{"Bibliographic":{"Title":"National severe local storms operations plan","Authors":"","Publication date":"1981","Publisher":""},"Administrative":{"Date created":"08-16-2023","Language":"English","Rights":"CC 0","Size":"0000073048"},"Pages":["QC\n940.6\n.U6\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\nN28\n1981\nA\nOF\nFEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR\nMETEOROLOGICAL SERVICES\nAND SUPPORTING RESEARCH\nSTATES\nOF\nNational Severe Local Storms\nOperations Plan\nFCM-P11-1981\nWashington, D.C.\nFebruary 1981","THE FEDERAL COMMITTEE FOR\nMETEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH\n(FCMSSR)\nVACANT, Chairman\nDR. LAWRENCE R. GREENWOOD\nDepartment of Commerce\nNational Aeronautical Space Agency\nDR. T. B. KINNEY, JR.\nDR. FRANCIS S. JOHNSON\nDepartment of Agriculture\nNational Science Foundation\nDR. GEORGE P. MILLBURN\nMR. JOHN DYER\nDepartment of Defense\nOffice of Management and Budget\nMR. DAVID SLADE\nMR. S. AHMED MEER\nDepartment of Energy\nDepartment of State\nVACANT\nMR. JAMES BISPO\nEnvironmental Protection Agency\nFederal Aviation Administration\nDepartment of Transportation\nMR. ROBERT CRAWFORD\nFederal Emergency Management Agency\nDR. T. B. OWEN\nFederal Coordinator\nMR. LEWIS T. MOORE\nDepartment of Commerce\nDepartment of Interior\nALONZO SMITH, JR., Executive Secretary\nDR. ROBERT ABBEY\nOffice of the Federal Coordinator\nNuclear Regulatory Commission\nDepartment of Commerce\nTHE INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR\nMETEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH\n(ICMSSR)\nDR. EUGENE BIERLY\nWILLIAM S. BARNEY, Chairman\nNational Science Foundation\nOffice of the Federal Coordinator\nDepartment of Commerce\nMR. JOHN DYER\nOffice of Management and Budget\nDR. T. B. KINNEY, JR.\nDepartment of Agriculture\nMR. JAMES C. MCLEAN\nNational Transportation Safety Board\nDR. RICHARD E. HALLGREN\nNational Weather Service\nMR. EARL H. MARKEE, JR.\nDepartment of Commerce\nNuclear Regulatory Commission\nCOLONEL E. W. FRIDAY, JR., USAF\nMR. MYRON P. LEWIS, JR.\nDepartment of Defense\nFederal Aviation Administration\nDepartment of Transportation\nDR. HARRY MOSES\nDepartment of Energy\nCDR ROBERT E. HAMMOND, USCG\nU. S. Coast Guard\nMR. L. E. NIEMEYER\nDepartment of Transportation\nEnvironmental Protection Agency\nALONZO SMITH, JR., Executive Secretary\nMR. ROBERT CRAWFORD\nOffice of the Federal Coordinator\nFederal Emergency Management Agency\nDepartment of Commerce\nMR. LEWIS T. MOORE\nDepartment of Interior\nDR. SHELBY TILFORD\nNational Aeronautics and Space\nAdministration","QC\n940.6\nU6\nN28\n-1971\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE\n1981\nNATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION\nFEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR METEOROLOGICAL\nSERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH\nNATIONAL SEVERE LOCAL STORMS OPERATIONS PLAN\nN.O.A.A.\nU.S. Dept. of Commerce\nWashington, D.C.\nLIBRARY 81\n1981 February 6\nFCM-P11-1981\nMay 22 1984\nN.O.A.A.\nU.S. Dept. of Commerce","CHANGE LOG\nChange\nNo.\nPage Numbers\nDate Posted\nSignature\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\nii","FOREWORD\nThis is the fourteenth in a series of annual National Severe Local Storms\nOperations Plans developed in response to a 1967 request by the Federal\nCoordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research. This plan\noutlines the responsibilities of the various United States agencies which\nprovide meteorological services in observing and forecasting severe local\nstorms.\nInterdepartmental Severe Local Storms Conferences, of which there have been\nseven, bring together cognizant Federal agencies to resolve problems of mutual\nconcern related to the National Severe Local Storms Warning Service. Such\nconferences will be held every two years, if items warrant. National Weather\nService Severe Local Storms Conferences are held as required.