Preparing for FACETs: The Need for Diverse National Weather Service Forecaster Training and Innovative Collaboration Tools (122)

Alyssa Bates, OU CIMMS/NWS Warning Decision Training Division, Norman, OK

James LaDue, NWS Warning Decision Training Division

Greg Stumpf, NOAA/NWS/MDL,

Tracy Hansen, NOAA/OAR/ESRL/GSD

 

Abstract:

A proposed next-generation severe weather watch and warning framework, Forecasting a Continuum of Environmental Threats (FACETs), will fundamentally change the way National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters issue life-saving severe weather warnings. An essential part of FACETs is a system of rapidly-updating probabilistic hazard grids, known as Probabilistic Hazard Information (PHI). The PHI Prototype Tool has been integrated into an experimental version of the new NWS watch/warning issuance software, NWS Advanced Weather Information Processing System (AWIPS) Hazard Services. This year, the third Hazard Services-PHI (HS-PHI) Hazardous Weather Testbed (HWT) experiment will be held. That will amount to, combined with the PHI Prototype Tool experiments, dozens of NWS forecasters from across the country who have given feedback. Their suggestions will lead to the development of best practices for using the probabilistic guidance to issue severe thunderstorm and tornado hazard threat objects. Since this will be a precursor to a monumental new era of warning operations, comprehensive training will need to be developed by the NWS/OCLO Warning Decision Training Division (WDTD) and other NWS training organizations. This training will need to be diverse in scope and format to mold to the ever-changing role of the NWS forecaster. In addition, with PHI operations, NWS Weather Forecast Offices will collaborate more than ever, necessitating new communication strategies and innovative training. Preliminary ideas will be shared in this presentation.