Forecast Offices

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Operational Forecasting and Broadcasting
The Process
Forecast Offices Kelsey Angle, Jeral
Estupiñán, Daniel Nietfeld and Jennifer Zeltwanger
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National Weather Service
The Mission
The National Weather Service provides weather,
hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings
for the United States, its territories, adjacent
waters and ocean areas, for the protection of
life and property and the enhancement of the
national economy. NWS data and products form a
national information database and infrastructure
which can be used by other governmental agencies,
the private sector, the public, and the global
community.
Who
What
Where
When
Why
Weather
United States
Life
24 hours a day
Government
Hydrology
Territories
Property
Private Sector
Climate
Adjacent Waters
Economy
Public
Warnings
Ocean Areas
Global Community
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National Weather Service
Users
Government
Private Sector
Broadcasting
Aviation
Aviation
Fire Weather
Agriculture
Flooding and Winter Weather
Marine
Severe Weather and Hazmet
Public
Global Community
Back Yard
Data Standards and Collaboration
Recreational Planning
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National Weather Service
Meteorological Factors
Government
Private Sector
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) Ceilings 1000 ft
and/or visibility 3 miles
Weather Impacts
Wind greater than 15 mph, Relative humidity 25
and temperature 75 F
IFR, Thunderstorms, Snow, Wind
Precipitation and Temperature
Heavy Rain and Flash Flooding
6 of snow, ice, temperatures
Severe thunderstorms, flooding, tropical systems,
snow, temperatures
Wave height and direction
Tropical Systems
Public
Global Community
Temperature and Precipitation
Data and Climate
Wave height and direction Wind
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National Weather Service
Non-Meteorological Factors
Government
Private Sector
Added Avenue to Communicate Message
Holidays, Public Safety, Politics and
Holiday Travel and Public Safety
Holidays and Public Safety
Holidays, Day of the Week, Seasonal trends and
Public Safety
Markets and
Holiday Travel and Public Safety
Special events, holidays, politics, public safety
Public
Global Community
Time of the year Public Safety
Politics and
Time of the year Public Safety
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National Weather Service
Communication
All Hazards NOAA Weather Radio
Landline Phones
Online
Cell Phones and PDAs
Graphical Products
Chat
Face to Face
National Digital Forecast Database
SKYWARN
Text Products
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National Weather Service
Summary

• Knowing the users needs and users knowing NWS
  operations are vital

• Communication is key between the NWS and users

• Users are unique by organization and weather
  needs

• Weather that is good for one user can be bad for
  another user

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National Weather Service
Questions and Discussion