STEVE HARNED
9 DOC TAYLOR

JACK MAY

•
·1~
~~f\4
' CORDON TAIT
Supervisor

. OLYMPIC ARENA, LAKE PLA<;:ID, NEW YORK 12946

518•653·1035 ...
518-653-4211, Ext 387
-----··
 DATE: March 11, 1980

TO: Mr. John Kelley, Wild .Meadow Fann, R.F.D. 113, Peace Dale, Rhode Island

FRG1: Gordon C. Tait, Supervisor, NWS, Olympic Support Unit, WSFO, Phila.,Pa.
l
•
...SUBJECT: Final Report of NWS Olympic Support Unit at th1;~ i980 Winter Olympics

This report is an attempt to describe the ;>ee'µle ~ ~ctivities, ~uipment,

situations, troubles and successes of the Natiom1_~l We,-ther S1;;rvice
Olympic Support Unit at Lake Placid, New York iiurmg th-~ ex::it:iJ1g 38
day-period from January 20th to February 26th, !980.
Many of you who couldn't make it up to the games prcba:bly ,.;atched some
of it out there in front of the 1V screen. This reoo!"! will p.~~~nt
a different perspective. What it was like behind •i:hc scenes . . . way
behind the scenes. It is my hope to share with you ~~zye ~f the excite­
ment, frustration, elation and experiences cf one small group very
busily involved in providing weather support to the 19~0 W~"l.ter Olympics.

/,d_e,~
Gordon C.Tait

Enclosures
•,

March 11, 1980

Listed below are the names and address of individuals who
received a copy of the Final Report of NWS Olympic Support
Unit at the 1980 Winter Olympics prepared by Gordon C.Tait,
Weather Service Forecast Office, Phila.,Pa•
•
Richard A. Frank, Director, NOAA, Rockville, Md.
Dr. Richard E.Hallgren, Director, NWS, Silver Spring,Md.
Dr. William D. Bonner, Deputy Director, NWS, Silver Spring, Md.
Don Witten, Public Affairs Office, NOAA, Rockville, Md.
Richard C. Bailey, Public Relations, NWS, Silver Spring, Md.
Robert B.Wassall, Deputy Director, NWS, CR, Kansas City, Mo.

Mr. Steve Harned, WSFO, Raleigh, N. C.

Mr. Jack May, WSFO, Cleveland, Ohio
Mr. Doc Taylor, Div. of Air Resources, Met.Section,State of NY Albany,NY
Conmissioner Robert F.Flacke, N.Y.State Dept. of Env.Conservat.,Albany, NY
John W.W.Kelle ,Wild Meadow Fann, RFD #3,Peace Dale, R.I.02879
Drewes, MIC, WSFO, Albany, N.Y.
El.Tech.,WSFO, Albany,N.Y.

Philip G.Wolff,Chief of Staff, LPOOC,XIII Olympic Winter Games 1980

P.0.Box 1980, Lake Placid, N.Y.
Ray Pratt, Sports ti II II II II II

Peter Spurney II
" II II
" "

Dr. Petersen, Director, NWS, ERNY

Bill McKee, Executive Officer, NWS,ERNY
W.G.Seibert Chief,Met.Serv.Div. t1 t1
Jim Travers Reg'l Marine &Special Services Met. , NWS,ERNY
M.E.Rosen Communications Manager,Data Acquisit.Div.,NWS,ERNY

Joseph A.Leedom, Acting Meteorologist in Charge, WSFO, Phila. ,Pa.

 INDEX

Subject Page
Definitions 1
Arena/Office 2, 4, 6, 10, 14, 28
Goals 3
Performance 5
Communications 7-9
The Weather 11-13
Prorlucts 15-16
Media 17-18
NOAA Radio 19
Field Equipment and Instruments 20
Observations 21
Security and Accreditation 22
Transportation 23
Housing 24
Personnel 25-27
Visitors ?.8
Credits 29
Appendix 30
Adendum
 1
DEFINITIONS

ALB. Albany, NY

BTV Burlington, VT
CLE Cleveland, OH
ERR Ea.stern Region Headquarters
GOES Satellite Receiver
IOC International Olympic Committee
LKP Lake Placid, NY
LPOOC Lake Placid Olympic Organizing Committee
MIC Man-in-charge
NOAA National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
NWS National Weather Service
osu Olympic Support Unit
Plil.. Philadelphia, PA
PLUG Promotional plug
PR Public Relations
PROMO Promotion
RDU Raleigh-Durham, NC
SLK Saranac Lake, NY
SYR Syracuse, NY
Tl Texas Instruments
VENUE (Specific) place or location where (Sporting) events
take place
WSFO Weather Service Forecast Office
wso Weather Service Office

-
 OLD OLYMPIC ARENA 2
Old Olympic Arena undergoing intensive rennovations
when OSU arrived. Large cranes and bulldozers darting
back and forth. Jackhammers rattling all day. Steel
helmeted workmen husting here and there. Large timbers
strewn all about.

Through the open

main entrance •••
(this is a door?)
to have a look at
the OSU office •••
"Sort of drafty,
you say?" It's
10 degrees warmer
inside.

..'
The hall upstairs t
(stairs? There's 'I
,!
no stairs yet) •••
where restrooms
would go. (No
'
restrooms yet
either••• "sorry,
you'll have to
go outside and
around to the
next building for now")
 3

GOALS

Primary Goal
Provide winter watch and warning service as needed along with general
weather infonnation regularly to the 30,000 to 50,000 people daily
attending, supporting, or participating in the 1980 Winter Olympics.
Additional Goals
Provide specific weather support to athletes' practices and events
through their coaches, chiefs-of-competition, and venue managers.
Provide weather infonnation to pennanent and transitory residents
in Olympic area.
Provide Olympic related weather infonnation to those interested
across the nation, Canada, and abroad in following the Olympics
through wire services, media, radio:; _ press and 1V.
To engender good public relations through the media, radio, press,
and 1V, as well as direct contact. Good healthy public relations
is part of the job.
A Minor Goal
Promised to ourselves and others to open for business Monday, January
28, 1980.

XIII OLYMPIC
()()("')WINTER
'-()KY.GAMES
. LAKE
PIACID
1980

-
 4
THE OFFICE

Here it is, boys.

Your new office.
230 sq. ft. (80 sq.
ft. less than ex­
pected) of debris­
strewn space in bare
basement of Old Olym­
pic Arena. No
windows, no phones,
no furniture, no
electricity, and no
heat. All the com­
forts of home ••••
Gordon is staggering
against back wall and
Steve is talking to
electrician ••• probably
looking for outlets •••

l
I
Il
t

i":,.
.· j
I

t~: i
=·~ i ...
t..~
:: I

:e
. ' 'j; :
.1 .;
. ' ,.. ,~,. .. of our predicament. He introduced us
'
. ,. - Advised Phil Wolff, Lt'uvC boss £er :JSU,
j t •·. ~
r ti~ to Gilbane Construction people and 20
minutes later workmen swarmed over room
.' i ' t removing debris; installing electricity;
. '\ t wand painting walls. Seems Phil had magic
. ., ll.i which we would be asking him to
wave many more times before our stay
,:J ended •
•'1r~~-
 5

PERFORMANCE

Evaluation

Request for NOAA weather wire users to appraise OSU services

was sent out on final day. Replies received thus far are
included in •ppendix of this report. This will constitute
--the main performance evaluation for purposes of this report.

Last year local users were contacted with favorable results,

some of which are includedin this report. This year it is
more expedient for local users to be contacted by parties
outside of OSU for a more direct and timely evaluation.

A formal verificiation study of forecasts, if required is also

subject for another report. It would be too time consuming
and delay the issuance af this report beyond the time of inte r­
est. Also some question ~s to whether such a study would be
of any real value. ·
Addendum

Many letters of evaluation relating to 1979 Pre-Olympic event s

were received after the issurance of report pertaining to
those events last year. Since these reports never got into
any official file, they have been included in a ~pecial
addendum at the end of this report .
 6

CSU BEGINS CONSTRUCTION

OSU begins its own construe­

tion. Doc (right) becomes
foreman. Jack and Gordon
workers. Steve, thinking
man on move.

f
- ~""t-
-'1=~r ~•j.
v.:~ .,.; _-~ Jack (left) as
jil=-~ ~- ~ ..
:"';;\~ ~=t·~· -- t
. .... . ~--·
:~
workman, dr ives
.. ---- ~ - ,: -,...
~ • 1
~.
.... 1 .... r-, •,..,. •
. .. • a mean nail.
·--:...,. ~ -· ! • ::i--·-
Second or t h ird
day•• things are
well under way.
~

~;.::~~-;:.f ,::.:.. ,
·$-,::·~·_::+ ··; ... ~ -.
The fellows insisted
~ ~ z: ~~L: :._ . ·- !·. ~
-\-• • -
on building a counter
.. • f. , - ~

"-
... or bar ••••
·-,,, _......_,.,
 7

COMJNICATIONS EQUIPMENT

About 95% complete once installed! Congratulations to all concerned!

Rocky Road
Process of having lines and equipment installed at Lake Placid. No
one's fault. Many logistical problems setting up Olympic event in
small isolat~4 town of 2900 people.
First Week
Complete confusion concerning all lines. What circuits and circuit
mnnbers. A jumble. Temporary office set up in pay phone booth of
restaurant across street from arena. Good coffee and heat, but hard
on dimes.
Four lmes and two phones installed Friday, January 25th--six days
after OSU arrival. Moved office {ran phone booth back across street
to Arena. Still no heat.
Service A and NOAA Wire also hooked up on Friday. Doc dropped hammer
and saw to plot a sectional--our first weather map. Begged Ortloff
'IV (busy installmg ABC 'IV sets) to hook up facsimile for one hour
overtime pay.
Enterprise
Milt Parton, Enterprise Electronics, arrived in sunmer outerwear
to set up 'IV Radar display. Jack May loaned him wanner clothes and
Milt graciously helped us with other projects in office while wait­
ing for installation of FTS line.
FTS operation Saturday, January 26th. Enterprise system tested
and looked good. Milt Parton left and it never worked again.
Many calls and conferences with Enterprise canpany in Alabama, but
unable to make equipment work right. OSU gave them a ''plug" when­
ever possible anyway.
GOES
Bill Drewes brought spare GOES machine Tuesday, January 29th; dis­
covered GOES line trouble. API installed their GOES next day using
makeshift line; trouble finally corrected and beautiful satellite
pictures received from Thursday, January 31st, to the end of the
Olympics! A big help. Also good for handouts.
 8

95% Complete

NWS portion of communications 95% complete by Thursday,

January 31, 1980--just thirteen days before the Olympic games
were to begin. Many obstacles overcome and confusion cleared.
Nice job, NWS! Considering enormity of Olympic support
demand, NY Telco did good .iob.
Teleprinter

Brought with us initially from Albany ·.· .•worked well once phones
installed . An excellent tool for getting data from top of
Whiteface.