\nThis plan supersedes the 1980 version and incorporates changes recommended\nby the concerned agencies through their representatives on the Subcommittee for\nBasic Services (SC/BS) Working Group on Severe Local Storms.\nAdditional information describing the warning programs of the participating\nagencies can be found in Air Weather Service Regulation 105-8, Meteorological\nWatch Program; National Weather Service Operations Manual Chapter C-40, Severe\nLocal Storm Warnings; and Operations of the National Weather Service.\n1.\nT. B. Owen\nFederal Coordinator for Meteorological\nServices and Supporting Research\niii","NATIONAL SEVERE LOCAL STORMS\nOPERATIONS PLAN\nCONTENTS\nPage\niii\nFOREWORD\nChapter 1. Responsibilities of Cooperating Agencies\n1\nChapter 2. Definitions\n7\nChapter 3. Forecasts and Warnings\n9\n17\nChapter 4. Communications\nChapter 5. Observations\n25\n35\nChapter 6. Publicity\nAppendix 1. NORAD Region/Air Division (NR/AD)\nWeather Stations and Military Radar Sites\n37\nAppendix 2. Recommended Letter of Agreement (LOA)\nBetween Local Units of NWS and USAF\n39\n41\nAppendix 3. Abbreviations and Acronyms\niv","LIST OF FIGURES\nPage\nFigure 3-1 - Example of Graphic Military Weather\nAdvisory\n13\nFigure 3-2 - Example of Graphic Teletype Portion of\nMilitary Weather Advisory\n14\nFigure 4-1 - Federal Emergency Management Agency\nNational Warning System\n18\nFigure 4-2 - Distribution of Combined Severe Weather\nWatch and Warning Bulletins\n20\nFigure 4-3 - Distribution of Aviation Severe\nWeather Forecasts\n21\nFigure 4-4 - Geographical Areas of USAF CONUS Meteoro-\nlogical Data System\n22\nFigure 5-1 - GOES Operational Data Flow\n33\nLIST OF TABLES\nTable 3-1 - Military Weather Advisory (MWA) Weather\nElements\n15\nTable 5-1 - Non-Network Upper Air Stations Which Might\nBe Sources of Data\n28\nTable 5-2 - Satellite and Satellite Data Availability\nfor Severe Local Storms Season\n31\nV","CHAPTER 1\nRESPONSIBILITIES OF COOPERATING AGENCIES\n1. National Weather Service (NWS). It shall provide:\na. Basic surface, upper air, and radar observations from its network of\nstations making such observations.\nb. Additional observations, when required. These observations will be\ntransmitted to any requesting agency on the appropriate communication circuits.\nC. Basic analyses, forecast charts, and radar facsimile charts through the\nNational Meteorological Center (NMC), Camp Springs, Maryland.\nd. Severe Weather Watch Bulletins through the National Severe Storms\nForecast Center (NSSFC) at Kansas City, Missouri.\nSevere weather statements and warnings issued by Weather Service\ne.\nForecast Offices (WSFOs) and Weather Service Offices (WSOs) throughout the\nUnited States.\nf. Aviation Inflight Weather Advisories through WSFOs with aviation\nresponsibilities for periods up to 6 hours for aircraft (civilian and military)\nand amendments to appropriate aviation forecasts whenever severe local storm(s)\nare possible 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 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Oceanic\nand Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Memorandum of Understanding Concerning the\nCoordination of Emergency Responsibilities.\n2. National Earth Satellite Service (NESS). It shall:\na. Operate satellite systems capable of providing coverage of selected\nportions of the United States and adjoining coastal areas during the severe\nstorms season.\nb. Receive and respond to requirements for coverage of specific areas and\ntimes from the NSSFC.\nC. Provide appropriate satellite data to authorized research facilities\neither directly or through the Environmental Data and Information Service\n(EDIS).\nd. Be available for conferences with personnel of NSSFC and WSFOs,\nprimarily through its Satellite Field Service Stations (SFSSs), either in person\nor by telephone.