The Alabama Power USA Coastal Weather Research Center is a self-supporting operation within the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of South Alabama. Located in the Science Laboratory Building on the main campus, the Weather Center consists of a meteorological laboratory, information center and archive. Among the Center's major activities are the dissemination of forecasts and warnings to local and regional business and industry and the support of Alabama's first and only undergraduate program in meteorology.
Why is there such an emphasis on weather in this area? For the meteorologist, the answer is easy. Weather along the Central Gulf Coast is interesting, exciting and challenging but more importantly, it has a significant impact on the area's economy and life style. The Central Gulf Coast is a natural laboratory for weather research and education due to its rapidly changing environment and impressive array of weather events such as severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, waterspouts and hurricanes.