Located right here in Norman, OK, the National Weather Center, (NWC)is a federal, state, and OU hybrid dedicated to understanding, forecasting, and teaching about weather on planet Earth. When seen from the outside and inside, the overall scale

and beauty of the building  screams learning, efficiency, sophistication, and most important of all, WEATHER! The building is filled with faculty, scientists, and researchers that are among the most educated regarding the atmosphere. Further, it holds numerous tools typical of studying the atmosphere, most notably the LIDAR on the roof. As a result, the NWC leaves people who are hungry for meteorology, such as myself, entranced the first time we see the building, and even more so after entering.

It may seem boring and uninspiring to those that are not interested in weather, but if you give it a chance, a simple and short tour will likely change your mind. At first, it may seem like a generic office building, as it did to me. However, the closer you get, and once you go inside, the ambience of the place will draw you in, particularly if you are here studying atmospheric science. This is how I felt the first time going inside. Clearly then, it is a source of inspiration for studying weather.

I certainly hope you go give it a visit!