{"Bibliographic":{"Title":"National severe local storms operations plan","Authors":"","Publication date":"1975","Publisher":""},"Administrative":{"Date created":"08-16-2023","Language":"English","Rights":"CC 0","Size":"0000083462"},"Pages":["940.6\n.U6\nARTMENT OF COMMERCE / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\nN28\n1975\nDEPARTMENT\nOF\nFEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR\n*\nMETEOROLOGICAL SERVICES\nwith\nAND SUPPORTING RESEARCH\nSTATES\nOF\nNational Severe Local Storms\nOperations Plan\nFCM 75 - 1 -\nATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES\nLIBRARY\nMAR 1 I 1975\nN.O.A.A.\nU. S. Dept. of Commerce\nWashington, D.C.\nFebruary 1975","QC\n940.6\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE\nU6\nNATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION\nN28\nFEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR METEOROLOGICAL\n1975\nSERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH\nNATIONAL SEVERE LOCAL STORMS OPERATIONS PLAN\nSupersedes National Severe Local Storms\nOperations Plan - 1974\nLIBRARY\nWashington, D.C.\nFebruary 1975\nN.O.A.A.\nFCM 75-1\nU.S. Dept. of Commerce","CHANGE LOG\nChange\nDate posted\nSignature\nPage numbers\nno.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\nii","PREFACE\nThis is the eighth of an annual series of National Severe Local Storms\nOperations Plans that was developed after a 1967 request by the Federal\nCoordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research. This\nplan outlines the responsibilities of the various United States agencies\nwhich provide meteorological services in observing and forecasting severe\nlocal storms.\nInterdepartmental Severe Local Storms Conferences, of which there have\nbeen five, bring together cognizant Federal agencies to resolve problems\nof mutual concern related to the National Severe Local Storms Warning\nService. Such conferences will be held every two years, if items warrant.\nNational Weather Service Severe Local Storms Conferences, formerly held\nannually, are now on an as required basis.\nThis plan supersedes the 1974 version and reflects the recommendations of\nthe 1974 Interdepartmental Severe Local Storms Conference and the Intra-\nNational Weather Service Conference.\nClayton E. Jensen\nFederal Coordinator for Meteorological\nServices and Supporting Research\niii","NATIONAL SEVERE LOCAL STORMS\nOPERATIONS PLAN\nCONTENTS\nPage\nChapter 1. Responsibilities of cooperating agencies\n1\n7\nChapter 2. Definitions\nChapter 3. Forecasts and warnings\n9\n20\nChapter 4. Communications\n32\nChapter 5. Observations\n48\nChapter 6. Publicity\nAppendix 1. County warning areas--National Weather Service\nEastern, Southern, Central, and Western Regions\n49\nAppendix 2.\nAerospace Defense Command (ADC) Weather Stations and\nAreas of Responsibility, and ADC Air Divisions\n53\nand Radar Locations\niv","LIST OF FIGURES\nPage\n11\nFigure 3-1--Example of Combined Severe Weather Watch Bulletin\n12\nFigure 3-2--Example of Aviation Severe Weather Watch Bulletin\nFigure 3-3--Example of description portion of a Military\n16\nWeather Advisory\nFigure 3-4--Example of graphic portion of Military Weather\n17\nAdvisory\nFigure 3-5--Example of Military Point Warning\n18\nFigure 4-1--RAWARC Teletypewriter System\n21\nFigure 4-2--NOAA Weather Wire Service\n22\nFigure 4-3--Defense Civil Preparedness Agency National\nWarning System.\n23\nFigure 4-4--National Weather Service NAWAS Drops\n24\n26\nFigure 4-5--VHF-FM Weather Transmissions\nFigure 4-6--Distribution of Combined Severe Weather Watch\n27\nand Warning Bulletins\nFigure 4-7--Distribution of Aviation Severe Weather Watch\nBulletins--AIRMET and SIGMET\n28\nFigure 4-8--COMET Collecting and Dissemination System\n30\nFigure 4-9--Service A Teletypewriter System\n31\nFigure 5-1--U.S. Basic Weather Radar Network\n33\nFigure 5-2--National Weather Service and Military Upper Air\n36\nNetwork\nFigure 5-3--Low Level Soundings Network\n37\nFigure 5-4--Satellites and Satellite Data Availability for 1975\nSevere Local Storms Season\n43\nFigure 5-5--GOES Operational Data Flow\n44\nFigure 5-6--Weather Reconnaissance Flight Gull Foxtrot\n47\nV","CHAPTER 1\nRESPONSIBILITIES OF COOPERATING AGENCIES\n1. The National Weather Service (NWS). It shall provide:\na. Basic surface, upper air, and radar observations from its network\nof stations making such observations.\nb. Additional observations, when required, making all such reports\navailable to any requesting agency on the appropriate teletypewriter\ncommunication circuits. Where feasible, standardized message headings and\nendings will be used when transmitting regular or special observations on\nteletypewriter circuits, especially the Radar Report and Warning Coordination\n(RAWARC) system.\nC. Basic analyses and forecast charts through the National Meteorological\nCenter (NMC), Suitland, Md.\nd. Special Severe Weather Watch Bulletins and radar facsimile charts\nto the general public, aviation, and all concerned interests through the\nSevere Local Storms (SELS) Unit and the Radar Analysis and Development Unit\n(RADU) of the National Severe Storms Forecast Center (NSSFC) at Kansas\nCity, Mo.\ne, Statements, local warnings, and clearing bulletins through Weather\nService Forecast Offices (WSFOs) and local Weather Service Offices (WSOs)\nthroughout the United States.\nf. Aviation Inflight Weather Advisories through WSFOs with aviation\nresponsibilities for periods up to 4 hours for aircraft (civilian and military)\nand amendments to appropriate aviation forecasts whenever a severe local\nstorm or storms are expected or are in existence.\ng. A concerted effort to collect and relay Pilot Reports (PIREPS).\nh. Appropriate public educational materials concerning the severe local\nstorms warning service and development of community preparedness plans in\naccordance with the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency (DCPA)/National Oceanic\nand Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Agreement on Community Disaster\nPreparedness.\n2. The National Environmental Satellite Service (NESS). It shall:\na. Operate satellite systems capable of providing coverage of selected\nportions of the United States during the severe storms season.\nb. Receive and respond to requirements for coverage of specific areas\nand times from NSSFC at Kansas City.\n1","CHAPTER 1\nC. Provide appropriate satellite data to authorized research facilities\neither directly or through the Environmental Data Service (EDS).\nd. Be available for conferences with personnel of NSSFC and other WSFOs,\nprimarily through its Satellite Field Service Stations (SFSSs) either in\nperson or by telephone.\ne. Coordinate with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration\n(NASA) on providing data from its R&D satellites (ATS) to NOAA operational\nunits for their use on an as required basis.\n3.\nU.S. Air Force (USAF) The Air Weather Service is responsible for\nweather warning support to USAF and U.S. Army units throughout the world.\nIt shall provide:\na. Basic surface, upper air, and radar observations from its network\nof stations making such observations.\nb. Additional observations, when required, making all such reports\navailable to any requesting agency on the appropriate teletypewriter\ncommunication circuits.\nC. A concerted effort to collect and relay PIREPS.\nd. Through the Air Force Global Weather Central (AFGWC), Offutt Air\nForce Base, Nebr.:\n(1) Weather warning support in the conterminous United States and\n200 miles offshore to:\n(a) U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and selected U.S. Navy installations.\n(b) Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Units.\n(c) Plant sites and facilities operated under Department\nof Defense (DOD) contracts.\n(d) Airborne military aircraft when under military control.\n(2) Via the USAF communications system:\n(a) Military Weather Advisories for general areas in graphic\nform, four times daily, covering a 12-hour period, valid at 0300Z plus\nevery six hours (filed at 0145Z plus every six hours)\n(b) Point Warnings in plain language, as required, whenever\nweather is expected to meet warning criteria. These Point Warnings are\nissued to about 600 locations in the conterminous United States.\n(c) Severe weather summaries of occurrences of severe\nconvective activity.\n2","CHAPTER 1\n(d) Further weather outlooks in plain language, twice daily,\nfor the 6-hour period beyond the 0300Z and 1500Z advisories.\n(e) A continuous meteorological watch on the possibilities of\nsevere weather developments and of other weather phenomena for which AFGWC\nhas warning responsibility.\n4. The U.S. Navy.\nThe Navy does not operate a centralized Severe Local Storms Warning Service.\nRequirements for early warnings of hazardous flying conditions and local\ndestructive phenomena are met by NSSFC/AFGWC products interpreted locally\nby Naval Weather Service Command personnel. Full use is made of information\nreceived on the National Facsimile Network (NAFAX), military, and civil\nweather circuits.\n5. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It shall provide:\na. Communication services in support of the Severe Local Storms\nOperations Program (Service A and Service C).\nb. The PIREPS for use in Severe Local Storms Operations Program.\nC. The Flight Service Station (FSS) and tower surface observations.\nd. Distribution of Airmen's Meteorological Information (AIRMETS) and\nSignificant Meteorological Information (SIGMETS) by FSS.\n6. Exchange of Data Between Agencies.\na. There shall be a mutual exchange of relevant data on the part of all\nconcerned agencies outlined in chapter 1. Because NSSFC and AFGWC are the\nunits responsible for preparing severe weather forecasts, data concerning\nsuch forecasts will be exchanged between these units. Direct telephone\ncommunications between AFGWC and NSSFC may be made over the Federal Tele-\ncommunications Service (FTS) and Automatic Voice Network (AUTOVON) through\nthe operators at Richards-Gebaur AFB, Mo.\nb. The coordination channel for exchange of data between NSSFC and\nAFGWC shall be between the Commander, AFGWC, and the Director, NSSFC.\nUnresolved differences will be referred to the Emergency Warnings Branch,\nMeteorological Services Division, National Weather Service Headquarters,\nand to the Headquarters, Air Weather Service.