1. Monitoring Tools For Better Situational Awareness DEREK DEROCHE NOAA / NWS, Weather Forecast Office, Pleasant Hill, Missouri Severe Weather Seminar March 2, 2010 Severe Weather Seminar March 2, 2010

2. Review of Multimedia Web Briefings Updates Instructions for Version 6 have been added to graphics binder (for tabbed browser only, powerpoint coming soon) Instructions for Version 6 have been added to graphics binder (for tabbed browser only, powerpoint coming soon) Working towards adding links to intranet page to allow for quicker preparation Working towards adding links to intranet page to allow for quicker preparation Use of browser tabs for quick loading??? RSS feeds??? Use of browser tabs for quick loading??? RSS feeds???

3. Effective Placefiles…SAD??? Utilize favorite SA tool to display pertinent information: Gibson Ridge Software (GRLevelX), Google Earth, StormLab, RadarLab HD, others Placefile Possibilities CR SA Displays Spotter Network NWS Warnings SPC Watches SPC Mesoscale Discussions SPC Day 1 Outlook/Probabilities MRESS observations METAR observations Local mesonet observations Local Storm Reports (LSR) WSR-88D algorithms Incorporated GPS location NOAA Wx Radio locations Amateur Radio Repeaters Customized GIS locations

4. Influx of mobile storm observers (most cases, highly experienced)  Influx of mobile storm observers (most cases, highly experienced)  Greatest density April–June (includes rural areas)  Wealth of information/data now possible to obtain in real-time possible to obtain in real-time Emerging technologies in the field in support of operations and research through electronic means Review of Emerging Technologies Spotter NetworkSpotter Network MRESSMRESS Live Chase CamsLive Chase Cams

5. SN Report Information Event Type: Hail (m2.75”) Time: 2330 UTC Lat/Lon Location: 41.0812/-99.0611 Participant Info: John Doe Comments: Broken windows Severe Wx Event

6. KD5KOW – Active Blair (Off-duty NWS) 2009-03-11 19:53:23 UTC Heading: 110 Cell: 785-123-4567 Notes: NWS call anytime

7. Mobile Rapid Environmental Sampling System  Introduced in 2008…currently only one vehicle  Remote, mobile weather observations funneled to a central data repository for external web access repository for external web access  MM participants with properly mounted, scientific-grade instrumentation  Available in real-time (MRESS repository, GRlevel placefile) GRlevel placefile)  Increased resolution in microscale storm environment and data sparse regions environment and data sparse regions  Great value in the warning decision process process http://www.mress.org/data/OneMinuteObs.txt

8. Mobile Rapid Environmental Sampling System 7 April 2008 Electra, Texas

12. Inflow Environment: Temp: 73 ° Td: 61° Wind: E @ 30 G37 mph

13. Live Chase Cams  Huge potential to support the warning decision process!  Popularity and availability rapidly increased in 2008  Streaming video feed from video camera through mobile internet applications to designated web page mobile internet applications to designated web page  Free to the public to view online in real-time (video hosted by: personal web pages, Severe Studios, etc) (video hosted by: personal web pages, Severe Studios, etc)  The ultimate ground-truth tool for severe weather operations  Real visualization of storm structure with radar data = excellent awareness LCC

14. © 2008 Matt Grantham, alabamaweather.org 22 May 2008 Hoxie, KS As viewed real-time from the National Weather Service Goodland, KS Real-time Visual Confirmation

15. Putting It All Together

16. Live MRESS Operator: Bob Fritchie www.mress.org Valid: 2009-5-23 (2332UTC) Temp/Td: 76/63 Severe Wind Gust Wind: 63.2 mph Dir: 290 deg Prelim data, WFO calls welcome KD5KOW – Active Scott Blair 2009-5-23 2344 UTC STATIONARY Phone: 785-123-4567 Note: Off-Duty NWS

18. Real-time SA Tools

19. Live TV Streams Allows WFO’s to monitor other television stations outside of their viewing area by placing a slingbox at the TV station or EM office. STJ and IRK this year…COU, etc to come???

20. Traffic/Web cams Can supply real-time Verification Not only found within metropolitan areas Not only found within metropolitan areas Check intranet page for listing Check intranet page for listing

21. TV Station Blogs/Live Chat Rooms Some TV stations monitor and post reports within a live forum Viewers can post reports as well Viewers can post reports as well Can be useful for verification Can be useful for verification

22. Weather Mail A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM warning was issued for your area at 613 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2009. We would appreciate it if you contacted us with any information on severe weather you might have observed with this storm. We are interested in the following kinds of weather information: 1) Hail the size of a dime or larger. 2) Winds that cause any kind of damage, or that are estimated to have exceeded 60 MPH. 3) Tornadoes and/or funnel clouds. Please be as descriptive as possible, and keep the following in mind if you are replying... For All Events: Reference location of observed severe weather to cities, and road names. For Hail: Include size of hail stones (estimated or measured), and time it occurred. For Wind: Include speed (if known) or describe damage done, and time it occurred. As an example include diameter of any limbs blown from trees, and any details on other objects that where damaged. For Tornado/Funnel Cloud: Include description of where it was observed, if any damage was done, and time it occurred. You can follow the following link to a web-page hosted by the Iowa State University Department of Agronomy which can give you information on the SEVERE THUNDERSTORM warning, and where the storm was. http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/GIS/apps/rview/warnings_cat.phtml?year=2009&wfo=EAX&eventid=188&phenomena=S V&significance=W http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/GIS/apps/rview/warnings_cat.phtml?year=2009&wfo=EAX&eventid=188&phenomena=S V&significance=W Reponse: hello and thanx for email here on the town square in kingston winds were approx 60 mph. i have a 30 foot top blown off of a 60 foot black locust tree in my front yard. there was also extreme ponding from 1 1/4 inch of rain falling in minutes.. thankl you/ dennis yoakum Used for verification Sends out an email to spotters in database within polygon Sends out an email to spotters in database within polygon Received ~700 responses during 2009 svr wx season Received ~700 responses during 2009 svr wx season Possibilities with new technology…ie include call back number and spotter network reporting via smart phones Possibilities with new technology…ie include call back number and spotter network reporting via smart phones

23. Social Networking Facebook quickly becoming one of the most frequently visited sites on internet Reach newer, potentially larger audience Reach newer, potentially larger audience Upload waypoints from damage survey app Upload waypoints from damage survey app Utilize geo-locations to view tweet via maps. Could be potentially useful for reports. Utilize geo-locations to view tweet via maps. Could be potentially useful for reports.

24. Social Networking