Our History

The historical state of South Carolina is home for the Palmetto Chapter of the American Meteorological Society. Like its host state, the local chapter of the American Meteorological Society has a unique past. The state's oldest chapter was located in Charleston. Many interested meteorologists, climatologists, and weather hobbyists traveled to the lower part of the state to participate in the Charleston Chapter. In the mid-1960's the Midlands weather enthusiasts formed a separate chapter located in Columbia. The chapter held monthly meetings. Participants included representatives from the National Weather Service, University of South Carolina, Savannah River Site, Shaw Air Force Base, and the Department of Health and Environmental Control. This phase of the chapter lasted nearly two decades.

Unfortunately, in the early 1980's attendance dwindled and the chapter disbanded. This inactive period was short-lived and in 1988 the chapter was reactivated as the Palmetto Branch of the American Meteorological Society. A constitution was created stating that the association was established to organize and bring together a unified body of those individuals and entities of South Carolina and surrounding areas that worked or were interested in the fields of meteorology or climatology. The objective was to promote, encourage, improve, advance and strengthen the field of meteorology through and all lawful avenues and opportunities available.

Three meetings were held each year with officer elections conducted during the first regular meeting of any calendar year. The gatherings usually were in the form of a dinner meeting. The chapter drew participants from the Midlands and Upstate of South Carolina. Meeting locations rotated between Sumter, Columbia and Aiken. In the early 1990's, persons from the Upstate broke away to organize their own chapter.

Today the Palmetto Chapter primarily covers west central and central South Carolina. Attendance ranges from 25 to 45 people, with participants from Savannah River National Laboratory, WIS Television, Shaw Air Force Base, University of South Carolina, Southeast Regional Climate Center, South Carolina State Climatology Office, Department of Health and Environmental Control, National Weather Service, South Carolina Emergencey Preparedness, South Carolina Emergency Management Division and weather hobbyists. The meetings offer diverse topics pulling from local speakers to speakers from around the region. A special vote was conducted the numbers of meetings each year to four.

One very unique event sponsored by the Palmetto Chapter is an Annual Mini-Technical Conference dedicated to local chapter meteorological and climatological topics. The event solicits papers from the local chapters in and around South Carolina. Presentations on meteorological or climatological concerns or events in the Southeast are encouraged, but the overall goal is to increase awareness communication between local chapter participants. This conference and dinner meeting was a big success last year with more than 16 presenters and 45 interest participants.

The chapter plays an important role in the professional lives of those involved. The chapter brings together many diverse groups studying the weather and managing the Earth's environment. The over-25-year-old chapter looks to the future with the primary goal to help foster better communication and understanding of the atmosphere between interested groups and individuals.