\nC. At the present time, only the National Weather Service, National\nEnvironmental Satellite Service, Environmental Research Laboratories\nNational Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), and the Air Weather Service are\nactively engaged in developing objective severe weather forecasting tech-\nniques. These organizations will engage, whenever possible, in a joint\ntechnique development program and will exchange any objective techniques\ndeveloped.\n3","CHAPTER 1\n7. Requests for Special Observations.\nAny special rawinsonde or pilot balloon (PIBAL) observations needed during\nthe continuous weather monitoring underway at NSSFC and at AFGWC are\nauthorized and will be requested when needed.\nWhen special upper air network soundings are required, they should normally\nbe made at 1800Z. The Director, NSSFC, will initiate the request to the\nNational Weather Service and National Aeronautics and Space Administration\n(NASA) stations, and the Commander, AFGWC, will similarly request soundings\nfrom DOD stations. Although other WSFOs have the authority to request\nspecial upper air observations during periods of potentially severe storms\nof all types, requests for special soundings during periods of potentially\nsevere local storms should be made by SELS. Any cost involved in these\nspecial soundings will be borne by the agency making the sounding.\nAir Weather Service requests for National Weather Service or NASA soundings\nshould be made to the duty forecaster at NSSFC. National Weather Service\nrequests for USAF soundings should be made to the AFGWC duty officer\n(FTS 402-221-3612 or 402-294-2586).\n8. Backup Plan for SELS.\nIn the event that NSSFC (SELS) should be incapacitated or otherwise unable\nto discharge its severe weather forecasting functions, the AFGWC will provide\nbackup for SELS. In the event of a power outage or other major disruption\nof operations, the SELS forecaster will make telephone contact with the\ndesignated AFGWC focal point and request backup. The SELS forecaster will\nalso provide AFGWC with an estimate of the duration of the outage as well as\nsubsequent updated information when available. The number of the last valid\nwatch will also be provided.\nUpon notification from SELS that the Backup Plan is to be implemented, AFGWC\nwill prepare and transmit watches, outlooks and other advices regarding\nsevere local storm activity as prescribed in Weather Service Operations\nManual (WSOM) Chapter C-40. In addition, AFGWC will, as soon as practical,\nprepare and transmit NSSFC graphic NAFAX products (radar summary charts and\nsevere weather outlook graphic). The AFGWC will initiate a suitably worded\nmessage for RAWARC and Service A indicating that emergency backup procedures\nare in effect and that subsequent severe weather watches, etc., will be\nissued by AFGWC as required.\nPart A of all AFGWC backup watches will begin as follows: \"The USAF Air\nWeather Service acting in a backup capacity for the National Weather Service\nhas issued a\netc. Prior to issuance or cancellation of a\nwatch, AFGWC will coordinate by telephone with the affected WSFOs if time\npermits. AF.GWC will transmit backup material on RAWARC, Service A, and\nNAFAX.\nWhen SELS resumes normal operation, a message to this effect will be placed\non RAWARC and Service A by SELS.\n4","CHAPTER 1\n9. Notification of Military Installations.\nThe NWS will notify selected military installations when severe convective\nweather (severe thunderstorm, tornadoes) is expected to affect such sites\nand the installation's AWS detachment is not manned by a forecaster or the\nstation's radar is inoperative. The notification will be performed by\nselected NWS offices using radar and/or other information available.\nNotifications will be according to \"alerting agreements\" between the AWS/\nNWS offices concerned. Such agreements are initiated by the AWS units.\nThe service to be provided is a wakeup/alerting service to cover severe\nconvective weather occurrences with short lead times, i.e. those develop-\nments that the AWS' normal alerting system may miss. No other service will\nnormally be required. As appropriate, radar data may be exchanged. Severe\nconvective weather is defined as thunderstorms with winds 50 knots and/or\nhail 3/4-inch in diameter or larger and tornadoes. Occurrence of these\nphenomena will be based upon actual sightings or radar indications.\nNotification will be made to only one telephone number. Only one call will\nbe made; however, if the line is busy, one additional call will be made.\nThe notification will be made after the mass news media and civil defense\nauthorities have been notified according to NWS' present warning dissemina-\ntion procedures and priorities. The agreement will specify the hours during\nwhich the alerting service is to be provided.\n9.1 Military/NWS Locations Involved.\nAgreements for providing the alerting service have been signed between the\nfollowing locations. Changes may be made to this list at any time.\nNWS Office\nMilitary Location\nWSO Austin, TX\nBergstrom AFB\nWSFO Denver, CO\nBuckley AFB\nWSO Amarillo, TX\nCannon AFB\nWSO Charleston, SC\nCharleston AFB\nWSFO Jackson, MS\nColumbus AFB\nWSO Montgomery, AL\nCraig AFB\nWSO Athens, GA\nDobbins AFB\nWilmington, DE\nDover AFB\nWSO Houston, TX\nEllington AFB\nWSO Alexandria, LA\nEngland AFB\nWSO Nashville, TN\nFt. Campbell\nWSO Colorado Springs, CO\nFt. Carson\nWSO Waco, TX\nFt. Hood\nWSO Louisville, KY\nFt. Knox\nNSSFC Kansas City, MO\nFt. Leavenworth\nNSSFC Kansas City, MO\nFt. Riley\nWSO Savannah, GA\nFt. Stewart\nWSO E1 Paso, TX\nHolloman AFB\nNHC Miami, FL\nHomestead AFB\n5","CHAPTER 1\nMilitary Location (Cont'd)\nNWS Office (Cont'd)\nKeesler AFB\nWSO Mobile, AL\nKirtland AFB\nWSFO Albuquerque, NM\nLaughlin AFB\nWSO Del Rio, TX\nLittle Rock AFB\nWSFO Little Rock, AR\nMaxwell AFB\nWSO Montgomery, AL\nMcClellan AFB\nWSO Sacramento, CA\nMoody AFB\nWSO Macon, GA\nMyrtle Beach AFB\nWSO Charleston, SC\nNellis AFB\nWSO Las Vegas, NV\nPeterson Field\nWSO Colorado Springs, CO\nReese AFB\nWSFO Lubbock, TX\nRichards-Gebaur AFB\nNSSFC Kansas City, MO\nScott AFB\nWSFO St. Louis, MO\nSelfridge AFB\nWSFO Detroit, MI\nShaw AFB\nWSO Charleston, SC\nSheppard AFB\nWSO Wichita Falls, TX\nTinker AFB\nWSFO Oklahoma City, OK\nTyndall AFB\nWSO Pensacola, FL\nVance AFB\nWSFO Oklahoma City, OK\nWebb AFB\nWSO Midland, TX\nWhiteman AFB\nNSSFC Kansas City, MO\n6","CHAPTER 2\nDEFINITIONS\nThis chapter defines those common meteorological terms, subject to multiple\ninterpretations, which are used by agencies preparing severe local storms\nforecasts and warnings.\n1. Funnel Cloud. A violent, rotating column of air which does not touch\nthe ground and is usually pendant from a cumulonimbus cloud.\n2. Severe Local Storms. Dangerous storms that usually cover relatively\nsmall geographical areas and periods of time and are of sufficient intensity\nto threaten life and property. For the purpose of this plan, a severe\nlocal storm is a tornado, funnel cloud, waterspout or a thunderstorm with\nwinds of 50 knots or greater and/or hail 3/4-inch in diameter or greater at\nthe surface.\n3. Severe Local Storms Season. Although the center of maximum frequency\nshifts during the year, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms occur somewhere\nin the United States every month of the year. The months of greatest\ntotal frequency are April, May, and June.\n4. Squa11 Line. A line of active thunderstorms or squalls which may\nextend over several hundred miles. It is the phenomenon of the mature or\nactive stage of \"instability-line\" development and may be either a solid\nor broken line of thunderstorms.\n5. Thunderstorm Density Categories. The following adjectives describe\nthe expected density of severe thunderstorms in a severe weather watch\narea. They may be used to indicate the expected density in an instability\nline moving through a watch area.\na. Isolated--an extremely small number are expected.\nb. Few--up to 15 percent coverage.\nC. Scattered--16 to 45 percent coverage.\nd. Numerous--more than 45 percent coverage.\ne. MIC (Maximum Instantaneous Coverage)--the percentage of the area\nthat will be covered by cumulonimbus cells at the time of maximum activity.\nf. TAA (Total Area Affected)--the percentage of the area that will\nexperience one or more thunderstorms during the applicable valid period.\nThe last two terms are used in Military Weather Advisories.\nAdjectives such as the above will not be used to indicate the expected\ndensity of tornadoes. The Tornado Wat.ch Bulletin will only state that the\nthreat of tornadoes exists in the designated watch area.\n7","CHAPTER 2\n6. Thunderstorm Intensity Categories. Only the following thunderstorm\nintensity classes will be used in the forecasting and warning functions\nof concerned agencies.\na. Thunderstorm--Wind gusts less than 50 knots and hail, if any,\nof less than 3/4-inch diameter at the surface.\nb. Severe Thunderstorm--Wind gusts of 50 knots or greater or hail\nof diameter 3/4-inch or greater at the surface.\n7. Tornado. A violent, rotating column of air which forms a pendant,\nusually from a cumulonimbus cloud, and touches the ground. It nearly\nalways starts as a funnel cloud and is accompanied by a loud roaring noise.\nOn a local scale, it is the most destructive of all atmospheric phenomena.\n8. Waterspout. A funnel cloud which forms over a body of water--such as a\nbay, lake, or gulf--and touches the water.\n8","CHAPTER 3\nFORECASTS AND WARNINGS\n1. General. Although every effort has been made to standardize terminology,\nadopt common definitions, and adjust critería to a common base, each agency\nhas differing operational warning criteria that must be met. Therefore,\nstandardization will be used wherever possible in forecasts and warnings.\nEach agency, however, retains the right to specify the forecast and warning\ncriteria that are needed to carry out the mission of its service. The\ncommon criteria and differences will be discussed in the following sections.\n2. Other Warning Criteria. A11 phenomena (other than those classified as\nsevere storms, Chapter 2, Item 2) described in the various warnings,\nbulletins, and advisories should be categorized as \"other warning criteria\"\nand are not called severe weather phenomena. Such other warning criteria\nwill be listed separately in appropriate National Oceanic and Atmospheric\nAdministration NOAA)/National Weather Service and U.S. Air Force (USAF) /\nAir Weather Service publications.\n3. National Weather Service Watch/Warning Procedures.