National Weather Service National Weather Service Improvements and CollaborationImprovements and Collaboration

Weather Information for Weather Information for Surface TransportationSurface Transportation

Greg Mandt Director, Office of Climate, Water, Greg Mandt Director, Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Servicesand Weather Services

December 4, 2000December 4, 2000

NWS Modernization is NWS Modernization is CompleteComplete

• 121 Weather Forecast Offices 121 Weather Forecast Offices

• Radar and Operational Computer System Radar and Operational Computer System (AWIPS)(AWIPS)

• Expanding Network of NOAA Weather Radios Expanding Network of NOAA Weather Radios

US Map of Weather Forecast US Map of Weather Forecast Offices/River Forecast Centers Offices/River Forecast Centers

New Products/Services New Products/Services

• Graphics (Rapid Prototype Sites)Graphics (Rapid Prototype Sites)

• High resolution weather forecastsHigh resolution weather forecasts

• Highway references in warningsHighway references in warnings

• NWS/COMET Cooperative ResearchNWS/COMET Cooperative Research

Innovation in OutreachInnovation in Outreach

What NWS Can Do For What NWS Can Do For Surface Transportation Surface Transportation

• Provide gridded digital forecastsProvide gridded digital forecasts

• Increase national forecast resolution to Increase national forecast resolution to 5 km by 20035 km by 2003

• Create Tabular and Graphic Products from gridsCreate Tabular and Graphic Products from grids

• Increase Internet dissemination and support for Increase Internet dissemination and support for private sector dissemination private sector dissemination

• Partner with Academic/Commercial SectorsPartner with Academic/Commercial Sectors

Traditional Text ProductTraditional Text Product

Text/Tables from GridsText/Tables from Grids

20 km Resolution20 km Resolution

Temperature

2.5 km Resolution2.5 km Resolution

Temperature

Collaboration with Flagstaff Collaboration with Flagstaff Weather Forecast OfficeWeather Forecast Office

• Developed close relationship with Arizona DOTDeveloped close relationship with Arizona DOT

• Trained DOT personnel on weather products Trained DOT personnel on weather products

• Provided tours of Weather Forecast Office Provided tours of Weather Forecast Office

• DOT Providing Spotter information DOT Providing Spotter information

• WFO is Improving Short Term Forecasts:WFO is Improving Short Term Forecasts:

– precipitation start/end timesprecipitation start/end times

– precipitation accumulation rates precipitation accumulation rates

– restrictions to visibilityrestrictions to visibility

What can we do for you?What can we do for you?

• Implement requirements within scope of Implement requirements within scope of our missionour mission

• Provide outreach to transportation Provide outreach to transportation communitycommunity

• Create agreements with Surface Create agreements with Surface Transportation agenciesTransportation agencies

• Provide products ready to use for Provide products ready to use for decision makingdecision making

SummarySummary

• National Weather Service supports National Weather Service supports surface transportation:surface transportation:

– Increased number of forecast graphics Increased number of forecast graphics

– Increased resolution of forecast modelsIncreased resolution of forecast models

– Improved accuracy and lead time of watches and Improved accuracy and lead time of watches and warnings warnings

– Expanded dissemination and outreachExpanded dissemination and outreach

– Expanded National Information DatabaseExpanded National Information Database