1. National Weather Service Improvements and Collaboration Weather Information for Surface Transportation Greg Mandt Director, Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services December 4, 2000

2. NWS Modernization is Complete 121 Weather Forecast Offices121 Weather Forecast Offices Radar and Operational Computer System (AWIPS)Radar and Operational Computer System (AWIPS) Expanding Network of NOAA Weather RadiosExpanding Network of NOAA Weather Radios

3. US Map of Weather Forecast Offices/River Forecast Centers

4. New Products/Services Graphics (Rapid Prototype Sites)Graphics (Rapid Prototype Sites) High resolution weather forecastsHigh resolution weather forecasts Highway references in warningsHighway references in warnings NWS/COMET Cooperative ResearchNWS/COMET Cooperative Research

5. Innovation in Outreach

6. What NWS Can Do For Surface Transportation Provide gridded digital forecastsProvide gridded digital forecasts Increase national forecast resolution to 5 km by 2003Increase national forecast resolution to 5 km by 2003 Create Tabular and Graphic Products from gridsCreate Tabular and Graphic Products from grids Increase Internet dissemination and support for private sector disseminationIncrease Internet dissemination and support for private sector dissemination Partner with Academic/Commercial SectorsPartner with Academic/Commercial Sectors

7. Traditional Text Product

8. Text/Tables from Grids

9. 20 km Resolution Temperature

10. 2.5 km Resolution Temperature

13. Collaboration with Flagstaff Weather Forecast Office Developed close relationship with Arizona DOTDeveloped close relationship with Arizona DOT Trained DOT personnel on weather productsTrained DOT personnel on weather products Provided tours of Weather Forecast OfficeProvided tours of Weather Forecast Office DOT Providing Spotter informationDOT Providing Spotter information WFO is Improving Short Term Forecasts:WFO is Improving Short Term Forecasts: –precipitation start/end times –precipitation accumulation rates –restrictions to visibility

14. What can we do for you? Implement requirements within scope of our missionImplement requirements within scope of our mission Provide outreach to transportation communityProvide outreach to transportation community Create agreements with Surface Transportation agenciesCreate agreements with Surface Transportation agencies Provide products ready to use for decision makingProvide products ready to use for decision making

15. Summary National Weather Service supports surface transportation:National Weather Service supports surface transportation: –Increased number of forecast graphics –Increased resolution of forecast models –Improved accuracy and lead time of watches and warnings –Expanded dissemination and outreach –Expanded National Information Database