Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems National Weather Service: Evolving to Provide Impact-Based Decision Support Services Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems Tuesday, September 26, 2017
NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne Status Quo… Hey! Here’s our website. Everything is riiight here, now have at it. What do you mean you can’t find what you’re looking for? Well, call us if you need anything. NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne
NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne A Case For Change Gone is the era of pushing out products… making room for the era of providing support. NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne
Helping You Make Better Decisions
Meeting the Needs of Government Partners Remote & On-site Decision Support Services County Emergency Management Wyoming Office of Homeland Security Wyoming State Engineers Office Wyoming Game & Fish Dept. Wyoming Dept. of Transportation National Park Service US Forest Service Bureau of Land Management Conservation Districts Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne
Meeting the Needs of Government Partners NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne
Spot Weather Forecasts Provide weather forecasts for a specific location Used when requested by public safety official if essential to public safety: Wildland Fires Out of control burn Search & Rescue HazMat Forecasts generated from the NWS office Forecasts can be provided verbally or as text NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne
Spot Forecasts for Recurring Events Beartrap Music Festival National High School Finals Rodeo Cycle Greater Yellowstone Cheyenne Frontier Days Forecasts done each day and delivered to your email or fax at the request of Emergency Management NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne
Example - Spring Flood Potential & Preparation Water year precipitation average = 135% to 145% of normal statewide Mountain snowpack is 90% to 190% of normal Wind River Basin precipitation near 255% of normal, while south central Wyoming is 65% of normal Much above normal (160-200%) snowmelt potential across all major basins of western & central Wyoming = above normal streamflow into summer MAJOR POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING THIS SPRING/SUMMER! NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne
NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne Initiation… Conference Calls WyoLink Google Hangouts Webinars Good ol’ fashioned phone call NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne
Contacting the NWS Open 24/7 every day of the year! NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne
Staying in Touch with NWS
NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne Social Media Search for National Weather Service XYZ or (XYZ Weather) NWS staff very actively monitoring Content is updated regularly (frequency depends upon weather impacts) Great way to stay aware of local weather Fantastic way to share YOUR reports, pictures and see reports from others NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne
NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne Social Media NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne
NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne mobile.weather.gov NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne
Just Want to Talk with Someone? “What is the outlook for rain in Laramie the next 7 days?” “What is the wind forecast for today?” “How much water is in our snowpack?” “We have people staged outside, what is the lightning threat?” Call your local NWS! NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) WEA Messages Originated by NWS Warning Type WEA Message Tsunami Warning Tsunami danger on the coast. Go to high ground or move inland. Listen to local news. –NWS Tornado Warning Tornado Warning in this area til HH:MM. Take shelter now. Check local media. –NWS Extreme Wind Warning Extreme Wind Warning this area til HH:MM. Take shelter. –NWS Hurricane Warning Hurricane Warning this area til HH:MM. Check local media and authorities. –NWS Typhoon Warning Typhoon Warning this area til HH:MM. Check local media and authorities. –NWS Flash Flood Warning Flash Flood Warning this area til HH:MM. Avoid flooded areas. Check local media. –NWS Dust Storm Warning Dust Storm Warning in this area til HH:MM. Avoid travel. Check local media. –NWS Extreme Severe www.weather.gov/riw/WEA_Info NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne
All Hazards NOAA Weather Radio 24-hour broadcast 7-day detailed forecast Alarm/alert for severe thunderstorms, flash floods, evacuations, etc. Hourly conditions Regional temperature and precipitation data Hazardous weather outlook Can generate emergency messages = EAS input point! NWS Riverton NWS Cheyenne
Discussions & Questions
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