Telecopier

Furnished by LPOOC. Saved the day! Became main means of

distribution for local venue forecasts. Actually took place
of TI system, which never worked well enough for cGIDplete
weather dissemination.

TI Syttem

Worked well for what it was originally intended: distribu­

tion of results. Basic problem for dissemination of weather
information, particularly bad. from TI terminal installed in
Weather office. TI people were cooperative; sent several
hardware and software technicians to resolve problem, but never
did get it working right.

Alternative arrangements made. LPOOC furnished communicator; .

Picked up 10 venue forecasts (including Lake Placid and
Vicinity) twice daily and inserted them in TI System when
possible.

Communicator specialist never to insert forecasts in Weather

Office TI consol and only part of the time at other terminals.
System seemed to reject weather information. Worked a little
better as time went on.
Blessing In Disguise

Early failure of TI System turned out to be a blessing in

disguise! Had TI worked well, ·our OSU weathermen would have
relied upon it as sole means of local weather dissemination .
Result : many Chiefs-of-competition and Venue managers would
have been without weather information. Some officials did not
even know where TI drop was located for their venue!
 9

Telecopiers To Rescue

When the Tl System did not work, OSU along with LPOOC help,
devised alternate means of disseminating weather forecasts.
Many used telecopiers, which reached more officials not
having easy access to TI System.
,

Special Note

··-·Not to be co·n strued as criticism of Texas Instruments or

LPOOC. All were cooperative; all worked hard together under
adverse conditions to get the job done. Many difficulties
involved in using mini-computer system to disseminate weather
information. Tl System worked well for what it was originally
set up to do. Weather distribution would have been an extra
bonus byproduct had it worked. ·

Engraving people next door go~ good use of the TI consol in

the Weather office, as well as did (and thanks to) Jack May,
for competition results.

•
 10
OSU OFFICE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

(right) A Few days later•••••

Some shelves built•••• Some
partitions and walls erected•••
A few boxes unpacked ••• Need
more ·room•••

(below) Some peg boards go

up. Some old furniture is
moved in (really old••• a
few pieces moved back out
again••• ) And a phone!
Still no heat yet. With
board across front entrance office heat (heat?) would rise into 40s.
 11

THE WEATHER

Actual wea;her during Olympics might be noted most for its un­
eventfulness. There were no real dramatic weather changes. All
action seemed to be elsewhere--across the nation's southland and
in the southwest. A few scares, however.
Glum Start
Most significant weather story regarding the Olympics was really
lack of snow and mild spell leading up to the games prior to
February, 1980. By the end of January the cooperative observer
at Raybrook had only recorded 22 inches of snowfall for the
season. Average snowfall by that time is 65 inches. So February
began with only one third the normal snowfall for that time of
year. The Olympic area had not only been experiencing tempera­
tures well above normal, but considerable rainfall in late au­
tumn and early winter, 1979.
Neither phenomenon••lack of snow nor warm spell--dld much for
the mood preceeding winter Olympic games. LPOOC and NYS were
forced to take extroadinary measures to insure enough machine­
made snow to meet the needs--especially for the cnoss country
events. Warm weather would place extra demands on refrigera­
tion for the Bobsled, Luge, and Outdoor Speed Skating Oval.
They wasted no time in gearing up to do both.
Unrivaled Snow-Making Operation
All that was needed to really guarantee enough snow for final
touches was a prolonged cold spell. The cold spell came just
in time!
Cold Spell
Jan. 28th to Feb. llth--a solid two weeks of dry, below-freezing
weather just before the games! Ideal for snow making. During
that period:
Average low minus 3F
Average high plus 17F
Average mean plus 7F
.. Coldest low minus lSF on Jan. 31st
Warmest high 32F on Feb. 7th
Coldest daytime high plus 3F on Feb. 1st
This insured adequate man-made snow for all outdoor events--a
great encouragement for the success of the Winter Olympics.
Only problem was for cross country skiers to find the right kind
of wax--something more sticky or tenacious to withstand the
abrasive effect of machine-made snow versus the softer natural
snowflake.
 12
Light Snowfall
A little light snow fell the first few days of the games. Febru­
ary 11th through 16th at least 1/2 inch of light snow fell each
day, with up to three inches on Feb. 15th and again on the 16th.
This was like frosting on the cake--good timing for "spectator
snow." The countryside and town now took on a white, wintry ap­
pearance.
Actually, there was measurable snowfall on 12 of 27 days the OSU
was in operation--Jan. 28th to Feb. 24, 1980. The greatest sin­
gle snowfall was the three inches recorded each day of Feb. 15th
and 16th. The most snow on the ground at any time was nine inches
on Feb. 16th; the least 2 inches after Feb. 21st.
Warm Snell Threatens
The biggest scare--a pending ·warm spell--possibly even a thaw
threatened to take over the final week of the games--toward the
18th. OSU forecasters warily watched the warming trend move
across the country--but prudently did not give it a lot of play
knowing that other factors such as back door shallow cold fronts
and cloudiness could offset ·warming. There was no need to alarm
ever~,rbody about ad,rerse pending events having a high degree of
uncertainty. Proper officials were appraised of the warming pos­
sibilities; but forecasters were conservative, only alluding to
the possibility. This paid off in the long run.
Two-Day Harm Spell
And warm up it did--for all of two days. Only one really bad
da~r--Ash Wednesday--the temperature soared to SOF under sunny
s 1.des the afternoon of February 20th, an hour or so after Beth
Heiden won her Silver Medal in the women's 3000H event.
Imnact of Warming
Officials in charge of ice making at the refrigerated outdoor
400M Speed Skating Oval were unable to resurface the ice, which
is customarily done after the first five pairs. This may have
had an- •adverse effect on the times later in the day. However,
the top ten skated in the morning and several new record times
were set, before the major warming occurred.
Canadians to the Rescue
Cold Canadian air car.:ie to the rescue the remainder of the week •
..Temperatures dropped below freezing by Friday, Feb. 22nd. All
felt relieved. It was good that OSU forecasters used restraint,
or many people might have been scared away. As it was, OSU
had to reassure officials that Mirror Lake was not going to thaw-­
a scare started by some other agency and channelled through the
NYS Governor Carey's offices.
Storms Steer South
How strange it must have been for the OSU's southern represen­
tative to watch storm after storm spread heaY¥ snow across his
native southland, enviously beyond reach of his temporary home
away from home. He could not even use a snowmobile to get to work.
 13
These storms served as topics of wishful thinking in Olympic
weather discussions during those uneventful. days spent watch­
ing and waiting for snow in the nearly barren Adirondacks. The
stonns may also have stimulated a little more interest across
the southland for the winter Olympics.
Only Two Storms Threaten
Two storms finally came near enough to threaten the Olympic
area, on Feb. 16th and Feb. 22nd.
February 16th
Heavy snow warning was issued Friday afternoon Feb. 15th for
four to six inches of snow on Saturday, Feb. 16th, which was
down~raded to a Travelers Advisory Saturday morning. The main
snowrall spread south and east of the Adirondacks. At the
Lake Placid Skating Oval three inches of snow were measured
on Feb. 15th and three inches more on Feb. 16th. OSU fore­
casters did well to use restraint. Some agencies were herald­
ing up to fourteen inches, others a foot or more in this same
situation.
February 22nd
Travelers Advisories were issued Feb. 22nd for snow, sleet,
and some freezing rain that Friday afternoon and night. All
three forms of precipitation occurred singly or in combina­
tion at one time or another on the 22nd, but precipitation was
generally very light and probably did not warrant an advisory.
It was hard to ignore the large complex low pressure circula­
tion on surface maps--the worst and nearest during the period
of operation.

,.
 14
OFFICE COMPLETED

We hang up our shingle••••

......

✓
And issue our first Olympic forecasts: Lake
Placid and vicinity, Olympic 'Weather discussion,
and Snow Making Forecast for Whiteface issued
afternoon of January 28, 1980.
(Below) Gordon Tait and Jack May. Temperature
on post reads about 52F. Friends donated a rug
some stools and a chair.
 PRODUCTS 15

Five Products for routine National distribution

English units. Transmitted over NY NOAA wire then relayed on
other circuits for National distribution. Also read over Lake Placid
NOAA Weather Radio by forecasters at WSFO Albany. Examples in appendix.
Lake Placid and Vicinitl Forecast. Three times daily.
01IfilJ2iC Weather Discussion. Three times daily.
··Olymoic Travelers Adviso!Y• Twice daily.
Olvmoic Spect_a tors Advisory.
1 Twice daily.
OlY!!!oic Climatological data. Twice daily.

Non routine Product for National distribution.

Special Olymnic Weather Statements. As needed.

Ten Venue Forecasts for Local distribution.

Hetric units. Issued t~•.'ice daily, but updated if needed.
For competition and practice. (See appendix)
Pic'ked up at OSU office by officials or sent via telecopier.
Routinely sent to translators via telecopier for translation and
further distribution or entry into TI System when possible.
Lake Placid and Vicinity
Speed Skating Oval
Biathlon Venue*
Bobsled Venue*
Luge Venue*
Ski Jump Venue
Cross Country Venue*
Down Hill Venue#
Giant Slalom Venue#
Slalom Venue;'!:
*Combined under one forecast for Mt Van Hoevenberg whenever
possible. #Items sometimes combined under Alpine Venues when possible.
 16

Other Forecasts and Services

In addition to the preceeding:
Whiteface Snowma.king Forecasts: twice daily, English units.
Tele hone Briefings: required two people in office from 6AM
1
unti 6PM.
Formal Briefings for Draw Meetinfs: could not honor all re­
quests but furnished forecasteror afternoon Draw Meetings
whenever possible.
Official Observations for Each Event: official observation
taken 1/2 hour before commencement of and immediately follow­
ing close of each event. Entered in Official Results. LPOOC
requested qualified meteorologist, · one of OSU, be present to
take Official Observation for each outdoor Olympic event.
This put strain on OSU; scheduling tricky, but all events
were covered as requested .
Arena Observation: transmitted hourly over NOAA wire 2AM to
6PM daily.
General Observing
OSU able to get some help this year. However, OSU felt need
for more complete network and therefore took supplemental ob­
servations while performing other tasks. Weather called in to
office whenever possible. Oval and Arena observations taken
routinely by OSU due to proximity and importance of reliable
line check.
Media Briefin~s: although not considered a formal product,
should be inc uded. Media demands were heavy: two, sometimes
three reporters or TV crews at same time. Soon became the
necessary custom for OSU to schedule Media briefings whenever
possible with man off duty.
Cheerful willingness of OSU forecasters and TV Media personnel
to conduct such interviews in cramped quarters after long
hours amidst noise and confusion was commendable.
 17
MEDIA

