TOP PHOTO: Last weekend, Brassfield launched a weather balloon at the National Weather Service at Nashville.

NASHVILLE, TN (WLAF)- WLAF’s newest meteorologist took part in an exciting hands-on experience last weekend on August 2. Meteorologist Jonah Brassfield launched a weather balloon at the National Weather Service in Nashville.

This opportunity allowed him to learn more about how weather data is collected from high up in the atmosphere. The balloon release helps meteorologists track important changes in the air that are used to create forecasts. Some of the weather systems studied with this data will eventually move over Campbell County, helping WLAF provide more accurate and timely weather updates for its listeners and viewers.

WLAF Meteorologist Jonah Brassfield in the offices of the National Weather Service at Nashville

A weather balloon is like a big balloon that flies way up into the sky and carries a small tool called a radiosonde. This tool tells scientists how hot, cold, wet, or windy it is up high in the sky. As the balloon floats higher, it sends this information back to computers on the ground. Meteorologists use that data to understand what the weather is doing now and what it might do next. This information helps improve local weather predictions and keeps Campbell Countians better prepared and safe. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 08/08/2025 – 6AM)

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