\ne. Coordinate with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)\non providing data from its Research and Development (R&D) satellites to NOAA\noperational units for use on an as required basis.\n1","CHAPTER 1\nU.S. Air Force (USAF) The Air Weather Service (AWS) is responsible for\n3.\nweather warning support to USAF and U.S. Army units throughout the world. It\nshall provide:\na. Basic surface, upper air, and radar observations from its network of\nstations making such observations.\nb. Additional observations, when required, making all such reports\navailable to civil agencies through existing communications with Federal\nAviation Administration (FAA) or, with prior DOD approval, directly.\nC. A concerted effort to collect and relay PIREPS.\nd. Through the Air Force Global Weather Central (AFGWC), Offutt Air Force\nBase, Nebraska:\n(1) Weather warning support in the conterminous United States and 200\nmiles offshore to:\n(a)\nU.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and selected U.S. Navy\ninstallations.\n(b) Air Force and Army Reserve, and National Guard Units.\n(c)\nPlant sites and facilities operated under Department of\nDefense (DOD) contracts.\n(d) Airborne military aircraft when under military control.\n(2) Via the USAF communications system:\n(a)\nMilitary Weather Advisories for general areas of severe\nweather potential. Advisories will be issued daily in graphic and teletype\nformat valid for 12-hour periods beginning at 0300Z plus every 6 hours.\n(b)\nPoint Warnings in plain language, as required, whenever\nweather is expected to meet warning criteria. These Point Warnings are issued\nto about 500 locations in the conterminous United States.\n(c) Summaries of severe convective weather occurrences.\n(d) Military Weather Advisory Further Outlooks for general areas\nof severe weather potential. Further Outlooks will be issued twice daily in\ngraphic and teletype format valid for the 12-hour periods beyond the 0900Z and\n2100Z Military Weather Advisories.\nA continuous meteorological watch on the possibilities of\n(e)\nsevere weather developments and of other weather phenomena for which AFGWC has\nwarning responsibility.\nU.S. Navy. The Navy does not operate a centralized Severe Local Storms\n4.\nWarning Service. Requirements for early warnings of hazardous flying conditions\n2","CHAPTER 1\nand local destructive phenomena are met by NSSFC/AFGWC products interpreted\nlocally by personnel of the Naval Oceanography Command. Full use is made of\ninformation received on the National Facsimile Network (NAFAX), military, and\ncivil weather circuits.\n5. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It shall provide:\na. Communication services and observations in accordance with the January\n24, 1977 MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT between the NOAA and FAA to support the Severe\nLocal Storms Operations Plan.\nb. Dissemination/Broadcasting of Airmen's Meteorological Information\n(AIRMETS), Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMETS), and convective\nSIGMETS by Flight Service Stations (FSSs) during preflight briefings and to\naircraft in flight.\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 units\nresponsible for preparing severe weather forecasts, data concerning such\nforecasts will be exchanged between these units. Direct telephone\ncommunications between AFGWC and NSSFC may be made over the Federal\nTelecommunications Service (FTS).\nb. The coordination channel for exchange of data between NSSFC and AFGWC\nshall be between the Commander, AFGWC, and the Director, NSSFC. Unresolved\ndifferences will be referred to the Public Services Branch, Meteorological\nServices Division, National Weather Service Headquarters, and to the\nHeadquarters, Air Weather Service.\nAt the present time, the National Weather Service, National\nC.