Most media treated the OSU favorably. There was quite a lot
of media interest for background material before the games got
underway. Once the games started, interest naturally shifted to
the main events. OSU continued to get some attention from time
to time.
OSU personnel .did good job in dealing with the media. Seemed
not only well prepared but enjoyed contacts, even when busy.
Carried the interviews off with serious dignity commensurate
with the res·p:,nsibility of job.
Some of the news clippings included in Appendix.
Some Specific Interviews
TV Channel 6 (NBC) and 10 (ABC) out of Albany, NY, Jan. 20th.
API reporter Larry Lopez and photographer Donna Light took
p'Ictures and did story Jan. 21st.
AP Radio contacted OSU to do 30 second tapes twice daily for
national distribution
TV Channel 9 Syracuse, NY, contacted OSU for interview Jan. 29th.
British News agency called for weather information Jan. 31st.
UPI's Frank Mrocka took pictures, did story on weather related
to their GOES equipment Jan. 31st.
WTEN TV 10 Albany, NY, started calling Jan. 31st, "day at
Olympics forecast" each morning.
WSYR TV, Syracuse, NY, interview ·with Dennis Bowman (Gordon and
Jack) Feb. 4th.
WTEN TV Albany, Ed O'Brien interview with Doc., Feb. 6th.
Newhouse Papers; covers 37 papers across country, interview
with Doc, Feb. 6th.
Times Union; long range forecast for games, Doc, Feb. 6th.
-NBC NewsR NYC, RO)' Silver, with Nightly News and Today Show
with Die Schaap did interview, mostly with Gordon Feb. 7th.
German Sports News A~ency, Michael Oberdieck Editor, long in­
tervie\•1 with Gordon eb. 7th
ADR TV (Main W. German network), Ulrich Baumgarten, interview
with Jack May in office, with Gordon at Biathlon Weather In­
strument Shelter Feb. 8th.
WPTZ Platzburg, NY, interview with Doc Feb. 9th.
 18
Gannett Papers, interview with Jack Feb. 10th.
CBC Radio, Montreal, interview with Jack, Feb. 10th.
Adirondack Ente;:erize, regularly receiving telecopies Lake
~!acid and vicinity forecasts and Olympic discussions, Feb.10th.
ADR TV, W. Germany, interview with Jack Feb. 11th•
.
Worcester, Mass., Newspaper, Sports·writer Bob Bank, Feb. 11th.
WMCA Radio City NY, started regular calls for Olympic weather
Feb. 12th. .
Booth Newhouse News~ahers, mainly Michigan, interview with
Steve Harned Feb. 1 t .
CBS Radio 1 NYC, arranged t,o call- for short overview of weather
each morning starting Feb. 13th.
WIXT, TV 9, s racuse, NY, John ~utler, 9 News, interviewed
0
Jack May and su Feb. 14th.
TV 6 Albany, NY, interview Feb. 19th.
Japan News Agency, dropped by several times, interviewed mostly
Jack May (via sign language).

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

OLYMPIC SUPPORT UNIT

~..
fflVE HAllNED DOC TAYLOR
IACIC MAY CORDON TAIT
Supervisor

.• OLYMPIC ARENA, LAKE PLACID, NEW YORK 12946

518-653-1035 518-65'3-4211, Ext. 387

. ••••••••••• "
"Our card, s J,r
 19
NOAA RADIO AT LAKE PLACID

The 100-Watt NOAA Weather Radio with transmitters next to

Radio WIRD served the community well throughout the 37-day
OSU residency. Initially WSFO Albany provided all the script,
but slowly after February 28th as OSU became more operational,
s~ript was provided by the OSU and faithfully read by fore­
casters at WSFO Albany.
Laudable Synergism ;
Forecasters at WSFO Albany did an excellent job on the radio,
always graciously giving a promo to the CSU forecaster writine
the script. Wisdom of having WSFO Albany do announcing soon
became obvious. OSU was not operational around the clock-­
frequently disrupted by power outages, security, interruptions,
background noise, need to do field work.
On the other hand, it was highly beneficial to have OSU fore­
casters take over script writing. This gave broadcasts an
on-the-scene flavor.
Combination of semi-detached steady consistency provided by
WSFO Albany and on-the-spot, behind-the-scene reporting by OSU
worked together to create a more potent product than either
could have generated alone. Therein lies a lesson.
Listener Impressions
Many unsolicited comments about NOAA Radio. Those who had
sets were favorably impressed and some wanted to know how
such a service cou~d continue.
Could have distributed many more sets. Would have been an ex­
cellent way to augment information for venues, particularly
since the TI System did not work out as expect~d. NOAA Radio
has a tremendous potential future application.·

Sets like one on right looked

good and sounded good •••••••••••••

.•
 20
FIELD EQUIPMENT AND INSTRUMENTS

Nearly all equipment requested was provided. Excellent sup­

port.
Overall instrumentation quite complete. Instruments posi•
tioned at all venues. One instrument often served as a back­
up for the other durine occasional malfunctions. Coverage
excellent. More instruments than observers, but they were
all put to good use at one time or another during the Olympics.
Some equipment installed at last minute under adverse condi­
tions.
Instruments That Wouldn't Die
Telemetered temperature from corner of Old Olympic Arena into
CSU office was installed at latest possible date due to on­
going renovation of Arena. Telemetering wire was fed through
hole in four-foot-thick cinderblock wall that construction
foreman promised not to plug up. The 100 ft. of unspliceable
connecting wire barely reached corner of CSU office.
Instrument shelter and wire outside continued to be in peri­
lous position even after construction ended. Menacing hoards
of spectators roamed under the Sonja Henie monument in front
of the Arena, breaking its icicles, slipping, falling, and
catching themselves on the pole holding the instruments,
sometimes reaching up to grab the wire which carried precious
temperature readings into the OSU office. Every morning CSU
personnel would errect elaborate barricades and signs; every
day the blockades would get stampeded into the icy ground.
Each evening bets were placed as to how much lone;er the instru•
ment would hold up. Don Quick's secure iron pipe mounted deep
into the ground supported the little intricate instrument
shelter to the very end! Thanks, Don.
Instruments on Icv Whiteface
There were some heroic moments. At 2PM Saturday, Feb. 2, 1980,
Doc Taylor modestl)r entered in log, "ALL equipment now in­
stalled at Whiteface. Had exciting ride on snow cat up Women's
J"o~•mhill with shelter. Nick from Ski Patrol helped me erect
legs and we tied (it) to tree." (Later on same day in log Doc
characteristically chided, "OH, HOW IMPORTANT THOSE OBS ARE!!!")
'
What Doc actually did was to reconstruct the legs for the in-
strument shelter with his own tools in the office, bind them
together, strap them to his back, ride to near top of Whiteface;
then with rope strapped from shelter to himself and another rope
around himself held by ski patrol, he was gingerly lowered down
over the icy slopes to place shelter in position. (Little did
we know that Doc was suffering from strep throat while doing
all this!)
 21

OBSERVERS

80% Attrition Rate

Reliable observers hard to find. Only one out of every five
contacted turned out to be successful. Over 15 potential ob­
servers were recruited and trained. Only three were reliable.
Generally, people did not appreciate importance of observa-
1:·ions. Also hard to motivate volunteers without some kind of
payment.
Between Gordon Tait and Jack May, about ten recruits were con­
tacted and trained. Only two of them worked out--the other 8
were never heard from again.
Doc Taylor trained members of ·th·e ski patrol, which worked
out for a while; then support waned when things really got
busy at Whiteface.
20% Reliable

Best results were selections made by Chiefs-of-Competition.

Most responsible people were quite busy, but involved in the
events. Special thanks to:
Dave Nugent at the Cross Country venue.
Col. Randall M. Nye at the Biathlon.
Dr. Robert Burton at Intervale Ski Jump.
Don Taylor and Ski Patrol at Whiteface, (not Q.2£,_ Taylor)
The OSU is deeply indebted to them for reliable weather obser­
vations faithfully taken during the Winter Olympics.
Observation Network Rounded Out
The bulk of general observing was accomplished by (1) the
three or four recruits mentioned above {2) Join Kelly, Special OSU mem­
ber and (3) OSU forecasters as time permitted. This combina-
tion yielded a sufficient number of observations to do the job.
All observing equipment was utilized at one time or another,
.but not all of it all the time.
 22
SECURITY AND ACCREDIATION

Pass Upon Pass

Layers of passes and still no way to go from our office to

restroom without getting stopped. Customers turned away by
guard outsid~ office at 6AM. Special police escorts to rest-
·~rooms or to take temperature at venues. Finally, guards
escorted customers to office and weather personnel returned
them to outside door. Separate armband needed for each venue.
Learning To Live With Martial Law

With frustration at first and then with a sense of humor and

understanding. People worked out ingenious ways to get where
they had to go. Special passes to go to bathroom upstairs
and proviso not to loiter long in front of glass doors to
hockey rink; one bathroom pass confiscated because it was
laminated.

Accreditation Line Barricade Office

Accreditation office was two doors down the hall. All 15,000
support people had toque up along hall outside weather office
prior to games. One had to push and shove through mobs of
people (taunting us for weather reports) to make way in or out
of office.

Consolation Consol -a Crasher

Almost as apologetic afterthought Accreditation gave OSU

their TI Consol when they moved out. And like the Trojan
Horse, Accreditations gift consol continually crashed
whenever weather was entered.

Pass for ••••••

guess ·what?
 23
TRANSPORTATION

WELL OFF

Weather among the more fortunate. Two cars passes. Even so,
transportation was trying at times. Partial restrictions im­
_posed one week prior to games; full restrictions on February
11th.

Nowhere to Park

Travel permits only allowed driving around Olympic area.

Different parking sticker was required for each destination,
otherwise had to keep moving~ Could not get near venue or OSU
instruments.

Parking Stickers Like Gold

A Gilbane truck was broken into. Several thousand dollars

worth of tools left untouched. A loose high priced radio and
other expensive equipment unmolested. Missing: a row of
parking stickers to each venue.