\n3.1 General. Although the National Weather Service has statutory\nresponsibility for providing a Severe Local Storms Warning Service for all\n50 states, because of the low frequency of severe local storms in Alaska\nand Hawaii and the differing nature of weather problems, these two states\nare not included in the national plan that is centered on the NSSFC. Instead,\nthe WSFOs at Anchorage and Honolulu have the responsibility for maintaining\nweather watches and issuing warnings as needed for their respective states,\nAlaska and Hawaii. Procedures described in this plan are followed to the\nextent that they are applicable.\nThis Warning Service is available to the general public and to general and\ncommercial aviation and is provided through the National Severe Storms\nForecast Center (NSSFC) at Kansas City, the National Meteorological Center\n(NMC) at Suitland, the Weather Service Forecast Offices (WSFOs), the local\nWeather Service Offices (WSOs), and Satellite Field Service Stations (SFSSs).\n3.2 Watch/Warning Criteria. The criteria for aviation and public severe\nweather watch and warning bulletins are the same. Any or all of the cate-\ngories listed below may be mentioned in such bulletins to indicate more fully\nthe severe weather expected or occurring.\na. Severe Thunderstorm:\n(1) Damaging wind--sustained or gusty surface winds of 50 knots\nor greater and/or\n(2) Hail--at the surface of 3/4-inch or larger. The word hail in\na watch bulletin implies hail at the surface as well as aloft unless\nqualifying phrases such as \"hail aloft\" are used.\n9","CHAPTER 3\nb. Tornado:\n(1) Severe weather watches/warnings that mention tornadoes imply\nthat thunderstorm activity, usually severe, is also expected/occurring.\nFunnel clouds are not forecast in severe weather watch bulletins.\n(2) Distances from reference points in combined watch bulletins\nwill be expressed in both statute and nautical miles (to the nearest 5 miles)\nand specified in Section A whenever 20 nautical miles or greater. No\nspecification will be used when distances are 15 nautical miles or less.\nWhen separate aviation severe weather watch bulletins are issued, distances\nwill be expressed in nautical miles.\n3.3 NMC. NMC is the central data processing center responsible for the\nissuance of prognostic charts, discussions, and other material that may be\nhelpful in calling the attention of NSSFC and WSFOs to situations which\nrequire issuances of watches.\n3.4 NSSFC. NSSFC, through its SELS unit, is responsible for issuing and\ncancelling severe local storm watches and for preparing other appropriate\nmaterial essential to the Severe Local Storms Warning Service.\na. Combined Public and Aviation Watch Bulletins. Although a warning\nservice is provided for public and aviation interests, separate watches are\nnot issued for these interests but are combined into one bulletin. Each\ncombined watch bulletin (fig. 3-1) contains information for the general\npublic (sections A and B) and aviation interests (\"sections C to E) in\ndiscrete, alphabetical, sequential sections. When a section is not applicable,\nit is left out. The location of the area affected and the valid period of\nthe watch which are common to both public and aviation sections are given\nin Section A. The bulletin is designated as either a severe thunderstorm\nor tornado watch bulletin, depending upon the phenomena expected. Such\nbulletins are numbered serially beginning with number 1 for the first\nissuance of each calendar year. Unnumbered bulletins called \"Tornado\n(Severe Thunderstorm) Watch Cancellation Bulletins\" will be issued when a\nwatch is cancelled.\nb. Separate Aviation Watch Bulletins. Separate aviation severe\nweather watch bulletins (fig. 3-2) will be issued only when a Hurricane\nWarning Office (HWO) is issuing advisories calling for tornadoes, or when\nextreme turbulence and hail aloft are expected along the air routes from\nTampa to New Orleans and from New Orleans to Brownsville. Such information\nis contained in appropriate Hurricane and Tropical Storm Advisories. For\nthese aviation bulletins, a numbering system which is compatible with that\nof the combined watches will be used. Alphanumeric numbers which consist\nof capital letters alphabetically appended to the last assigned combined\nwatch number will be used. For example, 404A, 404B, etc.\n10","CHAPTER 3\nBULLETIN\nBROADCASTERS PLEASE REPEAT THIS BULLETIN FREQUENTLY\nTORNADO WATCH NUMBER 451\nISSUED 455 PM CDT SEPTEMBER 29, 1974\nA. THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER SAYS THE POSSIBILITY OF\nTORNADOES EXISTS FOR\nNORTHERN MISSISSIPPI\nSOUTHEASTERN ARKANSAS\nNORTHEAST LOUISIANA\nTHE THREAT OF TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE\nHAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL EXIST FROM 5 PM CDT UNTIL 9 PM THIS\nSUNDAY EVENING.\nTHE WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 70 MILES 60 NAUTICAL EITHER\nSIDE OF A LINE FROM 30 MILES 25 NAUTICAL NORTH OF COLUMBUS\nMISSISSIPPI TO ELDORADO ARKANSAS.\nREMEMBER A TORNADO WATCH MEANS TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDER-\nSTORMS ARE LIKELY WITHIN THE WATCH AREA PERSONS IN OR CLOSE\nTO THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING\nWEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS.\nB. OTHER WATCH INFORMATION.\nTHIS TORNADO WATCH REPLACES TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 449 ISSUED\nAT 130 PM CDT WATCH NUMBER 449 WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE AFTER\n5 PM CDT.\nC. TORNADOES AND A FEW SVR TSTMS WITH HAIL SFC AND ALF TO 1 IN.\nEXTRM TURBC AND SFC WND GUSTS TO 65 K. SCTD CBS WITH MAX TOPS\nTO 550. MEAN WIND VECTOR 24035.\nD. INSTBLTY LN FM WRN TENN ACRS CNTRL ARK INTO NE TEX MOVG\nSEWD ABT 25 K.\nE. OTHER TSTMS. CONTD RMNDR AC.\nFigure 3-1.\nEXAMPLE OF COMBINED SEVERE WEATHER WATCH BULLETIN.\n11","CHAPTER 3\nBULLETIN\nAVIATION SEVERE WEATHER WATCH NUMBER 290A\nTORNADO WATCH VALID 1200Z TO 1800Z\nALG AND 80 NM EITHER SIDE OF A LN FM 80 NM NORTH NORTHEAST\nA.\nOF ORLANDO FLORIDA TO DOTHAN ALABAMA.\nB.\nTORNADOES AND A FEW SVR TSTMS. EXTRM TURBC AND SFC WND GUSTS\nTO 65K. SCTD CBS WITH MAX TOPS TO 500.\nC.\nSVR TSTMS OR TORNADOES ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE AGNES. SEE\nLATEST HURR ADVSY.\nD.\nCONT 288A UNTIL EXPIRATION AT 12Z.\nFigure 3-2.\nEXAMPLE OF AVIATION SEVERE WEATHER WATCH BULLETIN.\n12","CHAPTER 3\nC. Functions of the Radar Analysis and Development Unit (RADU).\nAn important adjunct of NSSFC is RADU. The Radar Facsimile Charts trans-\nmitted on the National Weather Facsimile Network (NAFAX) are prepared by\nthis Unit. Although RADU prepares a Radar Summary Chart hourly, only those\nCharts required by the NAFAX schedule are transmitted on NAFAX. Every\nhour, insofar as practicable, RADU utilizes all available radar data. In\nthe event that it is necessary to omit some reports, the areas of minimum\nsignificance will be omitted and this fact indicated on the Radar Facsimile\nChart. The military service weather radars in the intermountain area are\nacceptable substitutes for S-band radar and can furnish data, routinely and\nas requested, for the Radar Summary Charts. However, the National Weather\nService prefers to use the radar composite (page 32), prepared by its radar\nunit at the Salt Lake City, Utah, Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC),\nas the western portion of these Charts to avoid duplication. In addition,\nmore radar data are available from the ARTCC radars as the result of their\nlocation on mountain peaks, and the method of tracing the data from individual\nradarscopes.\nd. Other SELS Guidance Material. Guidance material such as the\nSevere Weather Outlook Narrative, Severe Weather Outlook Graphic, Status\nReports and All-Clear Information on Weather Watches (WW), Advance Informa-\ntion on Watch Area, and Watch Cancellation Bulletins will be released as\nappropriate.\n3.5 Weather Service Offices (WSO) *\na. That portion, sections A and B, of the combined Severe Weather\nWatch Bulletins of general interest to the public is distributed immediately\nto the public in accordance with the County Responsibility Plan of each WSO\nwhenever a threat to any part of the area of county responsibility is indi-\ncated by the Bulletin. To help the public visualize which areas are affected\nby the watch, the affected areas are restated in terms of counties, geographi-\ncal areas, or prominent cities in a release called a redefining statement.\nPublications and distribution of various types of material have made the\npublic aware of the National Weather Service's Severe Local Storms Warning\nService and its terminology.\nb. Warning responsibility for the general public is vested in local\nWSOs. Severe weather warnings will be issued immediately by the appro-\npriate WSO whenever reports of actual or suspected severe weather in or\nnear an Office's area of responsibility indicate an imminent threat. Each\nwarning will be identified as a Severe Thunderstorm Warning Bulletin or\nTornado Warning Bulletin. Full advantage is taken of radar observations in\nissuing Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Warning Bulletins. When radar\nevidence is sufficient in the judgment of the responsible official to\nidentify a dangerous storm, Warning Bulletins based on these data are issued\nimmediately. Clearing bulletins are issued for all or parts of an Office's\narea of county responsibility whenever the threat of severe weather has ended.\n*WSOs in this paragraph refer to both WSOs and WSFOs with county warning\nresponsibility.\n13","CHAPTER 3\nC. Severe weather statements are issued, to provide information on\ndeveloping severe weather, on lack of such development, or on severe\nweather which has occurred or is in existence.\n3.6 Weather Service Forecast Offices (WSFO). WSFOs with avíation responsi-\nbililities (FA Centers) put severe weather information contained in watch\nbulletins into Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMETS) and Airmen's\nMeteorological Information (AIRMETS). Potentially hazardous flight con-\nditions specified in WWs which are adequately covered in an aviation forecast\nare not the subject of an AIRMET. FA Centers advise Air Route Traffic\nControl Centers (ARTCC) of any SIGMETS they issue which affect the respective\nARTCC areas. Appropriate reference is also made to expected severe weather\nin scheduled and amended public and aviation forecasts, Pilots Automatic\nTelephone Weather Answering Service (PATWAS), and Transcribed Weather\nBroadcast (TWEB) scripts.\nCriteria for the issuance of SIGMETS associated with severe local storms\ninclude:\na. Tornadoes,\nb. Lines of thunderstorms (squall lines).