Prairie Home Forecast: Ryder Cup relies on Minnesota meteorologists

The prairie wind is relentless at Hazeltine National in Chaska as Ryder Cup week arrives.

Inside a small trailer set between the PGA of America and Ryder Cup Europe buildings, two meteorologists scan satellite loops and plot wind gusts on dueling computer monitors.

This is not the first weather rodeo for Brad Nelson and Wade Stettner. They are part of a Minnesota-based team of 7 meteorologists with Schneider Electric who provide weather support for PGA events across the U.S. during golf season.

Their mission this week? A home game providing weather support to the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National in Chaska.

"We do about 125 events per year, and there are currently 7 of us who travel and do the on-site weather." Stettner explains.

Like most meteorologists these days the team relies on an abundance of internet-based weather and forecast model data to craft forecasts for the PGA events. But they also deploy some of their own weather gear on-site.

Ryder Cup meteorologist Brad Nelson elaborates. "We show up usually on Monday before the tournaments. And we set up lightning detection on site and a wind anemometer. Then we start producing twice-daily forecasts."

So, what's a typical day like for a meteorologist at the Ryder Cup and other PGA events like The Masters?

"We're here around sunrise," says Stettner. "We're talking to people on the radio. People are stopping by the weather office to ask questions throughout he day. Anytime there is any inclement weather we get very busy at that point. And we're here until the last putt drops."

Threatening skies, big responsibility

Being out at Hazeltine this week brings back some difficult weather memories for me as a professional meteorologist.

During the U.S. Open at Hazeltine in 1991, I was working the noon news as a meteorologist at WCCO-TV in Minneapolis on June 13th. Near the end of the newscast around 12:27 pm, I gave an update on-air showing the radar and gave a warning that rapidly developing thunderstorms with lightning were moving northeast up the Minnesota River Valley toward Chaska and the U.S. Open at Hazeltine National. The newscast ended at 12:30.

News reports indicate weather warnings were sounded suspending play at Hazeltine at 12:49 pm. A few minutes later, news came in the the WCCO-TV newsroom that several spectators were struck by lightning at Hazeltine. We would soon find out one person was dead, 5 more injured. It is one of the sickest feelings I've had in my stomach in 30 years as a weather professional.

I asked the Brad Nelson how they handle lightning and severe weather at PGA events.

"You give them as much advance warning as possible, get the wheels in motion, get evacuation in place and everybody ready just in case they need to blow the horns."

Is it pressure making sometimes potentially life-saving decisions for a golf course full of spectators, and the best professional golfers in the world?

"It is." The two meteorologists say in tandem.

Stettner elaborates, "Luckily by now we've done it enough times so it's becoming more routine. But there's never a textbook weather case. You have to make that decision do you want to stop play, or keep going?"

"I think that's where the real pressure is." says Nelson. Stettner chimes in, "It's real nerve racking" And Nelson adds, "You're balancing safety and revenue."

Ryder Cup forecast: Looking good

Three meteorologists sit in a weather trailer talking about the Ryder Cup forecast. There's a joke there, but Monday we all agreed the forecast looks good when Ryder Cup tournament play begins on Friday. Sunny skies, lighter winds and highs pushing 70 degrees look almost perfect.

"I think we're feeling pretty good right now." says Nelson. "It could be a real ideal type pattern for tournament play."

After a summer of severe storms and heavy rain in Minnesota, Ryder Cup players, staff and spectators may be winning the weather lottery this weekend at Hazeltine National. And Minnesota-based meteorologists will be there to let everybody know about it.