Friends And Resourcefulness

One by one, i;erking stickers were obtained thanks to friends

in LPOOC, on venues, in -: sports office. Last sticker to turn
up was Arena parking lot for weather office. It was most
difficult to obtain. Its appearance gladly accepted and never
questioned. Weather personnel could finally drive to their
own office one week into the games.
Buses

Took twenty minutes to cover the two-minute drive from the

office to OSU house. OSU personnel used the buses much of the
time. Nearly always twenty minutes of entertaining conversa­
tion on those bus rides rivaling TV or soap opera. Other
. support people with driving permits usually helpful.
 24

HOUSING

Trailor

Hudak house did not become fully available until January 26th,
oae week after arrival. Fortunately, OSU was able to arrange
.Jor inexpensive rental of trailer belonging to Earl Murphy
(Weather Coordinator for the Ski Jump and good friend from las~
year).

Jack May and Steve Harned stayed in Earl's trailer the first
week; Doc Taylor and Gordon Tait shared a room at Hudak house.
Embarrassing Moment

Misunderstanding regarding rental paperwork. First rent pay-

ment not received by the time OSU was ready to move into house.
Mistake discovered and every effort made to correct it. Credit
those in NWS and NOAA who went out of their way to remedy problem.
Gracious Hosts

Hudaks were more than cordial despite no rent. Went out of

their way to make us feel at home. Mrs. Hudak wrote out
information for living in area (medical help, maintenance, etc.).
Doc Taylor played hockey on team with Bob Hudak. Mrs. Hudak
provided first electric heater (hand-delivered) to OSU office.
Entire OSU invited for dinner night before Hudaks' departure.
Bright Spot

What could have been (and last year was feared to be) worst
problem turned out to be bright spot. The house kept spirits
up during bad moments. Brought OSU together for meeting,
making plans, and encouragement.

Team members and families got along surprisingly well.

Engendered good team spirit.

Three team members developed bronchial infections or irrita­

tions. Better treatment in house than motel.or room.

Much credit goes to the four wives who took turns as house­
keepers and cooks. Each wife contributed substantially in her
own special way. OSU is deeply indebted to all of them, and
could not have done as well without any one of them.
 25

PERSONNEL

Talent and Motivation Abound

It was a special priviledge to work with such outstanding,
highly motivated young men. Each one responded to the unique
stinrulus of supporting the Olympics. To watch them in action
and work alongside them was truly a pleasurable experience.
A·brief profile of each
JACK MAY
Precocious. Witty. Very quick to grasp ideas and put them
to use. Industrious. Hard worker. Jack outdistanced team­
mates, working all but two of the 37 days spent at Lake
Placid. The two days off were used to drive his family in
from Cleveland--hardly a relaxing break. (Jack was also
the most healthy)
He genuinely likes people; loves meteorology; goes out of his
way to explain weather--even to the janitor, if he'll listen.
Jack is thoughtful far beyond the superficial and will take
time to carefully measure words in serious situations, es­
pecially where peoples' feelings are at stake.
Again, this year as last Jack went out of his way to support
fellow workers. On his own time and initiative, he accompanied
Steve Harned to take the first official OSU observation--an
unkno~m for all of us, requiring moral support and help. Of­
ten while working at odd hours and off times Jack was right
there beside me.
He used his quick typing and organizational skills to create
most of the many forms used by the OSU. He was OSU's chief
communicator, setting up the formats and standards for all
transmissions.
His good humor at every turn of events, even the little trage­
dies,kept us all in good spirits.
STEVE HARNED
Efficient worker. Highly productive. Good motion economy.
Was unofficial OSU Thinker. When careful thought was required,
Steve would shine. Valuable for any group. Knotty or tricky
problems turned over to Steve. He'd put them in his computer
and a few hours later out would come an answer•-often an
ingenious solution.
Quiet conservative quality that commands respect. Conserva­
tive influence invaluable with OSU. Many times he'd pull OSU
back on track when prudence was called for. Prime examples
were the near miss snow storms where temptation was to call for
larger amounts or exaggerate the threat.
 26

Steve would lend quiet support to fellow workers in a friendly wam

way. Uses reason himself and tries to get others to do the same.
Does not like to blindly follow procedures where innovation is called
for; yet respects authority and would not arbitrarily defy rules.
DOC TAYLOR
Energetic. Hard driving. Hard worker. Vibrant. Aggressive. Highly
productive. Many._and diversified talents. Fast worker.
Doc was OSU chief carpenter and foreman both years. He bare­
handedly built the OSU office, especially this year when office
was incomplete and so nruch construction required.
Doc was also chief cook, housekeeper, and domestic organizer when
wives were not present. He not only cooked most of the meals but
made OSU lunches every day.
Most all-arotmd winter sportsman. OSU relied upon him for ex­
pertise on all events. Because of skiing ability he did all final
setting up of instrunent shelters on top of Whiteface with help of
ski patrol tmder very icy conditions.
Doc has (rightly so) a fetish for collecting data, so was focal
point for field instnmients and large portion of OSU observing
program. One of his most valuable :functions was to drive OSU to
take and log ''more" observations than team sometimes felt it had
the strength to do.
He especially loved this assignment. Loves meteorology. Is fond
of colleagues and goes out of way for them. Held in highest esteem
by OSU colleagues during this assignment.
JrnN KELLY
A bonus. Out of the blue LPCOC asked if OSU could use a college
student majoring in meteorology. This came at a time when OSU
could not figure out how to cover all Observation sites once a weer~,
let alone take Official Observations for each event. Then up pops
John --the luck of the Irish!
John Kelly not only was a bonus gift but OSU could not have done
better had it advertised and interliewed recruits. Interested in
weather since the age of 12, he was tailor-made for the job.
H~ got along well with OSU forecasters.
Quiet spoken. Conservative New Englander. Serious about meteorology.
Level headed. Listens well. Not afraid to ask questions tmtil he
tmderstands what he JIUlSt do. Follows instructions very well.
John became OSU roving observer. Inspected instruments. Changed charts,
and reinked pens. Faithfully recorded and called in observations.
 27
Used John for one Official Observation (with limited super­
vision) at Oval on last day when there were too many events
for other OSU members to cover.
Unfortunately, John did not get an official uniform because
he transferred to weather unit. He did get a patch, however.

- ... _-: . . .
,.
-· ....... .
. #...._-...
~ ~.... ~ ~ ~

......... -
;.. . --· .. _
.. -1,. :. . : ~

: ,.•-.-:.:-.
~
~.. - ·-~ _;_-...
!"'~ -._,_·~~ - - ·~·-
- .,: ...
-:i-· ~ . --
~ .,.- . - . ,,.
. . ..
.
..
-~ . ..:.,_,__~ ~;.:
.
.,,,,~ ·- •· -"'
:"" - . . i

"$·. ~ - ·-...- ! ~
...,. · ·-

....
. ---a:_-· - :,
- . .y _;.,_~-

..... -
 28

VISITORS

Many more visitors than last year. List with comments would
be ~oo lengthy.
Official visits for support, supplies, or maintenance.
Semi-official visits to drop off supplies then visit the area •
.Many spectator friends dropped by to say hello or spend a little
time with the OSU.
Contact with all visitors was pleasant. Many visitors pitched
in and were very helpful. Others gave good moral support.
OSU appreciated the visits and hopes that all enjoyed their
stay.

It.
Looks good, fellows."
(left) Mrs. Paula
Taylor inspecting OSU
Weather Station. Jack
May in background.

As a matter of fact, the

entire face-lifting job
on the Old Arena was al­
most miraculously com­
pleted overnight••••
 29
CREDITS

List Too Long

It would be fun, like last year, to list all those who had a
part in this endeavor. But this year's list would be too long.
Also, many people who performed functions which the OSU is un­
aware of would inadventently be omitted. Apologies to those
who were omit~ed in this way last year.
Like Walter Mitty
OSU members would often fantasize about being interviewed by
ABC over national TV. ABC, however, kept the spotlight where it
belonged--on the athletes, the real heroes of the moment. It
would take thousands of hours t~ telecast activities of 15,000
support people working behind the scenes.
One Integral Part
Routinely struggling past three eschelons of security on his
way to get ice temperature readings at the Oval, an OSU fore­
caster wondered out loud, ''Why do I have to get ice temperatures
anyway?" A State Trooper guarding the refrigeration room res­
ponded, "You're one integral part. That's why. Just like us.
A very important but very small integral part that makes the
whole thing go."
The words "integral part" stuck The realization came. It 1 s
really a great honor to be an integral part, especially of
something like the Hinter Olympics. All those integral parts
had to fit together just right to get Eric Heiden his five
Golds, or anybody else their Silver and Bronze. And therein
lies the real reward.
So, to each and every one who was an integral part•••••
THANKS
 APPENDIX 30

L-etters of Commendation outside of Lake Placid, NY.:

K-1 FM, Potsdam. NY. Cable TV General Manager, Dave Moore.
NWS Office, Rochester NY, MIC Peter R. Chaston
&
WBBM-AM Chicago
{for)Canadian Meteorological Centre, Director.L.W. Hubbert •
...KCLR Radio 1 ·Ralls Texas, News Director Dale Sedgwick, JR.,

Example Forecasts for National distribution:

1 Olympic Region Weather Discussion
&
l Lake Placid and Vicinity Forecast.
2 Olympic Outdoor Spectator Advisories
&
1 Winter OlYTimic Travelers Forecast.
3 Lake Placid Climatological Data releases.
1 Special Olympic Weather Statement.

Examples of some Local Venue forecasts for:

400 Meter s~eed Skatin~ Oval
Intervale Ski Jump
Cross Country Venue
(general) Mt Van Hoevenberg Venues
Luge/Bobsled Venues
(combined)Alpine Forecasts
Seperate a>W Makine Forecast for ~Thiteface Mountain.
A few Press releases:
Times Record, January 22, 1980
Sunday Record, February 10, 1980
Falmouth Enterprise, July 27, 1979.
 -1!acIIt ------------------------
t
THE CABLE ONE COMPANY
P.O. Box 31, 38 Market St., Potldam, N.Y., 13678

February 25, 19SO

MR. GORDON TAIT

National Weather Service
Room 925~
600 Arch Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19106
DEAR GORDON :
SUPER!!! That's just about the only way to describe the performance
of the NOAA Weather Team at Lake Placid. Give each member of the
hardy ouartet a p.old medal, and nothin~ less. Perhaps a Florida
vacation from the LPOOC.
Bein~ located about 75 miles from the Olympics we certainly had an
opportunity to use the data sent us from Lake Placid, not only 6n
our radio station but our 7 Weatherphones and Road N Ski Report
phones as well. Our Weatherphones daily serve Potsdam, Canton, Nor­
wood, Norfolk and Massena haddlin~ a volume of 6 tog thousand calls
daily.
A~ain, our thanks and congratulations to the NOAA Olympic Suunort
for an outstandinE job. Next, how about a NOAA Weather Radio
Station for the North Country.