\nC. Embedded thunderstorms.\nd. Hail of 3/4-inch or greater in diameter.\ne. Severe or extreme turbulence.\nf. Severe icing.\n3.7 Satellite Field Service Stations (SFSSs). The SFSSs receive and\nanalyze satellite pictures in near real time and assist NSSFC and WSFOs in\napplying these data to their severe storm forecasting and warning programs.\n4. U.S. Air Force (USAF) Warning Procedures\na. General. The Air Force Global Weather Central (AFGWC) provides, by\nmeans of USAF communications system, warnings for:\n(1) Tornadoes.\n(2) Thunderstorms.\n(3) Strong surface winds of 35 knots or more that are not associated\nwith thunderstorms.\n(4) Heavy rain or snow (2 inches or more in a 12-hour period).\n(5) Freezing precipitation.\n14","CHAPTER 3\nb. Military Weather Advisories. AFGWC issues Military Weather Advisories\nin graphic teletypewriter format (see fig. 3-3 and 3-4) four times daily,\nat 0145Z plus every six hours. Each Advisory covers a 12-hour period, with\nvalid time 0300Z plus every six hours. Similar Advisories are issued in\nfacsimile format on circuit AFX109. Each Advisory gives the areas where any\nof the weather elements listed above are expected to occur in the following\n12-hour period. An Advisory is an estimate of the weather-producing potential\nof the existing synoptic pattern and airmasses, based on the assumption\nthat subsequent changes in these features occur as forecast.\n(1) Purpose and Use. The Military Weather Advisories are designed\nto provide basic guidance to both the field forecaster and to the point\nwarning forecasters at AFGWC. These Advisories are issued at fixed times;\npreparation time is limited by data availability and presentation format.\nAdvisories may cover fairly large areas as in the case of thunderstorms,\nsnow, and strong gradient winds, but the areas of more severe weather--such\nas tornadoes and severe thunderstorms--are usually more limited in time and\nspace. Field forecasters should use Military Weather Advisories:\na. To alert themselves and users to potential areas of\nsignificant weather.\nb. To use as ready-made briefing aids.\nC. To indicate the probability of their stations being\ndirectly affected during the advisory period.\n(2) Amendment. Advisories are amended whenever the elements\ndescribe change, or are expected to change, by one category or more and when-\never area boundaries change, or. are expected to change, by 60 miles or more.\n(3) Geographical Interpretation. A clear plastic overlay containing\na scaled outline of the conterminous States, placed on the teletypewriter\nmessage containing the Military Weather Advisory, will provide geographical\norientation.\nC. AFGWC Point Warnings. AFGWC Point Warnings are issued in plain\nlanguage (fig. 3-5) for the same phenomena as Advisories. While Advisories\nprovide general guidance to all military forecasters in terms of large- and\nintermediate-scale synoptic developments, AFGWC Point Warnings are issued\nfor and to specific locations in the smallest scale of space and time con-\nsistent with the availability of data and the state of the art. An effort\nis made to tailor the size of the points to the requirements of the using\nagency. The locations for which AFGWC has warning responsibility are listed\nin Volume II, Air Weather Service Manual 105-2. Some of the locations\ninclude two, three, or four installations in one locality; the total number\nof installations is approximately 600. Approximately 50 percent of these\nlocations are U.S. Air Force, 45 percent are U.S. Army, and 5 percent are\nU.S. Navy. In addition to active military installations, AFGWC Point\nWarnings are issued for National Guard units, arsenals, ammunition plants,\nand other civilian activities under contract to the Department of Defense (DOD).\n15","CHPTER\n3\nin\nEXAMPLE OF DESCRIPTION PORTION OF A MILITARY\nbo-09Z\nK380\n2/20\n2/20\nORANGE\nR400\nORANGE\nE.P.\nA\nWEATHER ADVISORY,\nT\nPORTIONS OF\nSQUALL\n/N DULG\nGREEN 21-032\nX\nENEWRD\nO\nORANGE\nR350\nAREA 21Z\n03-09Z\n1/10\nR450 4/40\nMVG\nFigure 3-3.\n30KNOTS\nWRN\n300 1/10\nZ\n21-03Z\nORANGE\n21-01Z\nBLACK\nG35K\nS\nBLACK 21-037 G40K\nBLUE HVY 9 03-09Z\nORANGE R400 3/20\nR\n03Z G40K\nBLACK R 500 4/40\nR480 15/70 LCLLY\nHvy V 703-097\n15/70\nRED 21 03\nG40K\nOZZ\nBLUE 21-037\nBLACK\nX\nB\n21\nR550\nLCLLY\n2\nD/T 06 / 1800 Z\nFOR 06 /2100 Z\n10900 Z\nAIR WEATHER SERVICE\nMIL WEA ADVY NR O6D\nwwxx KGWC\nUS AIR FORCE\nDTG: 06/19187\n07\nTO","CHAPTER 3\n19\n09\n6\nE\n9\n2\n2\nI\n0\n61\n81\nL\n9\nSB\n17\nS\n21\nIt\nOt\nIIIIIII\nAA\n69\n82\nL9\n99\ngg\n82\nSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS\nXXXXXXX0000000000ZZZZZZZK\nLa\nSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS\nP800000000000ZZZZZZZZ\n92\nSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS\nSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS\n8898888300022ZZZ\nSSSSS\n899889988898\nE\n8998899988889\n22\n98883889883989\nS\n88889898988899\n02\n61\n88889898888288\n81\nL1\n9888888888888\n91\n8888888898889\nST\n988898889888\n171\n8888888989\n21\n98898\n21\n11\n01\nM68L9 57221\n17","CHAPTER 3\n0 032010Z\nWWXX WWXX WWXX 3 KGWC 032010Z\nTX 18-19\nTHUNDERSTORMS WITH 1 1/2 INCH HAIL AND SW GUSTS TO\n65 KNOTS VALID 032200Z TO 0402002 TORNADO VALID\n032200Z TO 040100Z.\nOK 7-8\nTHUNDERSTORMS WITH NO HAIL AND SW GUSTS TO LESS THAN\n35 KNOTS EXPECTED BETWEEN 031900Z AND 040300Z.\nFigure 3-5.\nEXAMPLE OF MILITARY POINT WARNING,\n18","CHAPTER 3\nAFGWC Point Warnings are issued for specific locations as the situation\nwarrants in contrast to Advisories which are issued at scheduled intervals\nfor fixed valid periods. AFGWC Point Warnings are amended, extended, or\ncancelled as necessary. For accuracy, the optimum leadtime is that just\nlong enough to permit necessary protective action.\nAFGWC Point Weather Warnings:\n(1) Provide specific warning to an installation where a forecast\nunit is not assigned.\n(2) Alert a responsible individual at locations with a limited\nforecast service.\n(3) Alert and guide the field forecaster who has final responsibility\nfor warning the agency he supports.\nd. Local AWS Unit Point Warnings. At those locations where an Air\nWeather Service (AWS) forecaster is on duty, the forecaster has final\nresponsibility for warning those agencies being supported. The criteria\nand lead time for such local point warnings are established locally based\non customer needs.\n5. Distribution of Watches, Warnings, and Severe Weather Reports by Flight\nService Stations (FSSs)\nThis Plan does not provide for the distribution of severe weather informa-\ntion by FSSs. However, these Stations occasionally receive requests for\nsuch information or are given a severe weather report by an observer. Such\ninformation or requests will be referred to the WSO having jurisdiction\nover the county in which the requester or phenomenon is located. Appendix 1\nillustrates, by region, the WSOs and their warning responsibility areas;\nthe FSSs should refer the requester or information to these Offices. The\nFederal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Weather Service will\ndevelop the communication methods for assuring that these requests and\nreports reach the appropriate WSO.\n19","CHAPTER 4\nCOMMUNICATIONS\n1. National Weather Service Systems\na. RAREP (Radar Report) and Warning Coordination (RAWARC). The National\nWeather Service internal teletypewriter system is a landline teletypewriter\nnetwork consisting of five circuits, which terminates at the National Severe\nStorms Forecast Center (NSSFC) in Kansas City, the network monitoring\noffice (fig. 4-1). Traffic on RAWARC is basically unscheduled and is\nhandled according to a priority system, with severe weather information\nhaving the highest priority. Relays between RAWARC circuits are made by\ncomputer, with severe thunderstorm, tornado and flash flood warnings having\nthe highest priority. Such messages break and supersede all transmissions\nother than similar warning messages. The only regularly scheduled material\nentered on RAWARC is an hourly collection (H+35) of radar reports (SD).\nSpecial radar reports and other material can be transmitted at any time\nthe circuits are not in use.\nb. NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS). The NWWS consists of local loops\nserving metropolitan areas, Statewide intrastate circuits, and overlay\ncircuits. The purpose of NWWS is to transmit consumer-oriented forecasts,\nwatches, weather warnings, and meteorological data to the mass news media\nfor broadcast to the public. Various specialized users also obtain drops\non NWWS to meet their requirements.\nEach intrastate circuit has one Weather Service Office (WSO) designated as\nthe State Relay Center (SRC). The SRC is connected to the regional overlay\ninterstate circuit and serves as the State relay point for transmissions\nover this regional circuit to other States through their SRCs. Washington,\nD.C., is the Overlay Relay Center and is responsible for relaying traffic\nbetween regional overlay circuits.\nOnly WSOs (or certain other authorized offices) have direct entry on these\ncircuits. The Weather Service Forecast Offices (WSFO) furnish broad-scale\ninformation and local WSOs enter local information. Relays between adjacent\ncircuits are established as necessary to meet the requirements of the\nNational Weather Service's Severe Local Storms Warning Service and of sub-\nscribers located along State or area borders. When urgent material such as\na warning is transmitted, a prearranged bell signal is used to attract the\nattention of users to the transmission.\nFigure 4-2 shows the areas covered, the SRCs, the regional overlay circuits,\nand the Washington Overlay Relay Center.\nC. National Warning System (NAWAS). This is the Defense Civil Pre-\nparedness Agency (DCPA)-operated hot line interstate telephone system which\nconnects DCPA Warning Points and WSOs within each State and between States.\nFigure 4-3 gives the location of DCPA warning points. The NWS's 218\nintrastate and 71 interstate drops are shown in figure 4-4.\n20","30°\n50°\n40°\nCHH\nArea\nNYCR\nNYCF\nNYC\n60°\nHartford\nWSFO BOS\nWSFO\nRWCC\nWSO\nHatteras\nHAT\n80°\n2ME\n70°\nHarrisburg\nDAB\nPBI\nKey West\nMyers\nYNG\nLYH\nColumbia\nINTERNAL RAREP AND WARNING COORDINATION SYSTEM\nGSO\nEYWe\nElkins\nLakeland\nEKN\nReckley\nPittsburgh\nLAL\nORL\nParkersbur\nGreenville\nWSFO CRW\nTampa\nTPACITY\nAsheville\nOrlando\nTLH\nPKB\nGSP\nAkron\n©CAK\nAthens\nAHN\nMacon\nMCN\nTallahassee\nMansfield\nCMH\nMFD\nColumbus\nAQQC\nAtlanta\nWSFO\nRFC CIN\nHTS\nCSG\nWSMO-BNAO\nKnoxville\nTOL\nPNS/NPA\nCVG\nLEX\nNATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION\nHoughton\nWayne\nDayton\nTYS\nMontgom\n80°\nDAY\nCKL\nSault Ste.