\nEarth Satellite Service, Environmental Research Laboratories' National Severe\nStorms Laboratory (NSSL), Air Force Geophysical Laboratory (AFGL), and the Air\nWeather Service are actively engaged in developing objective severe weather\nforecasting and analysis techniques. These organizations will engage, whenever\npossible, in a joint technique development program and will exchange any\nobjective techniques developed.\n7. Requests for Special Observations.\nAny special rawinsonde (RAWIN) or pilot balloon (PIBAL) observations needed\nduring the 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, the requests should\nnormally be made for 0600Z or 1800Z. The Director, NSSFC, will initiate the\nrequest to the National Weather Service and National Aeronautics and Space\nAdministration stations, and the Commander, AFGWC, will similarly request\nsoundings from DOD stations. Although WSFOs have the authority to request\nspecial upper air observations during periods of potentially severe storms of\nall types, requests for special soundings during periods of potentially severe\nlocal storms should be made by NSSFC. Any cost involved in these special\nsoundings will be borne by the agency making the sounding.\n3","CHAPTER 1\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(402-294-2586 or FTS 866-6019).\nNSSFC may also request special limited scan Geostationary Operational\nEnvironmental Satellite (GOES) data on critical severe storm days.\n8. Backup Plan for NSSFC.\nIn the event that NSSFC is unable to discharge its severe weather\nforecasting functions, the AFGWC will provide backup. In the event of a power\noutage or other major disruption of operations, the NSSFC forecaster will make\ntelephone contact with the designated AFGWC focal point and request backup. The\nNSSFC forecaster will also provide AFGWC with an estimate of the duration of the\noutage as well as subsequent updated information when available. The number of\nthe last valid watch will also be provided.\nUpon notification from NSSFC that the Backup Plan is to be implemented,\nAFGWC will prepare and transmit watches, outlooks, and other advices regarding\nsevere local storm activity as prescribed in National Weather Service Operations\nManual (WSOM) Chapter C-40. The AFGWC will initiate a suitably worded message\nfor Radar Report and Warning Coordination Circuit (RAWARC) and Automation of\nField Operations and Services/National Distribution Circuit (AFOS/NDC)\nindicating that emergency backup procedures are in effect and that subsequent\nsevere weather watches, etc., will be issued by AFGWC as required.\nPart A of all AFGWC backup watches will begin as follows: \"THE USAF\nAIR\nWEATHER SERVICE ACTING IN A BACKUP CAPACITY FOR THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE\nSAYS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY\nPrior to issuance or cancellation of\na\nwatch, AFGWC will coordinate by telephone with the affected WSFOs if time\npermits. AFGWC will transmit backup material on RAWARC via the Air Force\nAutomatic Digital Weather Switch (ADWS) and on National Aviation Facsimile\nCircuit (NAFAX) directly.\nWhen NSSFC resumes normal operation, a message to this effect will be placed\non RAWARC and AFOS/NDC by NSSFC.\n9. Notification of Military Installations.\nSelected military installations, whose AWS detachments are not staffed by\nforecasters or whose radars are inoperative, will be notified by the NWS when\nsevere convective weather is expected to affect them. The notification will be\nperformed by selected NWS offices which have radar and/or other information\navailable. Notification will be via NOAA Weather Radio Warning Alarms for those\nsites within the receiving area, provided such sites are equipped with\nreceivers. This is the most rapid notification available. Otherwise,\nnotifications will be according to \"alerting agreements\" between the AWS/NWS\noffices concerned. (Such written agreements are initiated by the AWS units, but\nrequire approval of NWS Headquarters before they can go into effect. See\nAppendix 2.)