D MOORE,
General Manager

K·1 FM • The Weatherphone Station• 2&5-2833

 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

National Weatlier Service Office

Rochester. N. Y. 14624

February 29, 1980

TO I Gordon C. Tait
~-~
FROM1 ~ R, Clwston, MIC .

SUBJECT, 1980 LAKE PLACID WINTER OLYMPICS

Congratulations on your excellent weather support tor the recent Winter

Olympics at x.ke Placid. ·
For your information, WSO Rochester, NY continuously broadcast all
of the weather discussions and forecasts disseminated by your unit at
Lake Placid, over KHA-SJ, NOAA Weather Ba.dio ou:t of Rochester,
1+. Government
of Canada
Gouvemement
du Canada MEMORANDUM NOTE DE SERVICE

~, r

L
Gordon Tait,
National Weather Service,
FOB Room 9258,
600 Arch Street
Philadelphia, P.A. 19106.
7

_J
SEC\JIIITY • Q.ASIIFICAt\ON • OE IECUIUTE

DUii FII.EIIIOTIIE IIUlllEHa

8960-1
r 7 'IOIIII FU/YlffllE "'1tl!EIICI

•·· Director, -
Canadian Meteorological Centre 04
February 26, 1980
L _J

SUBJECT
OBJET
Forecasts for the 1980 Winter 01.ymp~cs.

We would like to thank you for the excellent service provided

by the Olympic Support Units at Lake Placid NY. Although we are not
set up as a public forecast centre, many inquiries were directed our
way and several of our meteorologists who do weather forecasts for the
CBC and private stations found your guidance invaluable. We have not
done any rigourous verifications but our impressions are that the ac­
curacy of the forecasts was highly conmendable.
Thanks again for a job well done.

L. l>. (µ.t.r.
L.W. Hubbert
for/ Director, C.M.C.
LWH/dosm
,
AUXILLARY STUDIOS P. 0. BOX 669
IN.LUBSOCK RALLS, TEXAS 79357
P. 0 . BOX 10211 A/C 806 - 253-2623
LUBBOCK. mcAS 79.c08
A/C 806 • 762-131-4

ClEII CHIINEl &DOD WlTTI

l&ID kca
RALLS, TEXAS
•

Earle Murphy
PO Box 37
Farmingdale, NJ
07727

March 1, 1980

Dear Gordon and all Concerned;

·.....
~

You and your team were again outstanding for the XIII
Olympic Games at Lake Placid, I can not express in words
the help you gave me and my team in ru~~ing the best
Olympic Competition the world has · ever had.
The support you gave us is being felt around the world,
as other nations facing similar world contests, have now
experienced what you hav.e done and now see its value.
My many thanks to the National US weather service for
their support in sending such talented individuals as
Jack May, Steve Harned and Doc Taylor, who made up your sup­
port unit. Also to the backup people whom assisted your
group, which I was unable to meet here at the Olympics.
Good luck in the future years and perhaps we maybe
able to work together again,

Sincerely,

C°::!;e• ::!;f :f--

Chief Meteorologist
Jumping
• OLYMPIC REGION WEATHER DISCUSSION/LAKE PLACID AND VICINITY FORECAST

NNNN.a..a.AXY
zczc
FPUS30 KLKP 120930
OLYMPIC REGION WEATHER DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE PLACID NY
430AM £ST TUE FEB 12 1980
AFTER Sa-1£ MORNING FLURRIES••• DECREASING CLOUDINESS IS EXPECTED
FOR THE REST CF THE DAY.
AS CF 4AM ABOUT A ·HALF INCH OF NEW SNOW HAD ACCUMULATED IN
LAKE PLACID SINCE YESTERDAY. SCX1E MORE FLURRIES ARE
EXPECTED THIS MORNING••• BUT OCCASIONAL SUNSHINE SHOULD BE
EVIDENT BY AFTERNOON. HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY WILL BE NEAR 27
DEGREES.
CLOUDINESS WILL GRADUALLY DISAPPEAR TONIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE
OVER THE MIDWEST MOVES TO THE EAST COAST BY MORNING. IT
WILL BE COLDER TONIGHT WITH TEMPERATURES SINKING TO NEAR ZERO.
IT LOOKS REAL GOOD FOR OPENING DAY CEREMONIES TOMORROW.
UNDER MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES TEMPERATURES WILL REACH 25 TO 30.
WINDS WILL NOT BE TOO STRONG••• THEY WILL BE OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST
AI 10 TO 15 MPH.
LOOKING AT THE ENO OF THIS WEEK.•• THE OLYMPIC REGION CAN CONTINUE
TO EXPECT NORMAL LAKE PLACID WEATHER••• WITH HIGHS NEAR 25
AND LOWS ZERO TO 5 ABOVE. FLURRIES OR LIGHT SNOW IS EXPECTED
THURSDAY AND SATURDAY••• WHILE SKIES WILL BE PARTLY CLOUDY ON
FRIDAY.
NOAA METEORQ.OGIST JACK MAY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OLYMPIC SUPPORT .UNIT
.. ~ .r • • • • • .. --#. . a ,. • •

NNNNZCZC
FQUSl KLKP 120930
FORECAST FOR LAKE PLACID AND VICINITY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OLYMPIC SUPPORT UNIT
LAKE PLACID NEW YORK
430AM EST TUE FEB 12 1980
CLOUDY WITH SOME FLURRIES THIS MORNING••• THEN PARTLY SUNNY
THIS AFTERNOON. HIGH TEMPERATURE 24 TO 27F/M3C.
PARTLY CLOUDY TONIGHT. COLDER WITH LOWS NEAR ZERO/MlSC.
MOSTLY SUNNY WEDNESDAY WITH HIGHS 25 TO 30F/M2C.
NORTHWEST WINDS lO TO 15 MPH TODAY. WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS AT
SIMILAR SPEEDS WEDNESDAY. ·
THE OUTLOOK FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK CALLS FOR A CHANCE OF
LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES THURSDAY AND SATURDAY. HIGHS WILL BE
NEAR 25F/M4C. LOWS WILL BE ZERO TO 5 ABOVE/Ml7C.
,
OLYMPIC OUTDOOR SPECTATOR ADVISORY
FPUS7 KLKP 122100
Q.YMPIC OUTDOOR SPECTATORS ADVISORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OLYMPIC SUPPORT UNIT
LAKE PLACID NEW YORK
4 PM EST TUE FEB 12 1980
THE WEDNESDAY FORECAST IS FOR SUNSHINE FOLLOWED BY INCREASING
CLOUDINESS WITH HIGHS 25 TO 30F. WHILE THIS IS ALMOST AN IDEAL
TYPE CF DAY FOR OPENING CEREMONIES THE SUN MAY SLIP BEHING CLOUDS AND
CAUSE A SLIGHT CHILL LATER IN THE DAY.
rLEXIBLE DRESS WITH THE ABILITY TO BUNDLE UP LATE IN THE AFTER
NOON IS ADVISABLE. IT CERTAINLY WILL BE A LITTLE NIPPY WITH
TEMPERATURES DROPPING INTO THE TEENS FOR THE LUGE EVENTS IN NORMALLY
COLDER MT VANHOEVEN BERG. .

ABUS7 KLKP 191000

Q.Yl"IPIC OUTDOOR SPECTATOR ADVISORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OLYMPIC SUPPORT UNIT
LAKE PLACID NEW YORK
5AM EST TUE FEB 19 1980
IT WILL BE MILD BUT WINDY TODAY. FOR THIS MORNINGS EVENTS •••
THE 15KM Ca-tBINED NORDIC CROSSfCOUNTRY
THE 1000 METER SPEED SKATING RACE
AND THE 2ND RUN OF THE MENS GIANT SLALON•••
TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE UPPER 20s••• 9UT 15 TO 20 MPH WINDS
SHOULD MAKE IT FEEL LIKE ZERO. THE FINISH LINE AT WHITEFACE
MOUNTAIN AND THE GRANDSTANDS AT THE SKATING OVAL WILL BE
PARTICUARLY VULNERABLE TO THESE STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS.
DURING THE 1ST AND 2ND RUNS r, THE MENS DOUBLES LUGE CCX'iPEllTION
THIS AFTERNOON ••• TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE LOW TO MID JOS
WITH VIND CHILL READINGS NEAR lO ABOVE.

WINTER OLYMPIC TRAVELERS FORECAST

FPUSIO KLKP 191800

WINTER OLYMPIC TRAVELERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE PLACID NY
1PM EST TUESDAY FEBRUARY 19 1980
ACCORDING TO SGT. R J MARTINO CF THE NEW YORK STATE PLICE AS OF NOON
TODAY ALL ROASDS ACROSS THE STATE ARE DRY WITH SQltE WET OR ICY SPOTS.
HOWEVER SURFFACE WEATHER REPORTS INDICATE LIGHT SNOW AND FLURRIES
{~THE WESTERN ADIRONADACKS. THESE SHOULD CONTINUE TONIGHT AND INTO
NIGHORTR~W BUT WITH LITTLE CACCUMULATION. TRAVELERS HEADING Ha-tE TO
rRQlt LAKE PLACID TO POINTDS WEST AND NORTH MAY ENCOUNTER
~~~~~i~iRs: NO WEATHER RELATED PROBLEMS ARE EXPECTED FOR SOUTH BOUND
~~~E TRAVELING INBOUND TO THE LOYMPICS ION WEDNESDAY FROM THE SOUTH
NORTLHHAVE NO WEATHER RELATED PROBLEMS. ONCE AGAIN ••• ROUTES FRCJII THE
AND EWEST MAY HAVE Sa-IE FLURRIES.
•
LAKE PLACID CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA

zczc
CSUS2 KLKP 102200
LAKE PLACID CLI"ATOLOGICAL DATA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE PLACID NY
5 PM EST SUNDAY FEBRUARY 10 1980

CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA FOR SUNDAY FEBRUARY 10 AT THE OLYMPIC

VENUE SITES. .
CROSS COONTRY BIATHLON JUMP BOB.LUGE TOP DOWNHILL ICE OVAL OFFICE
MAX 24 23 24 24 14 28 27
MIN N6 M5 6 1 4 M6 M2

IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE MIN TEMPS AT THE JUMP WERE

ALMOST 10 DEGREES WARMER THAN TKOSES OF THE CROSS COUNTRY•••
BIATHLON AND ICE OVAL. THIS WAS DUE TO THE TEMPERATURE INVERSION
THAT DEVElOPED OVER THE REGION LAST NIGHT. WHILE THE LOWER
ELEVATICWS EXPERIENCED THE LOWEST TEMPS THE JUMP BEING ABOVE THE
INVERSIOO HAD WARMER TEMPS.
IT VAS ANOTHER SUNNY BEAUTIFUL DAY IN ALAKE PLACID NY•
WE STILL HAVE~ INCHES CF SNOW ON THE GROUND.

tt~
CSUS2 KLKP 202215
LAKE PLACID CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE PLACID NY
515PM EST WED FEB 20 1980
TODAYS HIGH TEMPERATURE IN LAKE PLACID OF 50 DEGREES••• 1oc•••
TOOK ITS TOLL ON THE SNOW COVER IN TOWN. AT 5PM ONLY
3 INCHES CF SNOW WAS MEASURED AT THE OLYMPIC SKATING OVAL.
THIS WAS DOWN FROM THE 6 INCHES MEASURED EARLY THIS MORNING.
THIS MORNINGS LOW TEMPERATURE WAS 26F••• MINUS 3 CELSIUS.