\nMGM\nCentreville\nFWA\n23420\nWSFO\nPensacola\nChattanooga\nWSMO\n(SSM.\nMuskegan\nIndianapolis\nWSFO IND\nHuntsville\nSouth\nBend\nNashville,\nSBN\nBNA\nWSMO BVE\nHSV\nRAWARC TELETYPEWRITER SYSTEM.\nMobile\nBoothville\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE\nMarquette\nBay,\nMMO\nMEM\nMeridian\nMOT\nWSFO MKE\nMemphis\nWSMO NOA\n90\nWSFO\nNeenah\nJAN\nWSMO\nSalem\nWSMO\nWSFO STL\nMadison\nPeoria\nLouis\nJackson\nMSN\nMoline\nWSFO\nWSFO\nMSY.\nRFD\nNew\nLaCrosse\nLittle Rock\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE\nInternational Falls\nLSE\nDubuque\nColumbia\nWSFO\nWaterloo\n90°\nDBQ\nLIT\nAlexandria\nFigure 4-1.\nCharles\nALO\nCOU\nSpringfield\nShreveport\nDuluth\nNSSFC KKCC\nDLH\nMoines\nWSFO\nSmith\nSHV\nRFC KKCR\n(RAWARC)\nKansas City\nDes\nFSM\nGalveston\nMinneapolis,\nArthur\nSt. Cloud\nWSFO MSP\nGLSC\n23421\nSTC\nCity\nWSFO TOP\nRFC-TULC\nWSO-TUL\nMonett\nWSMO\nTopeka\nSioux\nOmaha\nSUX\nWSFO\nBrownsville\nOMA\nNSSLNRO\nConcordia\nNorman\nBRO\nWichita\nVictoria\nAberdeen,\nSioux Falls\nWSFO FSD\nNorfolk\nLincoln\nOFK®\nDFW\nAntonio\nFargo\nLNK®\nCNK\nFAR\nHuron\nICT\nOklahoma City\nAustin\nWSFO SAT\nVCT\nHON\nABR\nAUS\n23422\nWSFO OKC\nGrand Island\nCorpus Christi\nFt. Worth\nCRP\nDodge City\nWSMO HDO\n100°\nValentine\nWSFO\nWSFO BIS\nNorth Platte\nWSMO\nBismarck\nGRI\nDDC\nVTN\nHondo\nGoodland\nWSFO LBB\nABI\nAngelo\n100°\nAmarillo\nLubbock\nDel Rio\nGLD\nWilliston\n23423\nDAT\nAMA\nRapid City\nSJT\nGCK\nISN\nScottsbluff\nMidland\nRAP\nGarden\nMAF\nWSMO\nLimon\nWSMO\nBFF\nWSFO DEN\nColorado\nPuebla\nCOS\nPUB\nALL STATIONS ARE WSO'S UNLESS INDICATED OTHERWISE\nWSFO CYS\nCasper\nCheyenne\nCPR\nRoswell\nAlamosa\nSheridan\nROW\nWSO-FAA-ZAB\nWEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY\nELF\nAlbuquerque\nWSFO-ABO\n110°\nGrand Junction\nEl Paso\nBillings\nBIL\nNATIONAL SEVERE STORM FORECAST CENTER\nWEATHER SERVICE RIVER FORECAST CENTER\nLander\nLND\nWEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE\nSLC\nWSO-FA ZLC\nHLN\nSalt Lake City\nSLC\nMissoula\nMSO\nRWCC\nNATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER\nRevised January 1, 1975\n110°\nWEATHER SERVICE OFFICE\n120\nBoise\nLas Vega\nALW\nPDT\nLAS\n23424\nBakersfield\nSAN\nSan\nWSFO\nReno\nFAT\n130°\nWSRFC\nNSSFC\nWSMO\nWSFO\nNHC\nWSO\n30\n50°\n40\n21","ALBANY\nCOLUMBIA\nRALEIGH\nTALLAHASSEE\nDETROIT\nATLANTA\nLOUISVILLE\nBIRMINGHAM\nMEMPHIS\nMILWAUKEE\nNOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE\nCHICAGO\nORLEANS\nJACKSON\nNOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE.\nST. LOUIS\nNSSFC -KANSAS CITY\nDES MOINES\nJanuary 1, 1975\nFigure 4-2.\nTOPEKA\nOKLAHOMA CITY\nFORT WORTH\nOMAHA\nDENVER\nCHEYENNE\nGREAT FALLS\nPHOENIX\nBOISE\nCURRENT INSTALLATIONS\nOVERLAY RELAY CENTER\nSTATE RELAY CENTER\nIIIIIIIII OVERLAY CIRCUITS\nPORTLAND\n22","DCPA Chart No. 80\nNebraska\nMissouri\nKansas\nIowa\n1973\nKansas City\nApril\nCircuits\nWarning\nAGENCY\nControl\nSYSTEM\n4-3.\nFigure\nPoints\nOffices\nPoints\nRegional\nWarning\nWarning","35\n30\n25\n65*\nFORTLAND\nBOSTON\nCONCORD\nDIDGEPOR\nHATTERAS\nNORFOLK\n70°\nURLINGTON\nWILMINGTON\ntown\nSBURG\nCHARLESTON\nRICHMOND\nROCHESTER\nMIAMI\nKEY WEST\nYNCHBURG\nENSBORO\n75°\nBUFFALO\nROANOKE\nPITTSBURGH\nCOLUMBIA\nBECKLEY\nYOUNGSTOWN\nORLANDO\nCHARLESTON\nSAVANNAH\nJACKSONVILLE\nGREENVILLE\nWAYCROSS\n'DAYTONA\nERIE\nCOLUMBUS\nTAMI\nAUGUSTA\nBRISTOL\nAKRON\nHUNTINGTON\nMACON\nCOLUMBUS\nAPALACHICOLA\n80°\nCLEVELAND\n85°\nCINCINNATI\nATHENS\nANSFIELD\nATLANTA\nKNOXVILLE\nDETROIT,\nTOLEDO\nLIOUISVILLE\nLEXINGTON\nDAYTON\n(RFC)\nCHATTANOOGA\n.\nCOVINGTON\nGRAND RAPIDS\nto\nMONTGOMERY\nPENSACOLA\nLANSING\nSOUTH BEND\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NAWAS DROPS.\nINDIANAPOLIS\nBIRMINGHAM\nCENTREVILLE\nHICKORY\nHUNTSVILLE\nT WAYNE\nOLD\nEVANSVILLE\nNASHVILLE\nMOBILE\n85\nBOOTHVILLE\nCHICAGO\nMILLINGTON\nMERIDIAN\nSLIDELL\nMEMPHIS\nMARSEILLES\nCAIRO\nGREEN BAY\nMILWAUKEE\nSPRINGFIELD\n90*\nROCKFORD\nPEORIA\nJACKSON\nNEENAH\nNATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION\nMADISON\nConstitudis\nNEW ORLEANS\nMOLINE\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NAWAS LOCATIONS\nBATON\nLACROSSE\n90°\nDUBUQUE\n@SPRINGFIELD\nLAKE CHARLES\nCOLUMBIA\nLITTLE ROCK\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE\nALEXANDRIA\nSHREVEPORT,\nWATERLOO\nMONETT\nFigure 4-4.\nGALVESTON\nINTERNATIONAL FALLS\nDULUTH\nROCHESTER\nSMITH\nDES MOINES\nKANSAS\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE\nCITY\nPORT ARTHUR\nST. CLOUD\nMINNEAPOLIS\nJANUARY 1, 1975\nSIOUX CITY\nOMAHA\n95°\nCORPUS CHRISTI\nHOUSTON\nTOPEKA\nBROWNSVILLE\nTULSA\nSTEPHENVILLE\n.\nOKLAHOMA CITY\nVICTORIA\nLINCOLN\nDODGE CITY WICHITA\nNORFOLK\nABERDEEN\nSIOUX FALLS\nFARGO\nWACO\nANTONIO\nHURON\nCONCORDIA\nWICHITA FALLS\nGRAND ISLAND\nFT. WORTH\nSAN\nAUSTIN\n100\ne\nBISMARCK\nHONDO\nNORTH PLATTE\nGARDEN CITY\nABILENE\nGOODLAND\nSAN ANGELO\n100°\nDEL RIO\nWILLISTON\nRAPID CITY\nSCOTTSBLUFF\nAMARILLO\nLUBBOCK\nMIDLAND\nLIMON\n105°\nCHEYENNE\nDENVER\nPUEBLO\nGLASGOW\nCASPER\nCOLORADO.\nSHERIDAN\nSPRINGS\nALBUQUERQUE\nEL PASO\n105*\nJUNCTION\nHAVRE\nGRAND\n110\nGREAT FALLS\nBILLINGS\nLANDER\nKALISPELL\nHELENA\nSALT LAKE CITY\nWINSLOW\nTUCSON\nPOCATELLO\nMISSOULA\n115°\nWSFO\nFLAGSTAFF\nPHOENIX\n110\nREGIONAL NETWORK TERMINATING AT\nLEWISTON\nWHOSE NAWAS CIRCUIT THE OFFICE\nINTERSTATE CONNECTION ARROW\nLOCATED AT THE ARROWS ORIGIN\nTERMINATES IN THE STATE ON\nELKO\nELY\nBOISE\nYUMA\nLAS VEGAS\nWALLAWA\nINTRASTATE LOCATION\n120\nHARTFORD, CT (RFC)\nPENDLETON\nIS CONNECTED.\nRENO\n115°\nSALEM\nEUGENE\nLEGEND:\nCITY\n125\nASTORIA\nREDWOOD\nw\nso\n45°\n35°\n30°\n25°","CHAPTER 4\nd. Emergency Action Notification Signal (EANS). Although all standard,\nFM and television broadcast stations may, at their discretion, use the EANS\nfor short-fused warnings, only a few use it. Where its use is acceptable,\nEANS should be requested for all tornado warnings. Since EANS use is at\nthe discretion of the individual stations, arrangements for its use is made\nprior to the severe local storm season, unless such use is a continuing\nagreement. In those areas where it is not an acceptable procedure, all\ntornado warnings carry the notation \"Immediate Broadcast Requested.\" EANS\nis not requested for severe thunderstorm warnings.\ne. Very High Frequency (VHF) Radio Weather. The WSOs/WSFOs equipped\nwith VHF radio can transmit continuous weather warnings over a frequency of\n162.55 MHz or 162.40 MHz (fig. 4-5). These radio transmitters provide con-\ntinuous weather information over an area of about 40-mile radius. Local radio\nand TV stations can copy and rebroadcast the material even though land lines\nin the area may be disrupted. These transmitters have a tone-alert capability\nwhich can be used to activate specially designed muted receivers. This\nsignal is transmitted at 1050 Hertz for 3-5 seconds before announcements\nof hazardous weather conditions.\nf. Miscellaneous. Other types of distribution methods are used, as\nappropriate, to make warnings available to other WSOs/WSFOs and to the public\nas rapidly as possible. In a severe weather situation, the NWWS is given\nfirst priority and others are used as time is available. These other\nmethods include:\n(1) Telephone (including NAWAS).\n(2) Radio and Teleprinter Networks.\n(3) Public Service Teleprinter Networks.\n(4) Press associations and news services.\n(5) Amateur radio.\n(6) State Police and Highway Radio and Teleprinter Networks.\n(7) State Civil Defense Teleprinter Networks.\n(8) Sirens.\ng. Distribution of Severe Weather Watch and Warning Bulletins. The\ncommunication systems used for distributing Public Severe Weather Watch and\nWarning Bulletins are shown in figure 4-6. The communication systems used\nfor distribution of Aviation Severe Weather Watch Bulletins and In-Flight\nWeather Advisories are outlined in figure 4-7.\n25","HYANNIS\nKEC 73\n162.55 MHZ\nPORTLAND\nBOSTON\nKDO 95\n162.40MHZ\nKHB 35\nNEW LONDON\nNEW BERN KEC 84\n83 NATLANTIC 38 CITY\nLEGEND\nKHB 47\nHATTERAS\nMYRTLE BEACH KEC 95\nKEC 92\nNEW YORK\nKWO 35\nKEC KHB\nNORFOLK\nKHB 37\nWILMINGTON\nPALM BEACH\nWASHINGTON\nKHB31\nCHARLESTON\nKEC 50\n36\nROCHESTER\nBURLINGTON\nWEST\nKHB 29\nKHB\nJACKSONVILLE\nKHB 34\nMIAMI\nKHB 39\nSAVANNAH\nKEC 85\nA\nBUFFALO\n98\nKEB\nCLEVELAND\n94\n500\nKDO\nPANAMA CITY\nTAMPA\nKHB 32\nSAULT STE MARIE\n400\nKEC 58\nSERIE\nATLANTA\nKGG 67\nCOLUMBUS\nKEC 80\nAKRONA\nALPENA\nKHB 59\n300\nPENSACOLA\nDETROIT\nINDIANAPOLIS\nEVANSVILLE\nKEC 63\nSANDUSKY\nNEW ORLEANS KEC\nGRAND\nRAPIDS\n200\n97\nKEC 74\nMOBILE\nMARQUETTE\nKHB\nKEC\n100\nVHF-FM WEATHER TRANSMISSIONS\nCHICAGO\nKHB 43\nKWO 39\nST LOUIS\nor\nKDO 89\nGREEN BAY\nMILWAUKEE\nMT. HALEAKALA\n0\nBATON ROUGE\nKEC 60\nLAKE CHARLES\nKBA 99\nKHB 42\nHAWAII\nKANSAS CITY\nHILO\n99\nKHB 46\nMINNEAPOLIS\nKID 77\nKBA\nDULUTH\nDES MOINES\nFigure 4-5.\nCORPUS CHRISTI\nKEC 65\nBROWNSVILLE\nKEC 75\nST. JOSEPH\nGALVESTON\nKEC 77\n50 100\nKHB 40\nKHB 41\nKHB 33\nHONOLULU\nKBA 99\nKOKEE\n@ KBA 99\nDALLAS\nKEC 56\nHOUSTON\no\nD\nWICHITA\nPHARR\nKEC 59\nFT WORTH\nKHB 33\nKEC 55\nDENVER\nKEC 76\nO 100 200\nSEWARD\nKEC 81\n30\nANCHORAGE\nSALT LAKE CITY\nKEC 43\nKEC 78\nPHOENIX\nKEC 94\nYAKIMA\nSEATTLE\nKHB 60\nPORTLAND\nLOS ANGELES\nSAN FRANCISCO\nKWO 37\nASTORIA\nKEC 21\n4 EUGENE\nSACRAMENTO\nKHB 49\nMONTEREY\nALASKA\nSAN DIEGO\nKEC 49\nKEC 57\nKEC 62\nEUREKA\nKEC 82","CAPPTER\nSTORM SPOTTERS-STATE AND\nMILITARY SVC A AVAILABLE\nCATIONS SYSTEM (MWTCS)\nTELEPRINTER COMMUNI.\nMODERNIZED WEATHER\nLOCAL POLICE, SCHOOLS,\nSERVICE A SYSTEM\nSTATE & LOCAL NOAA\nHAM OP ERATORS\nPRESS-RADIO-TV\nWEATHER WIRE\nPUBLIC\nDISTRIBUTION OF COMBINED SEVERE WEATHER WATCH AND WARNING BULLETINS.\nAP-UPI\nPHONE SERVICE (LIMITED)\nLOCAL STATEMENTS\nNSSFC (COMMUNICATIONS)\nNSSFC (SELS) WATCH\nRAWARC SYSTEM\nNWS OFFICES\nOR WARNINGS\nFigure 4-6.\nBROADCAST NET\nCIVIL DEFENSE\nNATIONAL PRESS SERVICES\nNAWAS\nDISASTER\nFORECAST CENTERS\nNON - RAWARC\nNWS OFFICES\nFP AREA\nAP-UPI\nRADIO BROADCAST\nPUBLIC\nNWS VHF-FM\nPRESS-RADIO-TV\nPUBLIC","GLAPTER\n4\nMILITARY SVC A AVAILABLE\nARTCC\nPILOT BRIEFING\nSVC A SYSTEM\nDISTRIBUTION OF AVIATION SEVERE WEATHER WATCH BULLETINS - AIRMET AND SIGMET.\nFAA\nFSS\nBROADCAST\nFAA\nNSSFC (COMMUNICATIONS\nMODERNIZED WEATHER,\nCOMMUNICATIONS\nNSSFC (SELS) WATCH\nSYSTEM (MWTCS)\nTELEPRINTER\nPONY LOOP\nFigure 4-7.