Behind the scenes of forecasting for the NW Arkansas Championship

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Most meteorologist jobs are often thought to be on the green screen or at the National Weather Service Office, but there’s a different side to meteorology.

Meteorologist Joe Halvorson of DTN Forecasts for many sporting events on the LPGA, PGA Tour, and even college football, so the ladies of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, have a super detailed forecast catered to them. This forecast also goes to rules officials so they can figure out pin placements to maintain a specific difficulty on the course.

Halvorson usually comes in the Monday before the tournament to get a lay of the land and get a first look at the forecast.

Also, he usually prepares a forecast for the practice rounds that take place during the week. With him are a couple of tools he brings to each site: an electric field mill and a standard weather station.

The electric field mill is used for reading the charge in the air, so he can tell if the air is becoming charged and lightning is about to strike. His weather station he has measures temperature, dewpoint, wind, and even rain rates.

If there were rain and storms, Halvorson would have to be in two hours before the first tee so at roughly 5 a.m. in meetings most of the day watching for times to pause or resume play.

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