~,zczc
CSUS2.KLKP 221215
LAKE PLACID CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE PLACID NY
7.15 AM EST FRIDAY FEBRUARY 22 1980
••• RED SKY IN MORNING SAILORS TAKE WARNING•••
MIDDLE AND HIGH CLOUDS MOVED IN RIGHT AT 6.30 AM TO GIVE
LAKE PLACID A BEAUTIFUL RED SUNRISE. AFTER A CLEAR AND COLD NIGHT
THE MINIMUM REACHED 5. YESTERDAYS HIGH WAS 34•••• AND
THERE IS 2 INCHES OF FROZEN SNOW ON THE GROUND•
• . •rc.l;.lAL IIE:SSAGE TO THE fl EDI A•• •
· IOAAS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OLYMPIC SUPPORT UNIT WILL BEGIN
FULL C1'£RATION THIS PIONOAY FEBRUARY 11TH.
THE PRIMARY PURPOSE CF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
PRESENCE IN LAKE PLACID IS PUBLIC SAFETY••• AND IT ........
IS IN THIS VEIN THAT WE WILL BE ISSUING TWO IMPORTANT
PRODUCTS••• z
:::,

••• THE OUTDOOR SPECTATORS WEATHER ADVISORY•••

MD THE
...
••• OLYMPIC REGION TRAVELERS FORECAST•••
THE NORMAL HIGH TEl'IPERATURE IN LAKE PLACID DURING MIO
FEBRUARY IS IN THE MID 20S. BUT SPECTATORS SHOULD NOT
RELY ON THIS STATISTIC IN DRESSING FOR SITTING 2 TO J
HOURS AT AN OUTDOOR EVENT.
IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT TEMPERATURES MAY NOT
GO ABOVE ZERO DURING ANY PARTICULAR DAY IN FEBRUARY.
IN FEBRUARY 1989 DURING THE PREfOLYMPIC TRIALS•••
TEMPERATURES DURING Sa-1£ MORNING EVENTS WERE 10 BELOW
ZERO OR COLDER. ANY WIND WILL PROGRESSIVELY ADD TO
THE DlSC(rltFORT CAUSED BY THE COLD.
THIS STATEMENT IS NOT A FORECAST FOR THE GAl'IES.
WE ARE ADVISING SPECTATORS WHAT BITTER COLD IS POSSIBLE
DURING THE 11 DAY OLYMPIC PERIOD. IT WOULD BE A SHAME
IF ANY~E UNFAMILIAR WITH ADIRONDACK WEATHER ARRIVED
WITH MINIMAL CLOTHING AND HAVE TO SIT 1wo ·10 THREE
HOURS DURING AN OUTDOOR EVENT IN SUBZERO WEATHER WITH
A BITTER WIND.

THE WEATHER SERVICE WILL BE ISSUING AN OUTDOOR SPECTATORS

ADVISORY TWICE DAILY. THIS MESSAGE WILL TELL OF EXPECTED
TEMPERATURES ••• WINDS ••• AND WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES IN
THE OLYMPIC REGION DURING MORNING AND AFTERNOON EVENTS.
THE MORNING ADVISORY••• ISSUED AT 5AM WILL TELL OF EXPECTED
CONDITIONS FOR THAT DAY. THE EVENING ADVISORY••• ISSUED
AT 5PM WILL TELL OF EXPECTED CONDITIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING
DAY.
THIS ADVISORY WILL BE DISSEMINATED ON NEW YORKS NOAA WEATHER
WIRE AND BROADCAST OVER NOAA WEATHER RADIO IN NEW YORK AND
PARTS CF NEW ENGLAND.
THE a:.YMPIC REGION TRAVELERS FORECAST WILL ALSO BE ISSUED
TWICE DAILY. THE ~30AM ISSUANCE WILL ADVISE OF WEATHER
CONDITIONS IN NEW YORK WHICH COULD AFFECT TRAVEL TO LAKE
PLACID FRCl'J THE PRIMARY ACC(rltODATI ON AREAS OF MONTREAL.••
ALBANY••• SYRACUSE/UTICA••• AND WATERTOWN.
THE 5P~ ISSUANCE WILL ADVISE CF WEATHER CONDTIONS ENROUTE
TO THESE AREAS.
WE HOPE THAT THROUGH THE COMBINED EFFORT CF THE NEW
MEDIA AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE••• WE CAN NAKE THIS
A SAFE AND CCIIIFORT ABLE EXPERIENCE FOR THE TRAVEL IN HG
<LYMPIC SPECTATOR.
•
National \·l eather Service Olympic Support Unit For Consultation call 6 53 _ 10
.
FOREcAs_T roa '-/(1) rv1efeR S(??t?d 5[{4,. tJ G- oV A-~
(VENUE)
.
FOR t==Rlif+ Y
(Date)
'Feb 15 Prepared at (o.'30/f/JIJ ()-/~-8()
(Time) (Date)
.
~

8:oo /0; 00 I ~,'00 . /J{X)✓

Time:~
------
Weather: '5U)JNY SUNAIY If I Gt/- C/.pUbS
Winds: ;VW S"l(Pf{ VRR S- KPtl V'1R S-KPH.
Temperature: - //C, -G,c, -3C,
Hwnidity: 70/0
Re.TJ1arks: GooD Rf}CE

-----------------------
,.

General Lake Placid Forecast:

- -····- .. _., ...... , ............... _ --···· --
LAKE PLACID NEW YORK
4.30 Al1 EST F'RE>AY FEBRUARY 15 1980
••• TODAY••• FLURRIES ~ARLY THIS MORNING GIVING ~AY TO PARTIAL CLEARING
3'( MID r~o,,NING. INCREASING CLOUDS AGAl!' IN THt: AFTERNCO!·l \..'ITH A CHANCE
CF LIGHT SNOW DEVELO?ltlG !3Y SU!JSET. HIGHS -4 TO -IC. ~'!tlDS NORTH
WEST l~ TO 2q ~PH DIMINISHING TO LIGHT AND VARIABLE ?Y LATE AFTERNOON.
TONIGHT •••• CLOUDY l,;JTH PEiHOJS CF' LIGHT S!JOi.t.'. LCl.t!S --:-'\ T0-1C. \i.'!NDS
LIG~T AND VARIA9LE. ACCUMUL.iHIONS OF "3 TO 8 CIY\ POSSI3LE BY
SATURDAY MORNING.

SATURDAY••• SNOW TAPC:RING TO FLURRIES. HIGHS-4. TO -IC. :.'INDS LIGHT

AND VARIA3LE: HI !HE t~OF<~IING INCREASING NORTHWEST IH THE AFTERNOOiJ.

EXTa;oED OUTLOOK FOR SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY••••••

FLU~R!C:S EACH DAY • LOWS AROUND-•~<', HIGHS AROUf,D-~C,

I
Translators: As soon as t.his is translated, Please telecopy to this
Number Cross Country Staium 653-4171 •
•
• National \·leather Seo ce Olympic SupJ:ort Unit :·)r Consultation call 653-l

FORECAST FOR c..Ross coutvri<_Y___:;______

(VENUE)

FOR Tu~s DAY

( ate)
i=eb l'\l~c\io Prepared at 3 :oo PM Feb \i,\qio
_
{Time) (Date)

•,:

Time: oqoo \~00 \'oOO hr~~

-
Weather: C.lERR PART\.-.'f CLouDy. clova..v
.
WindS: \D-\'5 KP\-\ ~0-30KPH ;)5-351-<P\-t
Temperatu re: -\OC, +-\G + ~C,
Humidity: 80°/4 60/0 75%
Remarks:

GE}!ER.AL L.AKE PLACID FOREC~ST

FAIR SKIES TGN!GHT. LOW 'l'::~~t!PEitA'lU:cllS -12 TO -9C.

INCitEASii~G CLOUDiaESS, BRE3:lY A.ND MILD 'lUESDAY Wiri'H

HIGH T~lPERA'IURES -1 'IO +2C. SOU 'I'HWES'l' VJINDS INCREASING
TO 25 TO 3 5 KPE BY AF'l'ERi'iOO:~.

FLU~RIES OR LIGHT SNOW 'IUESDAY NIGHT .AI~D WEDNESDAY•

LO-;/ TJESDAY NIGHT NEAR -6C. HIGF. WEDNESDAY AGAIN NEAR
-1 TO +2C.

I •.

Translators: As soon as this is translated, Please telecopy to t his

Number Cross Country Staium 653-4171
 _..,.. l ,,. ,:mpµort unit 1,•,...,.. Consultation call 65)-10
• . ' v..1..)'Ul}-'J.I.,;
.)

FORECAST FOR
(VENUE}

roR .....:...F~s.c.--.:-f--=-'l_ _ Prepared at ~COAM Tu/:..

-.::==--~~-.........:~;;......._ __
ctrate) ( Time} (Date)

... ..,

TimE!: O~QO 1IOQ /4-00

UAR•Agl-£.
\·leather: .QMTt'l ClcOLtP'i' CLol.A DmESS Ho~ny~
J I
\•Jinds: f -1,&l ,~- 2~t.Pl-t SW .;lD-JQt<Pi.J ~lA) 2b-~SKPI~
Temperature: _-SC- -fC... +t~
Humidity: loO:i_o 47°/o 45'0/4
Re.marks:

General Lake Placid Forecast•••

Increasing cloudi11,ess, breezy and mild today. High temperatures

near +lC. Southwest winds increasing to 25 to 35 KPH by Late
morr..ing.

Mostly cloudy tonight and Wednesday. Chance of ·some flurries.