\nCIVIL AVIATION\nNWS OFFICES\nIN-FLIGHT ADVISORIES\n(AIRMET-SIGMET)\nRAWARC SYSTEM\nPILOT BRIEFING\nWSFO'S\nWSO\n28","CHAPTER 4\n2. U.S. Air Force (USAF) Systems\na. Within the conterminous United States, USAF radar weather observa-\ntions are collected by means of the Continental U.S. Meteorological (COMET)\nIIA System and disseminated by the COMET IIB System. Reports collected by\nmeans of COMET IIA are transmitted from the Carswell Automatic Digital\nWeather Switch (CADWS) to the Air Force Global Weather Central (AFGWC), the\nFAA Weather Message Switching Center (WMSC); and to the National Meteorologi-\ncal Center (NMC) through computer-to-computer links; severe radar reports\nare available to NSSFC/Radar Analysis and Development Unit (RADU) on COMET\nIIB (bulletin WOUS 1 KAWN) and the routine radar reports transmitted from\nWMSC to NSSFC.\nb. The COMET II System is divided into eight geographic areas, with a\ncollecting and disseminating circuit covering each area (fig. 4-8).\nC. The COMET II System is used to disseminate Military Weather\nAdvisories and Point Warnings issued by AFGWC.\n3. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Systems\na. Service A (fig. 4-9) will be used for the collection and distribution\nof severe local storms information as follows:\n(1) Hourly and Special Airway Observations.\n(2) Airmen's Meteorological Information .(AIRMETS) and Significant\nMeteorological Information (SIGMETS).\n(3) Hourly Radar Summaries from National Weather Service radar\nunits at Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC).\n(4) Hourly Radar Reports.\nService A will be used for distribution of Pilot Reports (PIREPS)\nb.\nfrom Flight Service Stations (FSSs) to WSFOs with aviation responsibilities.\n4. U.S. Navy.\nU.S. Navy weather reports are collected by means of the USAF COMET IIA\nSystem and are disseminated by the COMET IIB System.\n29","8\nCOMET COLLECTING AND DISSEMINATING SYSTEM.\n3\nFigure 4-8.\n6\n2\n5\nAS OF JANUARY 1974","CAPPTER\n(8001-001)\n001\n002\n9\nroug\n005\n003\n007\n008\n004\n010\n008\n009\nMODERNIZED WEATHER TELETYPEWRITER COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM\nSERVICE A TELETYPEWRITER SYSTEM.\n011\n014\n015\nFEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION\n(8003-017)\n017\nFigure 4-9.\nFEBRUARY 1, 1974\n018\nSERVICE A\n022\nAPPENDIX E\n016\n020\n(SW80GT6)\nINKA\n019\n021\n024\nOLU\n023\n(SW80GT9)\n029\n026\nDRT\n(8003-025)\n025\n028\n030\n027\n031\n035\nHOURLY WEATHER REPORTING LOCATIONS (SA)\nNATIONAL COMM. CENTER RANSAS CITY. MO.\n032\nCANADIAN REPORTS RELAYED TO SYSTEM\n036\n034\nAREA CIRCUIT NUMBER\nLOL\n(8005 -033)\n038\n033\n037\nLEGEND\n(8006-040)\n040\n039\nNKA\nOTH","CHAPTER 5\nOBSERVATIONS\n1.\nRadar Observing and Reporting Plans\na. Radar data, which are routinely used in the support of this Plan\nand in the preparation of National Severe Storms Forecast Center (NSSFC)\nand Air Force Global Weather Central (AFGWC) products, are available from\nradars of the U.S. Basic Weather Radar Network (fig. 5-1). This Network\nis composed mainly of National Weather Service WSR-57 radars, supplemented\nby U.S. Air Force weather radars. In the western intermountain region,\nair traffic control radars remoted into the Salt Lake City, Utah, Palmdale,\nCalif., Albuquerque, N. Mex., and Auburn, Wash., Air Route Traffic Control\nCenters (ARTCC) are used as substitutes for weather-dedicated radars.\nNational Weather Service personnel at Palmdale, Albuquerque, and Auburn\ndevelop a composite of the radar data from radars remoted into these sites\nand transmit the data on an interagency (Atomic Energy Commission and\nNational Weather Service) facsimile circuit to the National Weather Service\nRadar Unit at the Salt Lake City ARTCC. These data are then collated with\nthe Salt Lake City radar data, and, by means of a data-telephone link, the\nfinal composite is sent to the Radar Analysis and Development Unit (RADU)\nat Kansas City for use in the Radar Summary Chart, and to AFGWC for use in\nmeeting AWS requirements.\n(1)\nNational Weather Service radar observations, other than those\nfrom these four ARTCCs, are transmitted hourly on the Radar Report and\nWarning Coordination (RAWARC) circuits at H + 35 in RAREP (Radar Report)\ncode. More frequent observations are taken and transmitted on RAWARC in\nsevere weather situations. Hourly composites from ARTCCs are transmitted\nto a number of offices in the western intermountain region on the inter-\nagency facsimile circuit. Each ARTCC Radar Unit prepares a narrative\nsummary of its composite and transmits the summary on RAWARC. These sum-\nmaries and selected hourly radar observations are transmitted hourly on\nselected Service A circuits by the Modernized Weather Teleprinter Communica-\ntions System (MWTCS) in Kansas City.\n(2)\nAt H + 40, radar reports in the RAREP code from the Air\nWeather Service (AWS) radar stations assigned to the U.S. Basic Weather\nRadar Network are forwarded to AFGWC from the Carswell Automated Digital\nWeather Switch (CADWS) by means of the data link. The NSSFC receives routine\nmilitary radar weather observations from the CADWS through the FAA Weather\nMessage Switching Center (WMSC). Severe military RAREPs (those describing\ntornadoes, severe thunderstorms, or hail observations and carrying the\nbulletin heading WOUS) are obtained by dual means; (1) a drop on the COMET\nIIB system; and (2) through the FAA WMSC.\n(3)\nThe National Weather Service, Air Force, and Navy operate a\nnumber of non-network radar facilities. Used primarily for local fore-\ncasting and warning and for immediate service to local agencies, these radars\n32","JANUARY 1, 1974\nCHATHAM\nHOTEL\nBRUNSWICK\nAFB\nD\nORING\nCITY\nD\nHATTERAS\nZATLANTIC\nWILMINGTON\nMIAMI\nYORK\nCHARLESTON\nDAYTONA\nPATUXENT\nBUFFALO\nPITTSBURGH\nBEACH\nNEW\nJOHNSON\nTAMPA\nSEYMOUR\nAFB\nKEY WEST\nBRISTOL\nWAYCROSS\nAFB\nATHENS\nAPALACHICOLA\nCINCINNATI\nWURTSMITH\nPENSACOLA\nNASHVILLE\nCENTREVILLE\nSAWYER AFB\nDETROIT\nEVANSVILLE\nU.S. BASIC WEATHER RADAR NETWORK.\n&-MEMPHIS\nNEENAH\nK.I.\nJACKSON\nLIDELL\nMARSEILLES\nCHARLES\nMINNEAPOLIS\nBARKSDALE AFB\nST. LOUIS\nLITTLE ROCK,\nLAKE\nMONETT\nInternational AP\nKANSAS\nS MOINES\nGALVESTON\nCITY\nBROWNSVILLE\nFigure 5-1.\nDULUTH\nGRAND FORKS\nOKLAHOMA CITY\nAFB\nGRAND ISLAND\nWICHITA\nSTEPHENVILLE\nHURON\nHONDO\nGARDEN\nCITY\nLAUGHLIN AFB\nELLSWORTH AFB\nMINOT\nAMARILLO\nMIDLAND\nA\nF.E. WARREN AFB\nLIMON\nMESA\nRICA\nMALMSTROM AFB\nEL PASO\nROCK SPRINGS\nLOVELL\nSALT LAKE CITY\nSILVER\nALBUQUERQUE\nCITY\nx\nARTCC\nARTCC\nCEDAR CITY\nMISSOULA\nASHTONX\nPHOENIX\nLAS VEGAS\ncomposited at ARTCC)\nx\nMicrowave\nSPOKANE\nLAGUNA\nlink\n(Remoted to and\nREMARKS\nBATTLE MTN.\nBOISE\nAUBURN\nLEGEND\nKLAMATH\nBORON\nFALLS\nPEDRO\nSACRAMENTO\nSYMBOL\nPALMDALE\nLOS ANGELES\nSAN\nMEDFORD\nARTCC\nSEATTLE\nSALEM\nROBLES\nFAA-ADC\nWSR-57\nTYPE\nFPS-77\nCPS-9\nPASO","CHAPTER 5\nalso provide selected information on severe storms. For example, all USAF\nradar facilities in the conterminous United States, whether or not they are\nassigned Network responsibilities, report radar-detected hailstorms, severe\nthunderstorms, and tornadoes both on COMET IIA communications and by tele-\nphone to the nearest Weather Service Office (WSO) of the National Weather\nService, when so requested. Furthermore, all U.S. Air Force storm detection\nradar facilities, whether on the network or not, transmit hourly RAREPS and\nnecessary specials whenever their station is covered by a Military Weather\nAdvisory area or point warning calling for tornadoes or severe thunder-\nstorms, unless they are within 30nm of a network reporting station.\nb. A number of Aerospace Defense Command (ADC) radar sites are capable of\nlimited detection and interpretation of weather echoes. Appendix 2 lists the\nsix AWS units supporting the six ADC air divisions (ADs) with a map of radar\nsite locations. Operational commitments permitting, these sites can provide\nlimited supplementary data upon request. Contact should be made by calling\nthe appropriate AD weather station. In general, either AFGWC or the super-\nvising forecaster of the Severe Local Storms (SELS) Unit or RADU should\nattempt to contact a particular site through its associated AD weather station.\nC. Whenever radar data from stations of the U.S. Basic Weather Radar\nNetwork are missing or appear to be in error, the military agencies and the\nNational Weather Service have authorized the following:\n(1) The RADU will telephone the military station and AFGWC will\ntelephone (if necessary) the WSO for the missing data or clarification.\nBecause RADU does not have the capability for obtaining such data through\nthe COMET II System, the telephone must be utilized. In-most cases where\nradar data from a WSO are missing or in error, RADU will usually obtain\ncorrected data from that Office by means of RAWARC. Clarification of missing\ndata will usually be available to AFGWC through this means. If such data\nare not forthcoming after a reasonable wait, AFGWC should contact the\nRadar Unit at the WSO by telephone.\n(2) The Air Force shall provide NSSFC with telephone\nnumbers of stations in the U.S. Basic Weather Radar Network. Telephone\nnumbers of local-use radar stations will also be provided for use in\nemergency situations. The National Weather Service shall provide AFGWC\nwith similar telephone numbers for its radar stations.\n(3) If Federal Telecommunications System (FTS) or Department of\nDefense (DOD) telephone lines are not available, commercial telephone shall\nbe used.\nd. If a WSO needs radar data from a nearby military radar (Network, ADC,\nor local use), such data can be obtained by local arrangements between the\nNational Weather Service Meteorologist-in-Charge/Official-in-Charge and the\nAWS Detachment Commanding Officer or the NAVWEASERV Commanding Officer/\nOfficer-in-charge of the activity operating the radar facility. Authoriza-\ntions for such arrangements have been completed between the National Weather\nService and the military agencies in prior agreements. These data will be\nsupplied on a noninterference basis and should usually be limited to severe\nweather situations.\n34","CHAPTER 5\n2. Rawinsonde-0bserving Stations\na. Rawinsonde observations are scheduled twice daily, 0000Z and 1200Z,\nat the 71 stations in the National Weather Service and Military Upper Air\nNetwork (fig. 5-2). These stations also take special observations whenever\nrequired and requested by the agency concerned.