Foretelling the Future - Lake Placid Olympic Sites

Virtual Exhibit

Foretelling the Future | The National Weather Service at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games

EXPLORE HOW THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OLYMPIC SUPPORT UNIT’S WEATHER FORECASTS AND WARNINGS IMPACTED EVERYONE AT THE 1980 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES.

In 1980, there was a small team of meteorologists working tirelessly to give accurate and timely weather warnings and forecasts to ensure a safe and successful Olympic Winter Games for Lake Placid. They provided frequent weather information to coaches, athletes, venue managers, law enforcement, media, travelers, and spectators.

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1980 Weather Team

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

Meet the Team - Jack May, Steve Harned, Gordon Tait, Doc Taylor

From their office in the Olympic Arena, four meteorologists and one college intern issued weather watches, advisories, and warnings. They prepared daily weather forecasts for the region and each venue, gave daily briefings to officials and took weather observations at events.

Pictured (L to R) Jack May, Steve Harned, Gordon Tait, Doc Taylor

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

Meet the Team - John Kelley

“I learned that they would do whatever it took to get the forecast out. No obstacles were too big...at first they didn’t have an office or communications, so they sent out their first forecast from a restaurant across the street in a phone booth…sending it to the forecast office in Albany to get it out to the world." John Kelley

Interview with John Kelley

John Kelley, 1980 Olympic Support Unit Intern

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Impacts of Weather

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

Taking Weather Observations

The meteorologists went to each outdoor competition during the Games to take weather observations as part of the official results. Their weather observations and forecasts were passed on to help prepare athletes, coaches, and officials with information that would allow for the best possible event finish.

Meteorologist Jack May taking ice temperature of bobsled track

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

Informed Decisions

Depending on their observations and forecasts, a variety of informed decisions would need to be made – everything from what type of ski wax an athlete should use to a spectator’s choice for clothing while watching outdoor events to how much snow organizers would need to make.

Air temperature sensor outside of the forecast office (Courtesy NOAA)

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

Doc Taylor

“The guy most interested in our forecast details was the guy in charge of the jumping…he was really trying to pick our brains for a forecast that would tell him if it was a cross-wind, head-wind, or tail-wind...because that would have an impact on the jumper.” Doc Taylor, 1980 Olympic Support Unit Meteorologist

Doc Taylor Interview

Doc Taylor, 1980 Olympic Support Unit Meteorologist

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

Snow Drought

Prior to the Games, Lake Placid was experiencing a snow drought. Forecasts were critical to venue managers so they knew when the best temperature and humidity conditions would occur to make artificial snow for both alpine and cross country skiing events. Artificial snow cover had never been used before in Olympic competitions.

Snow Drought prior to the 1980 Olympic Winter Games

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

High Winds

When the wind changes directions, it will have a direct impact on the athlete as they soar into the air. Wind can work against a ski jumper and if, the crosswind reaches 12 mph, the jump has to be closed and the event will be delayed.

Wind speed and direction can have a huge impact on certain events

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

Cold Temperatures

Once the temperatures drop below freezing, racing requires different strategies. Cold muscles are easily pulled, frostbite and hypothermia can be a threat, and frigid temperatures can cause potential damage to the lungs. Both athletes, spectators, and officials have to prepare.

Cold temperatures can effect athletes and spectators

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

Heavy Snowfall

There can be such a thing as too much snow. Heavy snowfall has the potential to postpone events while waiting for organizers to clear snow from the course or until visibility increases. A blizzard can halt traffic and create scheduling nightmares.

Heavy snowfall can cancel or postpone events

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Innovations

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

Changes

Weather support has evolved as the Olympics and technology has changed. Weather teams have taken advantage of the latest advancements in technology (automated weather stations and super-computers) and meteorology (more accurate weather forecast models).

Olympic weather support comparison chart

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

1980 Technology

Meteorologists used this instrument to record humidity and air temperature at each Venue during the Games. Humidity was measured by the strands of human hair which expanded or contracted based on the air’s water vapor and temperature was measured by the movement of a bi-metal strip.

Hygrothermograph instrument used in 1980

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

Latest Technology

Meteorologist-in-Charge at the National Weather Service Forecast in Burlington, Vermont, Paul Sisson, analyzes satellite imagery and predictions from weather models run on NOAA super-computers.

NOAA Meteorologist Paul Sisson

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Be A Meteorologist

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

Weather Forecast for the 1980 Olympics

Weather during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games veered from spring-like temperatures that had planners scrambling to get snow on the ski slopes to sub-zero windchills that led to frostbite among some unlucky spectators.

Weather Forecast for the 1980 Olympics

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

Steve Harned

“… many of us in this profession knew at an early age that we wanted to be weathermen …” Steve Harned, 1980 Olympic Support Unit Meteorologist

Steve Harned Interview

Steve Harned, 1980 Olympic Support Unit Meteorologist

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

Weather Station

Perched high atop Whiteface Mountain, is a historically unique and state-of-the-art scientific research station. The Atmospheric Sciences Research Center's (ASRC) Whiteface Mountain Field Station was established in 1961 by the State University of New York as a University-wide center to promote programs in Atmospheric Science.

Live Whiteface Summit Webcam

Whiteface Mountain is the perfect spot to measure weather

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

Forecast Activity

A a weekly weather forecast sheet that you can download and fill out at home!

Weather forecast sheet

Weekly Weather Forecast Sheet

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

NOAA Interactive Weather Game

NOAA’s National Weather Service, Plan!t Now created a game that teaches about severe weather preparedness. This fun, educational game is highly interactive, and follows the National Weather Service mascot, Owlie Skywarn, that teach students about safety tips for facing several types of hazardous weather.

Young Meteorologist Program

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

NASA and NOAA Weather Site for Kids

NASA and NOAA's weather site for kids. Play games and get your questions answered about weather here.

SciJinks Children's Website

SciJinks, weather Site for Kids

Lake Placid Olympic Museum Virtual Exhibit

NCAR Weather Site for Kids

A children's website designed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Kids can learn about weather and the atmosphere, as well as play games and do activities.

NCAR Children's Website

Seasonal weather

NOAA/National Marine Sanctuary Foundation logos — NOAA/National Marine Sanctuary Foundation logo

This project is a partnership between the National Ocean Service’s Coast Survey Development Laboratory, the National Weather Service in Burlington, Vermont, and the Lake Placid Olympic Museum. Funded by NOAA Heritage Program and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.