Low tonight near -?C. High on Wednesday near +20. (m

Outlook '!.1hursday through Sat,u·day •••

Thursday and Friday•••Most,ly cloudy and continued mild. low near
-6c. high near +2C.
Saturday ••• Chance of Rain or Snow. high +JC. Low -JC.
• i~a l,J.una.1 Lvea"Gner ~ervice Olympic Support Unit For Con:'Sul tation call 653-1

FORECAST FOR ./..uG-EI I BoBsLED

(VENUE)

FOR -rJcSDAY FF::B 19 \q~o Pr~pared at 3:oo P/Y\ Feb ,ca 1\qw-
(Date) \
( Time) (Date)

-=-
Time: OC\00 l~D l f; oo r\-R ~
Weather: ClE4R PARTLY clo,;oy clooDY
Winds: l o-\5 l-<P\-t -·~-30 f<Ptf ~-?/5 kPH-
Temperature: -9 (, +\C.. +~c
Humicli ty: '80 % 60% ?6" ¼
Remarks:

-----------------
GEtIERAL L.t,KE PLACID :F'OilECAST

FAIR SKJ.ES TC.NIGHT. LO\~ Tt.l'ilPErlA'iURlS -12 TO -9C.

INCREASING CLOUDINESS, BREE2Y A;~D MILD 1U ES DAY WI'l'H

HIGH TfilvlPl~RA'lUilES -1 TO +2C. SOU 'l'H\i/EST ~·llNDS INCR~ASING
TO 25 11'0 J 5 KPE BY AF'TERNOON.

FLUR.tUES OR LIGHT SNOW TUESDAY NIGHT AND \·lEDNESDAY.

LOVJ WESDAY NIGHT NEAR -6C. HIGH Wl~D1\JESDAY AGAIN HEAR
-1 TO +2C.

'franslators: P.s soon as this is translated, Please telecopy to thif

Nu.-nber Cross Country Staiurn 653-4171
 w.11~ 'f.t!.t! OLYMPICS ALPINE FORECAST
' NATIONAL WEA'l'HEF~) ERVICE OLYMPIC SUPPOR'f ur....,J LAKE PLACID
Day FR\ date F.e,,6 (~ Time G /l/YJ
-:toDftY 701\J t Blff s ,q. t:
1. Fair
2. Partly Cloudy
X
3. Mostly Cloudy
4. Cloudy
X
X X
5. Increasing Clouds l;.hTE.
6. Clearing
7. Snow
8. RAin
x
9. Freezing Rain
10.Sleet
11. Flurries X
12. Thaw
13. 'fuming Colder
14. Turning Wanner
15. Windy
Temperat:.1.reC
Top - l3 ._ \3 - g - /(p
Base -3 -] -3 -le<,
'fop
Base
2'-l-40 i<PH- /~!-11'-l 10-;t _.'-10-SQ_
. -~~ ··- ... Ll&lfT -·-------- /~-2:i_
1.../&!fT ... - .. ....
11.IEFtTHER FOF-:ECAS:T FOF.: l,.IHI TEFACE TOP ItOl.•.'l~H ! LL . -
. FOi'1. 02 . - !.::O
t.,1:;ATHER
1.,IHi!JS:
8:ttoo1>"t:__ ---- S,u1l~ Y!
___ pftR.ll,.'~
---------~1---~2.tl._________ .,2~
0
________ e'9-RTJ.Y.. 4~£J'u~V
---2 r_------'l ____
__
 •••

...

Base

• ~ t-. hi.~-, n 'l c - _ ~ r:... , "'.. .. • • ., "'"'

That First Day in Lake Placid. Monday. January 21, 1980. OSU
offtce not entirely empty! There was one AP photographer busy
snapping pictures of bare room and a reporter anxiously waiting
first interview with OSU••• to get scoop on feather sur,port to
Qlympics along with full weather report•••• 'llight now ••••and •••
''Why weren • t you here on the 15th791 • • • and ••• 1'How do you account
for the success of the Farmers Almanac?"
The OSU met with photographer for lunch ••• returned with six
inch ruler from briefcase (our only real office at the time) •••
stuck it in one inch of snow••• and thus rendered first on-the­
spot weather report, news story and AP photo for the 1980 Winter
Olympics' weather support.· ~ome opener!
.'
·­.~
.,,.

I • .o • .. • • • l • • • ~ • • " L.

_ ___..___: - l.- - - - -- --
. l • ~
. .
.
- -
·- - .
1be Tirnes Record. Ttle.,day, Januaiy 22, 1980-13
•, ' • ' - : a ; •
f 1~~¢Y~II ·a'thle_teifW~
e~ther
t..
,. .-
~ f U . - . . / !II •• :.&. • - - · _.....,.._ ..,._._: ••:... . . .

. . ... -~· ..
,;,1_.,1 ~.t_ • •-• .... . J .~ '-• .,.Qj(,l, • ".. t -._ "' -• . . t' ,·~ --t.i.,._. '- .3. •. • • ,_ . 1

f:!~~·-01y·m_pfcs.
. .
i
('
Forecasters' -~,
r- .• . -· ,·, .
,
:. instruments .
:.all in
.f.. . ' .
place
' .
·.
..
>
BJ DONNA CIACCIO
··--- ... . ... !1..~ ~·- - ;::r" -. ·• · ~--· · -·•

8&af1Wriler
THE WEATHER 11 important to
athletes competing in tbe Olympics at
Lue Placid. A gust of wind or a light
covering of powdery 1110w can make
.(be difference between I gold medal
and 1otng bome empty-handed. That's
wby a team of meteorologist.I and
. Ceclmlclans have been at Late Placid,
worting over I tw~year period, to
; awe 111N tbat records and forecuta
: are u accurateas possible.
: Donald Quick of the Natinal Weather
• Service first began imta!Hng 'llecha­
. nlmm to record wind 111stems, bum!di-
~, rain and temperature in 1971.
"The International Olympic Com­
: auttee approached III during the fall of
t U7I tG ,et up weather devices. Tbey
• needed detailed obsemUons IDd
· records covering the weather condi­
. Uona during the two · World events
' prior to u.e l9IO wmter Olympics," INSTALLING THE Instruments WU the difficult part; reading them is
l&idQulck. easy. Here, Donald Quick explains I recording device to Olympic
In February of 1971, Quick and personnel at the ice-skating rink. (Photo by Ann Hagen Griffiths)
Barry Timmis began work at the + • 11 ... ~ .. • •

'. Olympic lite keeping a monthly log of

' temperature, wind direction and speed •
andmowconditiom. · · -~ • -~'· •; .. : ·· t~

· The records, available to athletes ud at Whiteface Mountain and Mou.it·; equipment dwing the Olympics. A
• and their coaches, were compiled "to Vu Boeveziberg. . team_ ~ _mp_~ . of Jack May, of
pve anyone involved fn the Olymplca . . :· Cleveland's NaUonal Weather Service,
.,me idea of what to look forward to Tbe ataUon fnalde the uating oval ,~ Steven Hamed of Raleigh's service,
' after two years of study," Mid Quiet. will monitor wind d.lrecUon and · ·- j . .. .. • •

According to Quiet, the entire velocity along with temperature and IUchard "Doc" Taylor, a New York
process required a selective choice of humidity conditions of the lee; tbe · State meteorologist with the Depart•
locations and equipment. But. 18.ld ltation inside the arena will record all ment of Environmental Conservation
· Quick, through the cooperation of the weather condlUom for local ud and beaded by Gordon C. Tait of
lntemational Olympic Committee, the worldwide dissemination; IDd tbe Pblladelpbia'a National Weather
· State Department of Environmental stations at the lntervale and the two Service will man the Lake Placid
Conservation, Gllbane Construction mowitains will record wind speed and satellite station. Tbe group will collect
Company and the Olympic coaches, direction and temperature and railt- data monitor the stations and advise
the instrument lnstallaUoo went fall, according to Quiet. · localities of the con~tio~ .!Ji the
lllloothly.. . •. .
The people involved were agreeable Armed with 1h11 knowledge, tbe f Olympic Vlllage, according to Quick.
but not the weather. · Olympic athletes and their coaches t Quick has no intention of returning
t "We bad some problems tram- can antlclpate bow the weather . for the pmea. . .
.; portlq equipment to certain Bites," CGDdiUons will affect their perfor- 1 ••we bad the most fun ID ma
' ald Quiet. Sites OD the two mance and results, llld Quick. For t because it 1'11 quiet and con.struc:t1oD
; mountains posed dilemmas due to an . eumple, air pressure and velocity . ~ was going on, but m1979, the media
~ overabundance of 1110w in U71, but affect the a1 Jump. Jumpa cannot be ~-replaced the construction crew," Aid
; Quick and Timmis completed the Job made lf winds are more than 22 miles Quick. "My job wu to get in and get
,. with tbe belp of a 111owmobile and per bour. Depending OD the density of _done.NowtbeshowcangoOD."
~ toboggan. the air, akiera should eJther raise their t •.:.~ -.:. . ,. - : •
I;, According to Quick. weather stations skis or level them for better resulla.
1 llave been placed lnslde the skating Quick'• Job wu primarily 1nstalJa. ' • ·· ·" ·::- • • . ·· ~ · · •·· · ·
L evil, the Olympic arena, tbe intervale tion IDd be will not be monitoring the
~ •-. - I • L
The Sunday Record, February 10. 19ao· -D-1 •

. . .... ;,1 _ ___;,. . .... , . ,•• 1

~ ~ ": ,. f1o.t •• !1,uu • ... • •
 TBJS 1S ONE of atx stations Ban, ninmis. left. IIDII · the ·two rana occur with warm temperatures and lugb
Donald Quick, right, IDstalled near tbe bobsled and air bumldlty. (Pboio by ADD Bagen Griffltbs)
luge ~ According to Quick. c:be belt CCIOditlcm tor · · .: · ·., r . ; . . .. . :- . . ., ·
.. '" \. ~ .... .1#1-
;

