By: Chris Gilson, cgilson@cbs4qc.com
Their job is to make sure Mother Nature is on par for golfers and spectators to enjoy the JDC.
The meteorologists here at CBS4 are familiar with what type of weather to expect in the Quad Cities. But, the team of meteorologists traveling with the PGA is constantly forecasting for one different climate after another.
"It's challenging because every location we'll have different weather challenges so you kind of have to be a local weather expert wherever you go," Telvent Meteorologist with the PGA tour Wade Stettner said.
So to stay on top of changing weather conditions, these two meteorologists from a private weather company called Telvent, will be watching the radar for about 12 hours a day to make sure the weather stays on course.
"Our job is really to alert everyone, get everyone off the course before lightning strikes in the vicinity of the course," Stettner said.
And to do that meteorologist Wade Stettner doesn't only rely on radar, but a lightning detector that is on the course giving them the exact location of a lightning strike within seconds.
"Which measures the electric field in the vicinity of the golf course and lets us know which shower maybe building charge, which one have electricity and which ones don't," he said.
If a storm does become dangerous to folks along the course, the meteorologists then send out an alert to the tournament's director.
"They have evacuation staff already in place and they have plans in place at the golf course. They all have air–horns and they'll blow the air–horns on the golf course and that means its time to suspend play and for everybody to seek shelter, " he said.
Two meteorologists, one goal, keeping golfers and fans safe on the fare way.
The meteorologists don't only forecast for golf tournaments. Later this summer they'll be sending a meteorologist to the Indiana State Fair.
