1 National Weather Service VTEC Status & Plan for Action National Partners Workshop June 24, 2004 Jason Tuell Office of Science and Technology

2 Overview ObjectiveObjective Current statusCurrent status Actions since the September Partner’s conferenceActions since the September Partner’s conference Proposed scheduleProposed schedule IssuesIssues Interaction with partnersInteraction with partners SummarySummary

3 Current status SoftwareSoftware Original VTEC implemented in AWIPS OB2 softwareOriginal VTEC implemented in AWIPS OB2 software Revised VTEC updated in OB3.1Revised VTEC updated in OB3.1 Deficiencies corrected in OB3.3Deficiencies corrected in OB3.3 NWSI NWSI Updated with new specification and clarificationsUpdated with new specification and clarifications Signed 28 May 2004Signed 28 May 2004 IOT&E completeIOT&E complete

4 Changes since January O4 Delay implementation of VTEC in Marine Forecasts and WarningsDelay implementation of VTEC in Marine Forecasts and Warnings Offshore waters forecast (OFF), Coastal waters forecast (CWF), Near shore waters forecast (NSH), Open Lakes Forecast (GLF)Offshore waters forecast (OFF), Coastal waters forecast (CWF), Near shore waters forecast (NSH), Open Lakes Forecast (GLF) VTEC still to be implemented in Special Marine Warning (SMW), Marine Weather Statements (MWS), Coastal Flood Watch, Warnings, and Statements (CFW), Lakeshore Flood Warnings and Statements (CFW)VTEC still to be implemented in Special Marine Warning (SMW), Marine Weather Statements (MWS), Coastal Flood Watch, Warnings, and Statements (CFW), Lakeshore Flood Warnings and Statements (CFW) Change in scheduleChange in schedule

5 IOT&E IOT&E conducted between 20 Apr through 14 MayIOT&E conducted between 20 Apr through 14 May Testers included service area leads, field forecasters and one Partner (Marvin Mcinnis)Testers included service area leads, field forecasters and one Partner (Marvin Mcinnis) 74 TTRs74 TTRs 31 Critical31 Critical 20 Major (Urgent)20 Major (Urgent) 5 Minor (Routine)5 Minor (Routine) 18 Watch items, potential enhancements, withdrawn or other18 Watch items, potential enhancements, withdrawn or other 2 CONOPS issues2 CONOPS issues 2 New Requirements2 New Requirements Segmentation of follow up statementsSegmentation of follow up statements Head line time rounding requirementsHead line time rounding requirements 19 Headline errors and standardization19 Headline errors and standardization ALLALL reproducible TTRs, headline errors and standardization will be corrected by 28 June Segmented follow up statements for short fuse warnings will be allowed in OB3.3

6 IOT&E ApplicationCriticalMajorMinorTotal Warngen6006 RiverPro1001 WWA

7 Schedule Changes Revised schedule (presented January 2004)Revised schedule (presented January 2004) OT&E 5 July – 30 AugustOT&E 5 July – 30 August Turn key on 1 Dec 2004Turn key on 1 Dec 2004 Driving force behind schedule changesDriving force behind schedule changes Performance problems in OB3 delayed development and testingPerformance problems in OB3 delayed development and testing Errors discovered during IOT&EErrors discovered during IOT&E Service back up and unique OCONUS requirementsService back up and unique OCONUS requirements Schedule change will allowSchedule change will allow Correction of IOT&E deficienciesCorrection of IOT&E deficiencies Implementation of unique OCONUS requirementsImplementation of unique OCONUS requirements Implementation of robust service back up capabilityImplementation of robust service back up capability More coordination between the NWS and partnersMore coordination between the NWS and partners

8ScheduleDateMilestone VTEC/WBC OT&E PNS NLT 3 June OB3.3 Deployment start 27 July OT&E TRR 20 August OT&E 30 August – 8 October OB4 SVR 2 September OB4 Deployment start 8 September OB4.x check in 9 November OT&E Evaluation Go/No Go 9 November VTEC/WBC Turn key PNS 16 November OB4 Deployment end 6 January 05 OB4.x Deployment end 13 January 05 VTEC/WBC turn key 8 February 05

9 Schedule Issues – OT&E Watch-by-County, VTEC OT&E run concurrentlyWatch-by-County, VTEC OT&E run concurrently ~20 VTEC sites~20 VTEC sites ~20 WBC sites~20 WBC sites Evaluation criteria defined in OT&E planEvaluation criteria defined in OT&E plan Use of scripted scenarios for out-of-season productsUse of scripted scenarios for out-of-season products Majority of long fuse products (winter weather, non- precipitation) to be tested using scripted scenariosMajority of long fuse products (winter weather, non- precipitation) to be tested using scripted scenarios

10 Products with VTEC Public Products Severe Thunderstorm Warning SVR Tornado warning TOR Winter Storm Watch WSW Non-Precipitation Warning NPW Severe Weather Statement SVS Watch County Notification WCN Watch Outline Message (7 July) WOU Fire Weather Watch/Red Flag Warning RFW Hydro Products Flood Watch FFA Flash Flood Warning FFW Flood Warning FLW Flash Flood Statements FFS Flood Statements FLS

11 Locally Generated Products Marine Products Special Marine Warning SMW Marine Weather Statements MWS Coast Flood Watch, Warning, Statement CFW Lakeshore Flood Warning, Statement CFW

12 Partner-NWS Interaction Robert McLeod Chief, Awareness Branch Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services

13 Partner Interaction Must ensure adequate feedback on VTEC and other issuesMust ensure adequate feedback on VTEC and other issues Participation in OT&E is critical as learned in WBCParticipation in OT&E is critical as learned in WBC Planning and executionPlanning and execution Draft OT&E plan out for reviewDraft OT&E plan out for review VTEC listserve/r er to disseminate and share VTEC related information Send comments to

14 Summary VTEC turn key 8 Feb 2005VTEC turn key 8 Feb 2005 OT&E late summer early fallOT&E late summer early fall Conduct joint OT&E to determine whether we are jointly ready for VTEC February 2005Conduct joint OT&E to determine whether we are jointly ready for VTEC February 2005 Work together to make VTEC a success!