National Weather Service IMET Brent Wachter aiming/positioning the Direcway satellite dish. Once positioned correctly, the IMET can then download much needed weather data. Smoke from the Ojo Felix Fire is seen in the background.

A cooperative observer's cotton region shelter, precipitation gauge, evaporation pan, and etc. are seen in the foreground with a large smoke plume from the Bear Fire.

National Weather Service IMET trainee Valerie Myers positioning the Direcway satellite dish while smoke from the Bear Fire is seen in the distance.

National Weather Service IMET trainee Valerie Myers positioning the Direcway satellite dish. Plume from the Martinez Fire rises in the distance. Coincidently a larger dish was set up to provide internet access to the whole camp. This large dish was set up by a private contractor, Lyman Brothers from Salt Lake City.

A fire weather briefing for firefighters.

Hitting close to home. Firemen mopping up after grass fire at the Rapid City National Weather Service Forecast Office.

Hitting close to home. Aftermath of grass fire at the Rapid City National Weather Service Forecast Office.

Hitting close to home. Firemen mopping up after grass fire at the Rapid City National Weather Service Forecast Office as seen from inside the office.

Dust devil making its way across a cleared field.

The Friant Dam, north of Fresno, filled to the top. Downstream flooding ensued.

George Cline, meteorological technician, photo documenting flood damage from a helicopter along the San Joaquin River.

Flooding of farmlands along the San Joaquin River.

Flooding of farmlands along the San Joaquin River.

Flooding of farmlands and homes along the San Joaquin River.

Flooding of farmlands along the San Joaquin River.

Workers sandbagging a tributary creek of the San Joaquin River keeping floodwaters out of farms and homes.

Waters roaring out of the outflow of the Friant Dam.

Hydromet Data Collection Site at Independence Mine. This equipment collects hydro and meteorological data at the Independence Mine State Historical Park, on the National Register of Historic Places. This former gold mine is located in Alaska's beautiful Matanuska Valley.

A massive supercell which dropped large hail is visible out the window of the Rapid City National Weather Service Office.

TAO Buoy Array deployment preparations on board the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment preparations on board the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment preparations on board the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment preparations on board the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment preparations on board the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment team: Don Ventura (Team Leader), Jeffery Wise, Paula Campbell(Port Meteorological Officer), Alan Lossett, James Rauch, and Dane Jaynes on board the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment preparations on board the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment preparations on board the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment preparations on board the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

TAO Buoy Array deployment, mooring sequence in the deep sea on the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER.

Anchor line streaming aft as the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER steams slowly head leaving the TAO buoy astern. The ship is proceeding to the mooring location of the buoy prior to dropping the anchor.

While the TAO buoy streams aft, innocent looking clouds approach. Perhaps this cloud looks like a hand puppet dragon or dinosaur.

While the TAO buoy streams aft, innocent looking clouds approach. Billowing cumulus on the horizon.

While the TAO buoy streams aft, innocent looking clouds approach. Perhaps this cloud looks like a hand puppet dragon or dinosaur.

While the clouds approach and the TAO buoy streams aft with attached line, the deck crew of the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER move a second TAO to its pre-mooring preparation stand.

While the clouds approach and the TAO buoy streams aft with attached line, the deck crew of the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER move a second TAO to its pre-mooring preparation stand.

While the clouds approach and the TAO buoy streams aft with attached line, the deck crew of the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER move a second TAO to its pre-mooring preparation stand.

While the clouds approach and the TAO buoy streams aft with attached line, the deck crew of the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER move a second TAO to its pre-mooring preparation stand.

While the clouds approach and the TAO buoy streams aft with attached line, the deck crew of the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER move a second TAO to its pre-mooring preparation stand.

While the clouds approach and the TAO buoy streams aft with attached line, the deck crew of the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER move a second TAO to its pre-mooring preparation stand.

Innocent-looking clouds have moved ever closer as they are taking on a somewhat ominous appearance.

Spray from a waterspout appears in the distance. The spout is moving towards the NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER which is constrained in its ability to maneuver as the recently launched TAO buoy is not yet anchored and is still secured by its mooring line to the ship.