Become an honorary forecaster through snow pool

By Senior Airman Thomas Trower , 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs / Published December 11, 2009

A 100th Civil Engineer Squadron employees uses a truck to clean snow from the runway at RAF Mildenhall, England Feb. 2, 2009. The snow which fell Feb. 2 and 5, 2009, resulted in late reporting for non mission-critical personnel and Department of Defense Dependants School students. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Ingersoll)

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RAF MILDENHALL, England -- A 100th Civil Engineer Squadron truck cleans snow from the runway here Feb. 2, 2009. The 100th Operations Support Squadron is holding a snow pool to see who can predict when the first snowfall will occur this winter. The winner will become an honorary member of the weather flight. Entrants may select any 12-hour timeframe from Dec. 10 to March 30, 2010, and e-mail them to 100oss.oswv3@mildenhall.af.mil. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Chris Ingersoll)

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- The 100th Operations Support Squadron Weather Flight is looking for a person to name as an honorary member by holding it's first RAF Mildenhall Snow Pool through the season.

Competitors may select any 12-hour period from Dec. 10 to March 30, 2010 that they think the first snowfall will occur, said Staff Sgt. Tricia Williamson, 100th OSS forecaster. Anyone can enter the competition by e-mailing their prediction to 100oss.oswv3@mildenhall.af.mil.

The first snowfall will be declared at the first formation of any type of snow officially observed by the weather flight.

"We're using 'The Price is Right' rules," said Sergeant Williamson. "Whoever's closest without going over is the winner."

The grand prize winner receives a certificate awarding them the prestigious title of an honorary member of the weather flight and bragging rights for a year.

The following are the first official snowfalls for the past nine years. Information provided by the weather flight.

2008-09 -- Nov. 23 -- 9 a.m.
2007-08 -- March 3 -- 5 a.m.
2006-07 -- Jan. 22 -- noon
2005-06 -- Nov. 25 -- 9 a.m.
2004-05 -- Nov. 18 -- 7 p.m.
2003-04 -- Dec. 22 --midnight
2002-03 -- Jan. 4 -- noon
2001-02 -- Nov. 8 -- 8 a.m.
2000-01 -- Dec. 27 -- 4 p.m.