\nTransponder capability is available at 33 stations to permit more accurate\nmeasurement of upper winds under strong wind conditions. Evaluated data\nfrom the routine soundings are transmitted over the Service C and COMET II\nteletypewriter systems in the radiosonde code. Data from special soundings\nrequested for potential or existing severe weather situations are trans-\nmitted by means of RAWARC and other appropriate communications circuits to\nNSSFC and AFGWC. Special soundings transmitted on RAWARC will use the\nstandard upper air message heading to assure their relay to AFGWC.\nb. Low-level soundings in support of the Air Pollution Control\nMeteorological Services program are taken at the 9 stations shown in\nfigure 5-3. These stations take observations to 700 millibars near sunrise\nand around noon, Monday through Friday. During critical air pollution\nsituations, observations are taken 7 days a week. Data for the sounding\ntaken near sunrise in the eastern half of the United States are transmitted\non the Service C circuit at 1424Z and relayed, as necessary, to NSSFC and\nAFGWC. Data for the other soundings are transmitted on an unscheduled basis.\nThe DOD takes unscheduled observations at a number of schools, at mobile\nlocations, and at research, development, test, and evaluation facilities.\nHowever, because of the irregular scheduling of these observations, the\nmilitary agencies concerned do not deem it advisable to include all of the\nobservations in this Plan. Non-network upper air stations which might be\nsources of data are given in table 1.\nDuring the months of April, May, and June when the National Severe Storms\nLaboratory (NSSL) at Norman, Okla., and other agencies are usually engaged\nin an intensive severe local storms data collection program in central\nOklahoma, upper air soundings are taken at a number of locations in support\nof this program. Except for the Army unit at Fort Sill, Okla., these data\nare processed by computer and are not available for real-time use. Data\nfrom Fort Sill are transmitted to NSSFC by means of COMET II. Such\nsoundings are usually terminated at 400 millibars.\n35","Chatham\nCaribou\nPortland\nd Cape Hatteras\nWallops Island\nNew York\nPatrick AFB\nAlbany\no\nCharleston\nMiami\nPittsburgh\nBuffalo\nNo\nSterling\nGreensboro\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND MILITARY UPPER AIR NETWORK.\nO\no\nApalachicola\nKey West\nSault Ste. Marie\no\nWaycross o\nTampa\nHuntington\nto\nAthens\nMontgomery\nDayton\nO\nFlinto\nNashville\nBoothville\nSalem\nJackson\nPeoria\nO\nGreen Bay\no\nO\nLittle Rock\nShreveport\nMonett\nFigure 5-2.\nLake Charles\nSt. Cloud\nO\nJanuary 1, 1975\nInternational Falls\nBrownsville\nOklahoma City\nTopeka O\nStephenville\nO Dodge City\nOmahao\nHuron\nO\nVictoria\nNorth Platte\nBismarck\no\nDel Rio\no\nRapid City\nO\nAmarillo\nO\nMidland\nO\no\no Denver\no\nGlasgow\nGrand Junction\nAlbuquerque\nO\nEI Paso\no\noLander\nGreat Falls\nO\nSalt Lake City\nO\nNo. of Stations\nTucson\nWinslow\nO\nOBoise\n69\n2\nYucca Flat\nElyo\nSpokaneo\nWinnemucca\n* Vandenburg AFB\no\nNational Weather Service\nLEGEND\nO\nSalem\nSan Diegola\nMedford\nOakland\nQuillayute\nAir Force","o PHILADELPHIA\nNEW YORK\na\nPITTSBURGH\nCHARLESTON\nBIRMINGHAM\nCHICAGO\nLow LEVEL SOUNDINGS NETWORK.\nJanuary 1, 1974\nHOUSTON\nFigure 5-3.\no\nLOS ANGELES\nEL MONTE\no\n37","OHPER :\nWILL TAKE\nREQUESTED\nSPECIALS\n1\nNo\nNo\nNo\nNo\nNo\nCommander, Det. 10,\nCommander, Det. 11,\nTABLE 1. Non-Network Upper Air Stations Which Might be Sources of Data--Continued\nCommander, Det. 14,\nCommander, Det. 58,\nCommander, Det. 3,\nAGENCY CONTACT\nAUTOVON 835-7313,\nAUTOVON 639-3200,\nAUTOVON 236-1807,\nAUTOVON 737-9819\nAUTOVON 691-3620\n16th Wea. Sq. ;\n16th Wea. Sq.;\n16th Wea. Sq. ;\n16th Wea. Sq.;\n16th Wea. Sq.;\nask for Wea.\nask for Wea.\nask for Wea.\nask for Wea.\nask for Wea.\nFacility.\nFacility.\nFacility.\nFacility.\nFacility.\nDISTRIBUTION\nCOMET II.\nCOMET II.\nCOMET II.\nCOMET II.\nCOMET II.\nTIME OF OBSERVATIONS\nUnscheduled.\nUnscheduled.\nUnscheduled.\nUnscheduled.\nUnscheduled.\nOPERATED BY\nUSA\nFort Benning, Ga USA\nUSA\nUSA\nUSA\nFort Bragg, N.C.\nFort Sill, Okla.\nFort Hood, Tex.\nSTATION\nFort Carson,\nColo.","CAPPER\n5\nWILL TAKE\nREQUESTED\nSPECIALS\nNo\nNo\nNo\nNo\nTABLE 1. Non-Network Upper Air Stations Which Might be Sources of Data--Continued\nCommander, Det. 21,\nCommander, Det. 10,\nask for Met. Team.\nAGENCY CONTACT\nAUTOVON 350-4318.\nAUTOVON 872-5323.\nAUTOVON 258-2537,\nAUTOVON 958-8680.\nCO, Met. Team,\nUSA Electronics\nCommander, OLA,\n6th Wea. Wg.;\n6th Wea. Wg.\n6th Wea. Wg.\n(Eglin AFB);\nCommand:\nDet. 21,\nDISTRIBUTION\nCOMET II.\nCOMET II.\nCOMET II.\nCOMET II.\nTIME OF OBSERVATIONS\nUnscheduled.\nUnscheduled.\nUnscheduled.\nUnscheduled.\nOPERATED BY\nUSAF\nUSAF\nUSAF\nUSA\nCape San Blas,\nMissile Range,\nEdwards AFB,\nWhite Sands\nSTATION\nE1 Centro,\nN. Mex.\nCalif.\nCalif.\nFla.","CIMPTER\n5\nupon request.\nWILL TAKE\nREQUESTED\nunscheduled\nSPECIALS\nNo. Will\nor 1200Z\nfurnish\nYes\nYes\nNo\nNo\nAUTOVON 8-624-2228.\ncial 201-323-2228;\nTom Carr, commer-\ncial 805-982-7173\nFTS 205-453-3109.\nAGENCY CONTACT\nAUTOVON 730-1450.\nor 8508; AUTOVON\n58, 6th Wea. Wg.;\nSchools; commer-\n8-873-1750-7173\nCommander, Det.\nSame as above.\nTABLE 1. Non-Network Upper Air Stations Which Might be Sources of Data\nBob Turner,\nSupt. of AG\nor 8508.\nLocal loop to WSO\nHuntsville, Ala ,\nDISTRIBUTION\nthen to RAWARC.\nRoutinely on\nService C.\nCOMET II.\nNone.\nNone,\nMonday-Friday, 0000Z\nTIME OF OBSERVATIONS\nUnscheduled frequent\nsoundings during\ndependent upon\nDaily, 1200Z.\nUnscheduled,\nUnscheduled.\nUnscheduled.\noperations.\nand 1800Z.\nmissions.\nOPERATED BY\nPacific\nMissile\nPacific\nMissile\nRange\nRange\nNASA\nUSAF\nUSN\nUSN\nUSN\nHuntsville, Ala.\nTraining Center,\nLakehurst, N.J.\nMarshall Space\nFlight Center,\nIsland, Calif.\nMissile Range\nMissile Range\nChico, Calif.\nNavy Pacific\nNavy Pacific\nSTATION\nSan Nicolas\nPoint Mugu,\nFacility,\nFacility,\nNaval Air\nTechnical\nCalif.","CHAPTER 5\n3. Surface Weather Observational Network. To provide the basic weather\ndata needed for the analyses performed by the National Meteorological Center\n(NMC), NSSFC, and AFGWC, all available surface data are used. The following\nstations provide data:\na. The WSOs/WSFOs and Automatic Meteorological Observing Stations (AMOS).\nb. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) weather-reporting stations--\nFlight Service Stations (FSS) and Towers.\nC. Supplementary Aviation Weather Reporting Stations (SAWRS), including\npart-time paid, cooperative aviation and synoptic weather-reporting stations,\nand the U.S. Coast Guard facilities.\nd. The DOD weather-reporting stations.\nThese stations take observations and transmit coded observational data at\nregularly scheduled intervals. Transmissions are made hourly and even more\nfrequently for aviation purposes, every 3 and 6 hours for synoptic map\npreparation, and daily for climatological purposes.\n4. The FAA Aircraft Pilot Reports (PIREPS).\na. The present FAA Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) regulation (91.125,\nradio communications, section b.) requires pilots to report \"(b) Any un-\n\"\nforecast weather conditions encountered; and\nb. The ARTCCs are requested to pass PIREPS to FSSs which are required\nto place them on the Service A teletypewriter circuit for distribution\n(see fig. 4-9).\nC. The following significant information should be included in PIREPS\nwhenever it is observed:\n(1) Moderate or greater turbulence.\n(2) Moderate or greater icing.\n(3) Hail encountered.\n(4) Location of lines of thunderstorms observed on the airborne radar.\n(5) Related maximum-observed cloud tops of thunderstorms.\n41","CHAPTER 5\n5.\nSevere Storm Surveillance by Meteorological Satellites: Several types\nof data will be available from the various operating meteorological satellites\nduring the severe local storms season. (Figure 5-4 summarizes the operational\nsatellites and data available).\na. NOAA Polar Orbiting Satellites: The NOAA satellites provide coverage\nof the U.S. twice a day (at approximately 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. local). Properly\nequipped ground stations can obtain day and night pictures (visible and\ninfrared) from the direct automatic picture transmission (APT) system. High\nResolution Picture Transmission (HRPT) is also available. Global visible\nand infrared data are centrally received, processed, and disseminated to\nappropriate SFSS's and WSFO's via FOFAX. Soundings from the Vertical\nTemperature Profile Radiometer (VPTR) taken at 0900 a.m. and 0900 p.m.\nlocal are available for NMC analyses, forecasts and teletype transmission\non an orbit by orbit basis. High quality data (1 Km resolution) in visible\nand infrared from the Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) is available\ntwice daily.\n(1)\nMapped satellite imagery from the direct readout data are\nusually ready for dissemination within 60-90 minutes after observation time.\nDigital mosaics covering the U.S. contain data from several orbits.\n(2)\nVHRR sectors for the U.S. can be made available to the Kansas\nCity SFSS within 60 to 90 minutes after observation.\nb. Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) SMS-1\n(Synchronous Meteorological Satellite), the first operational prototype of\nthe GOES system was launched in May 1974. SMS-B is scheduled for launch in\nFebruary 1975. SMS-1 is now located at 75°W and SMS-B will be located near\n130°W. The principal GOES products are pictures produced at 30 minute\nintervals. During the daylight hours full resolution (1/2 mile - 1 Km)\nsectors are produced. During nighttime, equivalent 1 mile IR sectors will\nbe produced. These sectors will eventually be automatically gridded. The\nproducts will be delivered in near real time to the SFSS's and WSFO's. In\naddition to the fixed standard sectors, each SFSS is capable of displaying\nfloating sectors at 1/2, 1 and 2 mile resolution to augment the standard\nsector coverage.\n(1)\nSatellite Field Services Stations (SFSS): Under the NESS\nSatellite Field Services Station (SFSS) support concept, GOES imagery will\nbe distributed by the Central Data Distribution Center at the World Weather\nBuilding in Marlow Heights, Maryland, to the SFSSs at Miami, San Francisco,\nKansas City and Washington. These SFSSs are collocated with the NWS's\nWeather Service Forecast Offices at those locations. The Kansas City SFSS\nis responsible for the provision of support to NSSFC and all WSFO's in the\nCentral and Southern portion of the U.S. (The GOES operational data flow\nis depicted in Figure 5-5).