AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology New Orleans, LA NWS Headline Standardization in Winter Weather Bulletins Mark Tew Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services National Weather Service 33rd AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology June 15, 2004

AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology New Orleans, LA Outline Purpose of Headlines in Winter Weather (WSW) and Non-Precipitation Weather (NPW) Bulletins Multiple Headlines Partner and Customer Requirements Headline Elements Standardized Time/Date Phrases

AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology New Orleans, LA Purpose of Headlines in Winter Weather Bulletins Lists the current watch/warning/advisory product –Product name not identified in AWIPS ID (WSW = 19 products) –Short duration products have own unique AWIPS ID SVR, TOR, FFW, SMW Provides valid time information –Product expiration time usually differs from event expiration time Watches –Product expiration time = t + 12 hours –Event expiration time = t + 12 to 48 hours Warnings and Advisories –Product expiration time = t + 6 to 8 hours –Event expiration time = t + 0 to 36 hours –Short duration products – these times match Headlines are the only location that provide this information – until VTEC

AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology New Orleans, LA Text Headlines Decoded by National Vendors Vendors decode our headlines, then relay to their customers –Automated text crawls –Automated watch/warning/advisory maps When headline information does not follow policy, information may not be properly disseminated –Missing or Improper ellipsis (“..” Instead of “…”)

AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology New Orleans, LA Headline Confusion Last Winter Some decoders could not handle more than one headline per segment Example: Downgrade Warning to Advisory …WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED… …WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON… Problem: Software decoded cancellation in first headline and assumed no other product was in effect Solution: Standardized headlines

AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology New Orleans, LA Headline Policy Not Explicit Segmented Product Limitation –Each county/zone UGC can only apply to one segment of a multi-segmented product –More explicit in new directives ( /1702) Multiple Headlines Required –When two or more events occur for the same geographical area Snow Advisory in effect today Winter Storm Watch in effect tomorrow –When the significance level changes Downgrades (Warning to Advisory) –More explicit in new NWSI and

AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology New Orleans, LA Multiple Headline Order Headline order matches the order of segments –Cancellation –Warning –Advisory –Watch Two or more events for same geographical area –Heavy Snow Warning above 5000 ft –Snow Advisory at or below 5000 ft –Winter Storm Watch tomorrow

AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology New Orleans, LA Significance Level Change Upgrades (e.g. Watch to Warning/Advisory) –One Headline New warning/advisory headline listed Watch/Advisory upgraded – no headline needed –Information in VTEC String for high end users Downgrades (e.g. Warning to Advisory) –Two Headlines Cancelled warning headline listed first New advisory headline listed second Example: …HEAVY SNOW WARNING IS CANCELLED… …SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM CST WEDNESDAY…

AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology New Orleans, LA Replacements Same Significance Level Warning with Warning –Two Headlines Cancelled warning headline listed first New warning headline listed second Example: …HEAVY SNOW WARNING IS CANCELLED… …WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM CST WEDNESDAY… Advisory with Advisory –Two Headlines – similar to warning replacements Example: …WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED… …FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CST THIS EVENING…

AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology New Orleans, LA Partner and Customer Requirements ACSI Winter Weather Survey Results –Timing of Winter Weather Events very useful to customers (Media and EM) Specific event start and end times included in VTEC –High End Users Specific event start and end times included in Headline –Low End Users Proposed Standardized Format for NWS Segment Headlines –Provided by First Alert (Marvin McInnis - Jan, 2004) –Endorsed by Meteorlogix and WSI

AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology New Orleans, LA Six Headline Elements WSW/NPW Products Leading ellipsis (…) Valid watch/warning/advisory product name (Defined in NWSI & 515) Standard event action phrase Standard event beginning date and time phrase Standard event end date and time phrase Trailing ellipsis (…)

AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology New Orleans, LA Event Action Phrase Corresponds with VTEC action code VTEC Action Code DescriptionEvent Action PhraseInclude Time/Date? NEWInitial IssuanceIN EFFECTYes CONUpdate of eventREMAINS IN EFFECTYes EXTChange to event start and/or end date/time EXTENDED SHORTENED Yes EXAExpansion of areaIN EFFECTYes EXBExpansion of area and valid time change IN EFFECTYes CANEvent CancelledIS CANCELLEDNo EXPProduct expiredIS NO LONGER IN EFFECTNo UPGUpgrade - No Headline Shortened phrase delayed until late winter 2005

AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology New Orleans, LA Standard Time/Date Phrases Warnings and Advisories –Include specific time/date and time zone indicator Same Calendar Day time phrase Time Period Early this morningMidnight – 5:59 am This Morning6 am – 11:59 am This AfternoonNoon – 5:59 am This Evening6 pm – 11:59 am …HEAVY SNOW WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 11 AM EST WEDNESDAY… …HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT (7 PM EST) THIS EVENING… (Issuance time = Event start time)

AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology New Orleans, LA Standard Time/Date Phrases Watches –Include general time/date phrases Same Calendar Day time phrase Day+1 PhraseTime Period N/ALate TonightMidnight – 5:59 am N/ADay+1 Morning6 am – 11:59 am This AfternoonDay+1 AfternoonNoon – 5:59 am This EveningDay+1 Evening6 pm – 11:59 am …WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING TO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON… …HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT TO FRIDAY EVENING…

AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology New Orleans, LA Timeline November 2004 – NWS software provides the standardized headline (WSW/NPW) –Permit WFOs to add information at end Elevation – “above 3000 feet” Area affected – “Concho Valley” February 2005 – VTEC Implementation Headline standardization can serve as a backup for VTEC this winter

AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology New Orleans, LA The End Questions or Comments?