Southeast-ACF Drought Early Warning Information System Development Workshop Apalachicola River & Bay 27 April 2010 WFO Drought Products Joel Lanier (Senior Service Hydrologist)
Our Motto: “We are ready for anything, and our customers know it” Our Goal: To be the “go to” source for climate and weather information all of our customers and partners routine and high impact needs
Operational Staff: 5 Lead Forecasters 5 Journeyman Forecasters 5 HMTs/Interns 3 SCEPs
NWS WFOs
SSH Counties Serviced TAE / JAX / TBW / KEY –Alabama 5 ( 5/ 0/ 0/ 0) –Florida 34 (17/15/ 1/ 1) –Georgia40 (26/14/ 0/ 0) Total 78 Counties – 3 State Area Total of 5 WFOs - Florida
Hydrologic Services WFO Jacksonville (14/28) WFO Tallahassee (33/65) Total (47 / 93)
NWS Tallahassee County Warning and Forecast Area
WFO Drought Topics What Product does the WFO Produce Process used to Assess Drought Products used to Assess Drought WFO / RFC Duties Ways NIDIS can help
WFO Drought Product Synopsis Summary of Impacts Climate Summary Precipitation / Temperature Outlook Hydrologic Summary and Outlook
2-Wk Soil Moisture Constructed Analogue Soil Model Medium-Range Fcst Palmer 4-mo Probabilities CPC Long-Lead Precip. Outlook Principal Drought Outlook Inputs Short-Range Fcst Verdi-Pulwarty
Synopsis
Summary of Impacts State and Local Mitigation Soil moisture / Ground Water Agricultural Fire Current water restrictions Other impacts (navigation, environmental, etc.)
State and Local Actions Internet Research - News Water Agencies –NWFWMD –SRWMD –SJRWMD –FDEP –GA EPD –AL (Locally Managed)
Soil Moisture / Ground Water USGS Water Watch (AL, FL, GA) Comparison to previous droughts Long period surface flows Long period well depths Rainfall accumulations Soil Moisture Charts
Floridian Aquifer
Well 08K001 – Early County Latitude 31°22'38", Longitude 84°39'17" NAD27 Early County, Georgia, Hydrologic Unit Well depth: 125 feet Hole depth: 125 feet Land surface altitude: 230 feet above sea level NGVD29. Well completed in "Floridan aquifer system" (S400FLORDN) national aquifer. Well completed in "Upper Floridan Aquifer" (120FLRDU) local aquifer
Soil Moisture
Agriculture Phone Contacts with County Extension Phone contact with Agriculture Officials Review of latest Ag Bulletins
Fire Impacts Review of current Fire conditions and on going fires KBDI Index (National and State levels)
Current Water Restrictions Internet Research - News Water Agencies –NWFWMD –SRWMD –SJRWMD –FDEP –GA EPD –AL (Locally Managed) –Local Water Authorities
Floridian Aquifer
Floridian Aquifer Cross Section
Other Impacts (Navigation etc.) Future considerations –Fisheries –Navigation –Environment?
Climate Summary
Precipitation / Temperature Outlook
Hydrologic Summary & Outlook USGS Water Watch (AL, FL, GA) Comparison to previous droughts Long period surface flows Long period well depths Rainfall accumulations River conditions Flow Statistics
Hydrologic Comparisons Chipola River near Altha, FLA
Drought Products Issued 2005 – – – – – – 0 Total - 64
RFC Water Resource Forecasting
NWS Drought Links
What is needed from NIDIS Need County Specific Drought Information Single Source: State Climatology? Maps –Agriculture conditions –Crops and Hay –Water supply conditions (Sfc and Ground) –Soil Moisture –Fire conditions –Drought Declarations and Water Restrictions
Drought - Positives Deadheading Cypress Logs Economic Activity Photos Courtesy of: Bryan Loveless (
Mar 2005
Mar 2006
Mar 2007
Mar 2008
Aug 2008 (Fay)
Mar 2009
Mar 2010
2005 Total Departure
2006 Total Departure
2007 Total Departure
2008 Total Departure
Jan 2009
Mar 2009
Apr 2009
2009 Total Departure
Greetings from the best location and the best staff in the NWS