\n42","- Synchronous Meteorological Satellite No. 1 (East)\n- Synchronous Meteorological Satellite No. 2 (West)\n- DMSP Very High Resolution Infra-Red Data (1/3 NM)\n- `DMSP Very High Resolution Video Data (1/3NM)\nSFSS's & WSFO's display units\nDirect Data Quality Lines to\n- Vertical Temperature Profile Radiometer\n- DMSP High Resolution Video Data (2NM)\n- Improved TIROS Operational Satellite\n- Visual-Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer\nMethods of Distribution\n#As of 1 October 74 NOAA 3 was the primary operational spacecraft and NOAA 2 was backup. After successful launch and check out,\nSATELLITE AND SATELLITE DATA AVAILABILITY FOR 1975 SEVERE LOCAL STORMS SEASON.\n- Very High Resolution Radiometer\n1. 3 hourly 3-Dimensional Nephanalysis\n- DMSP Infra-red Data (2NM)\nfrom the CDDS\n- Preventative Maintenance\nTelephone\nReal time VHR and WHR displays\n- Weather Facsimile\nFOFAX\nWEFAX\n2. Mapped HR and IR displays\nwith equivalent 1 mile sector geographical\n5. Equivalent IR Sectors (4 mi. Resolution,\nAFGWC Products\n4 n.mi. Resolution IR (Full Disk)\n1/2 n.mi. Resolution VIS Sectors\n2. 2 n.mi. Resolution VIS Sectors\n3. 1 n.mi. Resolution VIS Sectors\n2. Sea-surface temp. analysis\nVISSR\nWEFAX\nSMS-1\nSMS-2\nVHRR\nVTPR\nITOS\nVHR\nWHR\nPM\nHR\nIR\nTemperature soundings\n3.\n1. Mapped digitized SR\nFigure 5-4.\nNESS Products\nMoisture analyses\nNOAA 4 will become primary; NOAA 3 backup, and NOAA 2 will be deactivated.\n2. APT Vidio Signal\nAnalog pictures\ncoverage)\n*SMS-B (SMS-2 after launch) scheduled for launch in February 1975.\n1.\n3.\n4.\n1.\n4.\nEarly morning/evening\n- Direct Readout Scanning Radiometer\n- Geostationary Operational Environ-\n(except for pre-\n- Forecast Office Facsimile Network\nventative main-\n- Central Data Distribution System\nnoon/midnight\nEvery 30 min.\n- Automatic Picture Transmission\n- Advanced Vidicon Camera System\n- Environmental Survey Satellite\ntenance down\nApprox. 1000\ntimes to be\ndetermined)\nLocal Time\n0900-2100\nmental Satellite\nDRSR (direct)\nType of data\nAPT (direct)\nSR (stored)\nVISSR\nVTPR\nVHRR\nVHR\nWHR\nHR\nIR\n(GOES-East)\n(GOES-West)\nNOAA 2, 3,\nSatellite\nFOFAX\nDRSR\nESSA\nAVCS\nCDDS\nGOES\nNOAA 4#\nAPT\nSMS-2*\nESSA 8\nand\nSMS-1\nDMSP","CHAPTER 5\nGOES\nOPERATIONAL DATA FLOW\nGOES\nW.\nGOES\nE.\nSSEC\nCDA\nMADISON,\nWALLOPS\nWISCONSIN\nSUITLAND\nCOMPLEX\nIR DATA\nSECTORIZORS\nWINDS\nSFSS\nUNIT\nWORLD WEATHER BLDG.\nHONOLULU\nTO SFSS's\nDIRECT\nSFSS\nSFSS\nSFSS\nSFSS\nSAN FRANCISCO\nKANSAS CITY\nWASHINGTON\nMIAMI\nWESTERN\nMID-WEST\nEASTERN\nSAN JUAN\nWSFO's\nWSFO's\nWSFO's\nWSFO\nFigure 5-5.\n44","CHAPTER 5\n(2)\nThe Kansas City SFSS will continuously produce, analyze,\nmonitor and disseminate all products received from the GOES and advise NSSFC\nand appropriate WSFO's of areas of observed and suspected severe storm\nactivity. The Kansas City SFSS phone number is 816-374-2102 and operates\n24 hours per day.\nC. Applications Technology Satellite (ATS)\nOn December 10, 1974,\nATS was removed from NOAA Operational Control and returned to NASA. How-\never, in case of failure of SMS-1 and SMS-2, the ATS would be recalled for\noperational use in order to provide the necessary meteorological coverage\nof the U.S.\nFigure 5-4 presents a summation of the satellites and the satellite data\nthat will be available during the 1975 Severe Local Storms Season.\nd. DOD Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) : This is a\nDOD managed system to collect and process meteorological data from space-\nborne sensors. These data are processed by the AFGWC and are available for\ntimely application to severe weather forecasting. DMSP data is currently\narchived by NOAA/NESS at the University of Wisconsin and is available for use\nin severe weather research and development.\n6. Severe Local Storm Actions of Nonmeteorological Agencies and Individuals.\nThe National Weather Service uses observations of severe local storms\nactivity, particularly tornadoes, from many nonmeteorological agencies and\npersonnel such as: utility companies, State Highway Patrols, local police\ndepartments, road maintenance patrols, citizen spotters (network), coopera-\ntive National Weather Service climatological observers, Citizen Band radio\ngroups, local Civil Defense Organizations, radio and television station\nmobile units, city employees (for example, the Chicago Sanitary District),\nFAA, and individual citizens.\nReports are received by various means--which are not uniform at each WSO--\nincluding Citizen Band or Civil Defense radio facilities (with a trans-\nceiver often located in the WSO and manned by local cooperators), police\nradio, direct telephone lines involving unlisted numbers, the National\nWarning System (NAWAS), State Highway Patrols, teletypewriter circuits by\nmeans of telephone or a sending \"drop\" on statewide NOAA Weather Wire\nService (NWWS) circuits, and Service A teletypewriter circuits.\n45","CHAPTER 5\nReports are disseminated to mass news disseminators, to other WSOs, and to\nsafety agencies by NWWS circuits (first priority, except for a more expedient\nmeans in some local areas), RAWARC, NAWAS, telephones (hotlines and com-\nmercial), NOAA Weather Radio direct commercial radio broadcasts, telephone\nrecordings, and Civil Defense radio facilities. The \"fan-out\" principle\nis utilized wherever practical.\n7. Aircraft Reconnaissance Data from the Gulf of Mexico. Because observa-\ntional data are sparse in the Gulf of Mexico, use is made of the Air Force\nAir Weather Service reconnaissance flight Gull Foxtrot (see fig. 5-6). This\ntrack was designed by AFGWC and NSSFC to yield the maximum amount of data\npertinent to the severe local storms program. The track is flown on an \"as\nrequired\" basis. AFGWC is the single agency authorized to request Gull\nFoxtrot flights. The function of coordinating and contacting the AFGWC for\nGull Foxtrot Flights is assigned to WSFO New Orleans, Louisiana. AFGWC\nhas the option of specifying tracks other than Gull Foxtrot when necessitated\nby operational requirements or the synoptic situation. Gull Foxtrot data\nenter Air Force communications via an air/ground station and reconnaissance\nmonitor. Data are transmitted to the Carswell Automated Digital Weather\nSwitch and from there are made available to RAWARC via the Carswel1-Suitland\nlink.\n46","CHAPTER 5\n90°\n80°\n70°\n40°\n40\nGULL FOXTROT\nKEESLER\n30,9\n30\n1\n3\n2\n10\n9\nPATRICK\n8\n4\n7\n5\n6\n20°\n20\n10°\n10\nREMARKS\n1. FREQUENCY: AS REQUIRED\n2. ALTITUDE:\n500 MB\na\n3. DROPSONDE RELEASE POINTS: 1, 3 and 6, or as required\n90°\n80°\n70°\nFigure 5-6. -\nWEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHT GULL FOXTROT.\n47","CHAPTER 6\nPUBLICITY\nThe Military Weather Advisories and Point Warnings of the Air Force Global\nWeather Central (AFGWC) are designed for specialized military users and\nshall not be released to the public. News media releases that concern\nthe cooperative efforts in severe storms activities of the Department of\nDefense and NOAA weather services and of other agencies should reflect the\njoint nature of these efforts by giving due credit® to participating agencies.\nCopies of these releases should be forwarded to:\nDeputy Director for Operations/Environmental Services\nThe Joint Chiefs of Staff\nWashington, D. C. 20301\nAssistant for Weather, DCS/P&R\nUnited States Air Force\nWashington, D. C. 20330\nAssistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence\nDepartment of the Army\nAttention: DAMI-DOT-C\nWashington, D.C. 20310\nHeadquarters, Naval Weather Service Command\nBuilding 200\nWashington Navy Yard\nWashington, D.C. 20374\nHeadquarters, Air Weather Service (AWS/CS)\nScott Air Force Base, I11. 62225\nNOAA Public Affairs Office\n6010 Executive Boulevard\nRockville, Md. 20852\nCommandant, United States Marine Corps\nHeadquarters, United States Marine Corps\nWashington, D.C. 20380\n48","APPENDIX 1\nCAR\nPWM\nCON\nSYR\nROC\nBOS\nORH*\nBUF\nBOS\nBGM\n3\nBDI\nPVD\nAVP\nBDR\nERI\nIPT\nCLE\nTOL\nABE\nNYC\nYNG\n:MFD\nCAK\nHAR\nPHL\nPIT\nCMH\nACY\nDAY\nBAI\nEKN\nCVG\nDCA\n* - Responsible\nWeather Service Office\nCRW\nRIC\nBKW\nLYH\nROA\nORF\nGSO\nRDU\nAVL\nHAT\nUCLT\nGSP\nILM\nCAE\nMORRY\nCHS\nCOUNTY WARNING AREAS - EASTERN REGION\n49","","SDF\nMKG\nCHI\nCIR\nGRB\nSPI\nPIA\nCOUNTY WARNING AREAS - CENTRAL REGION\nRFD\nMSN\nDBQ\nLSE\nCOU\nSGF\nDLH\nDSM\nMSP\nINL\nTOP\nOMA\nSUX\nFSD\nICT\nLNK\nFAR\nCNK\nOFK\nGRI\nHON\nABR\nDDC\nBIS\nLBF\nVTN\nGLD\nRAP\nWeather Service Office\nBFF\nISN\n- Responsible\nDEN\nPUB\nCOS\nCYS\nCPR\nALS\nSHR\nGJT\nLND\nSWEETWATER","APPENDIX 1\nFCA\nHVR\nGGW\nGEG,\nOLM\nGTF\nAST\nSEA\nYKM\nLWS\nMSO\nALW\nHLN\nPDT\nPDX\nBIL\nSLE\nEUG\nBOI\n* - Responsible\nWeather Service Office\nLMT\nPIH\nMFR\nEKA\nWMC\nEKO\nSLC\nRBL\nRNO\nELY\nSAC\nSFO\nSCK\nBIH\nFAT\nLAS\nBFL\nSMX\nFLG\nINW\nLAX\nPHX\nSAN\nYUM\nTUS\nCOUNTY WARNING AREAS - WESTERN REGION\n52","APPENDIX 2\nAEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND (ADC)\nWEATHER STATIONS AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY\nThe following AWS units supporting ADC air divisions can obtain appropriate\noperational permission and contact radar sites within the division area\nof responsibility. See attached map for division areas and location of\nradar sites.\nAir Division\n(General Area of\nAutovon\nResponsibility)\nAWS Unit\nNumber\nFTS Number\n20 AD (Southeast)\nDet 41, 12 WS\n687-4008\n804-732-7256\nFt Lee AFS VA\nExt 765\nExt 765\n21 AD (Northeast)\nDet 27, 12 WS\n587-9620\n315-458-5500\nHancock Fld NY\nExt 620\n23 AD (N Central)\nDet 8, 12 WS\n825-8765\n218-727-8211\nDuluth IAP MN\nExt 765\n24 AD (N Plains)\nDet 3, 12 WS\n728-1500\n406-731-6765\nMalmstrom AFB MT\nExt 6765\n25 AD (Northwest)\nDet 4, 12 WS\n976-6765\n206-984-6766\nMcChord AFB WA\n26 AD (Southwest)\nDet 11, 12 WS\n853-2611\n602-935-2611\nLuke AFB AZ\nExt 765\nExt 765\n53","NORTH\nTRURO\nARLESTON\nMONTAUK\nCASWEL\nRAPIDS\nCIBBSBORO\nFISHER\nSARATOGA\nCEOREADE\nRICHMOND\nCAPE\nROANOKE\nJACKSONVILLE\nFORT\nPATRICK\nKEY\nBENTON\n21-AD\nBEDFORD\nMARIE\nAEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND AIR DIVISIONS (AD) AND RADAR LOCATIONS\n20-AD\nTYNDALL\nMAC\nSAULT\nSELFRIDGE\nEMPIRE\nAUSTIN\nDAUPHIN\nISLAND\nCALUMET\n23-AD\nPORT\nNo\nANTIGO\nLAKE CHARLES\nBAUDETTE\nOSCELO\nFINLAND\nFINLEY\nMINOT\nFORTUNA\n24-AD\nOPHEIM\nHAVRE\nMALMSTROM\nKALISPELL\n26-AD\nMT. LAGUNA\nMICAPEAK\nOTHELLO\nSAN PEDRO HILL\n25-AD\nMOUNT HEBO\nBEND\nVALLEY\nKENO\nMAKAH\nALMADEN\nCAMBRIA\nNORTH\nKLAMATH\nMILL\nPOINT"]}