..
 . __ _
.
,. . .. . - .
.
____. .. _
.
Think. _SIWW! Think Cold!
\...
·· Weather Their.Topic
. ' .
ii.- ~e!eorologyTeam Here Plans ·· · ·-- ,_ ., 1 • ~ • by Bradfc!'d C. Brayton . ·
~ "T..! .,.- ' ., . ----· - - -· --- -- - _. . . -·
•~ WfJllha- Walm t\l Lake p~~.: ,: : e• ' t
___ a:z w : . · · · -- · ·>.,,--_,,~-were la Lab. Placid lat !';
tJ  lmoutlf £atrr,rt1r · ·1-lna fran the first of February
- .L-:_ __ ... , .. . imtil llan:b 81th, learning about
·11,e bot and lmmld .,.tber we ··~ sporta we would be predlcting
blve endured for too long mates Joe. All the events except the luge . . · ~~ . ---~ ~ ~ ,
tbe thought of aoow and crisp, ID- . •u CA!sted then at the World • . ; . ,..;:.~ •• , , _.,_; ·... ess\.O :-
,tgoratlng winter weather a~ Games. Twenty-two counbies sent •.,.,_.,.. ,-..a;,.:~J~ 'IUI • :n\.t'\g S coc\• • • I
11.... "'""'t So the tin iD ,teama to nee, testing themselves lfillll,,,Z....,.- n ia-n cave e'1et'\ ,
pea..... _. DDW. mee g u well u the coune. Tbeywerein ~~~iii ~ e , : r t'\ea't 1 -.esS • • • '1e't1
J,lenuahant Um weekend of four competillon. ID March aou • . .2.u.\eS 5 ~ 0 tne 4t,uS ~~· ~a.s
proresslonalmeteorologisbl,picked .~trysk.ilngwaacan~locoae ,, scl\eu .,.,cat\Ot'\ 1-o c\O~eet.it'\g.,_ t,\.tne•
to work u a team in predlc:tlng the ~- 0 5,v '1., "' e "' \·~ ou
1weather at the 1980 Winter uay.ltwutoocold." -oocS \>\s.C se• S. 'l,O
iolymplcs in Lake Placid, N.Y., When the meteorologlsta went to . e.t 1. s.ss.t'\t e~Vet'\ \ '\. ~ 0 . . - ..,
f eb. 13 to at, ii a good excuse to t,.ake Placid last winter they talked s. v e 5 o,-10 s.t'\d s. ~
think about, "Ideal_weather, clear
,
and cold withsnow 00 the groun • '
1 Richard Taylor will be boat to
d,
~th the officials to aee what they
wanted. Wind. for example, can be
critical. If It goes above 22 miles
per bour, Mr. Tayloraaid, the event.
s.t. o-ne t\.'1e • • •

·~••. . . ,
0
0 auc
vi:
~
•
,r· .
· :...,.
··
11
1 ....
•
t
"bis three colleagues In the house bil ~ I I be held w the wind WINTER OLYMPICS TEAM for wealher forecasting Includes, from
-ndmoth-
r- -
built in 1''""',
•-
and •·
111W a base for sailing, awlmming
a ~v.....
1·;:.:,.. . up un.
on1 Ja f
goea the left, Jack May, Steve Has a.ed, Richard Taylor and GordonTait.
· ·
oadteanlsforafaurlb&...,..tlaaol ' 1beWiDl«Ol)'mplcs y st or tt,ootFo,Reat - . • · - · . c·: - : -
Ta Jan ~o weeks, but the meteorology · Housing for miles around ii ~- chose It for its excellent
!we'll be nna)izing our team ..a\eam wru be on site a m(!nth before fered at sky high prices, if it la meteorology department. After
, · . that. Setting up equ pment, available at all. Hotels are already graduation I worked for Robert E.
plana for tbls winters farecutlng provided by the National Weather completely booked at an average White Instrument company in
effort." Mr. Taylor said. "Gordon Service, will take up aU their time price of $100 a day. Tbe ·Baston for six months. They sell
Tait, lead lorecuter for the team, for the fU'St week. After that they meteorologists rented a lour-room nautical and weather instruments.
comes from Philadelphia. Jack will be forecasting every day, house, not too close to town, for Then I got my present job in
May Js from Cleveland, and Steve became many or tbe competitors , their six-week stay. Price wu Albany. I've been there for the past
Harn~ ts from Raleigh, North will be there practicing beforehand. $9,000. • . \ nine years as a meteorologist for
Carollila. All three work for tbe And part of the preparation by the "We uw others_ at .$15,000 to lhestate."
NaUonalWeatherServlc:e.I'mone atbleteailgettingaccllmatedtothe -ooo~ m.ed ofth It He skis in Burnt Hilla, N.Y.,
cl the alx meteorologists In the New weather. The weather team will ...,, • ne WI, one em. was here there is a little rope tow. He
York atat, Department of, also be testing their coordination =~~ But lt cost SlS,OOO lspresidentoftheRidgeRunnerSki
Environmental Conservation. with the officials preparing ror an The children in Lake Placid will cl~,b., .
"Our forecasting · effort was operation as a~ooth as possible be out ol school for the whole month It 6 a nice.place to ski. My two
requ~ted by the Late Placid when the WinterOlympics begin. of FebnJary, and the high school children..Kann, e,,,and Michael, 4,
Olympic organizing committee. We Dally Routlae . bu been rented by ABC sports. are teamingthere. .
were selected In part because we "Two men come on duty at3:90 to Main street wW beshut oll lor the ~ · Taylor, the f~rmer Paula Dot
are active ?!1 winl~ sporm. All orus 4 A.M. to take care ol the morning two weeks. Only way to gel Into Tullio of Quin<=)'., ikis, too. The tw
are skiers. · forecasts. A third comes in about I town then la to drive into one of the of them have skied east and west ln
. The athletes are DDt_the onlyones A.M. to help out with anything that three parking lots, one of them 16 this ~oumry and at SL
• ho need to know what the weatber needs to be done and check the : miles away, the other two 10 miles A';19tria, ~ Davos, Switurla e·
An':9
'lill be. Highway maintenance altea, aa needed. Each site gets Ila away, and take the bus Into town. HisfavontelsSugarLoafiDMain •
crew., state and local police, other own tailored forecasl 'lbe noon tTo get on a bus, one must show a
thoritles from miles aroundLake : forecast ls just an update, unleu ticket to aneventacbeduled fer that ~ - - - - - - - - - ­
Id, faced with an expecdated . something unusual comes In over day.
_of 50,000 !f m~re every Y, '. the teletypes or satellite receiver. A Tickets wW go on sale some time
'lil1 be relying · on the team'a print or the clouds _as seen from this summer at prices ranging from
larecaata, reported at 7 A.M., noon %.·' tlO feet covers from Hudson Bay $15 to $60 per event. They must be
lildSP M to Miami and South Dakota to the bought In advance. Some tickebl
"We ~ be living forecaall for Atlantic. The picture .11 sharp have been allotted for sale to Lake
,today, tomorrow and the next day, enough to denote iubUe changes In Placid residents. And some have
,flua a loog range three tofive days cloud movement or formation. beenallottedfor oveneu buyers.
iMJonct the c~nt day. Texas "A new picture comes In every 30 The meteorologists wW be
J111trumenta 1a providing com- minutes. This helps ua locoordinate allowed free entry to !lifferent alt.es
11\IDlcaUoas llnb at all sites. We with surface operaUons. One because they have to makeweather
will only have to enterourforecuta teletype gives us an hourly print• . observations there. .
~ the ayatem. nie inlormaUon out on data coming in for North I
"Wewon'taeemanyevents,"Mr,
._YI ln the system unW we update Central U.S. A second one provides · Taylorsaid. "We'll be working." · ,
l( ar the next d the three daily upper atmosphere lnlonnaUon. The Born in Boston, Mr. Taylor ll'eW . ,~~
~ times ii reached. . .. ,
'l\eWontWonia . . . . .
third carries warning watchea. We up in Hingham, was graduated
• use the fourth to transmit our from Vermont academy in 1966and . i-
"Everybody wants to tnow what forecast, supplemented by otber from Bellalap college in Center ·~' .:'.• T., ,
11\e temperature will be II well u ,forecastofflcesandnewsmedla. ' Harbor, N.H., with a dep-ee ID ·
ltie Wt,ather. A thaw, for instance, "Our aannal work ·day enda at 5 meteorology in 1970.
, - .
0
: • . '~ ~

~4.;..~\;:.::iJlt.. ~:-i;:-:,_
·t
•• .: \ '.

t i,.... . _. ·.:~.;.-- .:
.,.,.. .:........,_,._..._ -- .;i.. . - 4

~v•
1

• a biC ralnatorm are the worst -P.M., but we found NIDeYeanOaJolt METEOROLOGISTTAYJ.OR
~- - ~ -~ J# ·.a.~-- 1u· _
• 1 woridne overtime
_. to be Jaat verywmter. So •-- ._..__, WU ~,ormed in 1--
~:.i-
_.._fcllt.
0
busy two

. .,~ - .. •i!"'• · : . .;- ~ i

&UC -
cut : wbal . . are aact ~lded;:.;....;;;•;:_;;1;,;972;.::•:.."_be~.:;u~id..;:....'..:'I:.-_ _ _ _ _ _ __
lo;;,
.

:u Jl'alfflftllth M,:uc..urhuc,attc ~ e., , .., • • - . • - -

 ADDENDUM 31

Three letter5 of appreciation for OSU services rendered during the

1979 pre-Olympic trials which were recieved after publication of
the Pre-Olympics report and were never circulated or filed.
From:
Village of Lake Placid clerk, Eileen M. Valentine.
LPOOC General Manager, Petr L. Spurney.
Town of North Elba clerk, Mathew B. Clark.

Robert J. Peacock Eileen M. Valentine

Mayor LAKE PLACID VILLAGE, INC. Village Clerk
301 Main Street
lrustees LAKE PLACID, NEW YORK 12946 Virginia L Cllmore
John D. Barry VIiiage Trusurer
T. James Strack Tel. (5181 523.2597
Gerald F. Cassld!' Ronald J. Briggs
Ceorge O,rfstlan Ortloff March 19, 1979 Village Attorney

Gordon Tait
NWS WSFO
RM. 9258 - Federal Building
600 Arch Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106
Dear Mr. Tait:
I would like to inform you that the forecast
for Lake Placid and vicinity which was received through
the winter months has been very helpful and the service
has been very good. We are going to miss this daily
forecast and hope that, in the future, we may look forward
to receiving this again.
Sincerely yours,

Eileen M. Valentine
Village Clerk
..
XIII OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES 1980
P.O. BOX 1980 REV. J. BERNARD FELL
LAKE PL.AGO, NEW YORK 12946 President

PHONE OLYMPIC 3-4211

ARTDEVUN
(AREA CODE 518)
Vice-President
TElEX: LPOOC PETR L SPURNEY
954632 General Manager

March 13, 1979

Mr. Gordon Tait

National Weather service
600 Arch Street, Room 9258
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Dear Mr. Tait:
The Lake Placid Olympic Organizing committee is
deeply grateful to the National Weather Service
and your contribution in the 1979 Pre-Games.
Your dedication and efficiency helped to provide
a service to these Games that was appreciated by
all concerned and has become an obvious requirement
for the 1980 Olympic Winter Games.
I trust that your indoctrination into this Adirondack
winter was in some way compensated by the warm regards
we had for your services.
Looking forward to working with you and your organization
during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid.
Sincerely,

Petr L. Spurney
General Manager
PLS:rnw