STORM TRACK: May 31, 1987 (Volume 10 Issue 4)

It is now legal to drive 65 mph on rural interstate highways in Texas, Oklahoma, and in other states as posted. This will save chasers about an hour of driving time for each six hours on the road.

Rockford, Illinois was wiped out by a massive tornado. That was the scenario issued one day over the public wire service by the National Weather Service. According to Carolyn DeBona of the NWS, the trouble started when local offices were sent new computer disks designed to speed warnings when severe weather conditions occurred. When meteorologists tried the new disks, they were supposed to type "THIS IS JUST A TEST", but the phrase did not get transmitted. Similar problems were reported in Brownsville, TX, Long Island, NY, Washington, D.C., and Dodge City, KS.

The editor attended the 9th Annual National Hurricane Conference in Orlando, FL on April 1st through 3rd. About 1,000 people were in attendance. A wide range of programs were presented from Law Enforcement, Engineering, Meteorology, Recovery, Evacuation, Sheltering, Public Works, Media, Insurance, Resorts and Islands. Outgoing director of the National Hurricane Center, Dr. Neil Frank spoke at a luncheon. He said the administration and others have overwhelming confidence in our satellite and forecast system, so much so, that reconnaissance flights may be discontinued. Dr. Frank does not favor the cutback and showed evidence of excessive errors in forecast tracks and hurricane wind velocities using satellite alone.