Doppler on Wheels Stops at Discovery Community School [VIDEO]

ST. CLOUD -- Fourth grade students got to explore the world of meteorology Thursday with St. Cloud State University students.

The Doppler on Wheels weather truck stopped by Discovery Community School to help give a hands on lesson to students about meteorology.

Led by St. Cloud State's meteorology department kids get to see first hand how meteorologists predict the weather. SCSU meteorology student Alexa Zavaske says she loves to see how interested the kids are while learning about the weather.

"I love seeing how excited they get because they are excited as I am still and I hope they can stay that excited,"  says Zavaske.

During the tour, Zavaske explained what the different radar images meant on the monitors inside the truck. She showed the students a radar image of a recent tornado in Missouri.

Other than viewing the radar from inside the truck, students also had the chance to view a weather pod. The pod's main features are a thermometer to measure temperature and an anemometer to measure wind speed.

SCSU meteorology student Ryan Niemann says he likes to demonstrate how sturdy the pod is by having the kids try to lift it off the ground.

"We're trying to show when we have these pods in front of tornadoes that they do not blow over and the pods weigh roughly 130 pounds," says Niemann.

Zavaske says the kids are usually quick to learn how to use the different weather instruments.

"I feel like they can really understand what kind of tools we use for science and that science requires different tools and learning how to use them, and that it's also not that difficult and it can be really exciting," says Zavaske.

If you would like to see the Doppler on Wheels weather truck, it will be at the St. Cloud Great River Regional Library on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.