\n4","CHAPTER 1\nThe service to be provided is a wakeup/alerting service to cover severe\nconvective weather occurrences with short lead times, i.e., those developments\nthat the AWS' normal alerting system may miss. No other service will normally\nbe required. As appropriate, radar data may be exchanged. Severe convective\nweather is defined as Thunderstorms with winds 50 knots (25 m/s) or more, Hail\n3/4-inch (20 mm) in diameter or larger, and/or Tornadoes.\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. The\nnotification will be made after the news media and Civil Defense authorities\nhave been notified according to the NWS' present warning dissemination\nprocedures and priorities. The agreement will specify the hours during which\nthe alerting service is to be provided.\na. 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.\nMilitary Location\nNWS Office\nBarksdale AFB\nWSO Shreveport, LA\nBeale AFB\nWSO Sacremento, CA\nBergstrom AFB\nWSO Austin, TX\nBlytheville AFB\nWSFO Memphis, TN\nBuckley ANGB\nWSFO Denver, CO\nCannon AFB\nWSO Amarillo, TX\nCharleston AFB\nWSO Charleston, SC\nColumbus AFB\nWSFO Jackson, MS\nDavis-Monthan AFB\nWSO Tucson, AZ\nDobbins AFB\nWSFO, Atlanta, GA\nDover AFB\nWSO Atlantic City, NJ\nDuluth IAP\nWSO Duluth, MN\nDyess AFB\nWSO Abilene, TX\nEdwards AFB\nWSO Palmdale, CA\nEllsworth AFB\nWSO Rapid City, SD\nFairchild AFB\nWSO Spokane, WA\nFrancis E. Warren AFB\nWSFO Cheyenne, WY\nFt. Campbell\nWSO Nashville, TN\nFt. Hood\nWSO Waco, TX\nFt. Knox\nWSFO Louisville, KY\nFt. Riley\nWSFO Topeka, KS\nGeorge AFB\nWSO Palmdale, CA\nGrand Forks AFB\nWSO Fargo, ND\nGrissom AFB\nWSFO Indianapolis, IN\nHolloman AFB\nWSO El Paso, TX\nHomestead AFB\nNHC Miami, FL\nHunter AAF\nWSO Savannah, GA\nKelly AFB\nWSFO San Antonio, TX\nKeesler AFB\nWSO Mobile, AL\nKirtland AFB\nWSFO Albuquerque, NM\nLaughlin AFB\nWSO Del Rio, TX\nLittle Rock AFB\nWSFO Little Rock, AR\n5","CHAPTER 1\nMilitary Location\nNWS Office\nMaxwell AFB\nWSO Montgomery, AL\nMcClellan AFB\nWSO Sacramento, CA\nMcGuire AFB\nWSO Atlantic City, NJ\nMinot AFB\nWSFO Bismarck, ND\nMoody AFB\nWSO Savannah, GA\nMyrtle Beach AFB\nWSO Charleston, SC\nNellis AFB\nWSO Las Vegas, NV\nPease AFB\nWSMO Brunswick, ME\nPlattsburgh AFB\nWSO Burlington, VT\nRandolph AFB\nWSFO San Antonio, TX\nReese AFB\nWSFO Lubbock, TX\nRichards-Gebaur AFB\nWSO Kansas City, MO\nRickenbacker AFB\nWSO Port Columbus, OH\nRobins AFB\nWSO Macon, GA\nScott AFB\nWSFO St. Louis, MO\nSelfridge ANGB\nWSFO Detroit, MI\nShaw AFB\nWSO Charleston, SC\nSheppard AFB\nWSO Wichita Falls, TX\nTinker AFB\nWSFO Oklahoma City, OK\nTravis AFB\nWSO Sacramento, CA\nVance AFB\nWSFO Oklahoma City, OK\nWhiteman AFB\nWSO Kansas City, MO\nWurtsmith AFB\nWSO Houghton Lake, MI\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. Metric units contained in this plan are rationalized.\n1. Funnel Cloud. A rotating column of air forming a pendant from a cumulus or\ncumulonimbus cloud whose circulation does not reach the ground or water.\n2. Severe Local Storms. Dangerous storms that usually cover relatively small\ngeographical areas or move in narrow paths and are of sufficient intensity to\nthreaten life and property. For the purpose of this plan, a severe local storm\nis a tornado, funnel cloud, waterspout, or a thunderstorm with winds of 50 knots\n(25 m/s) or greater and/or hail 3/4-inch (20 mm) in diameter or greater at the\nsurface. Wind damage may be used to infer the occurrence/existence of a severe\nlocal storm.\n3. Severe Local Storms Season. Although the center of maximum frequency shifts\nduring the year, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms may occur anywhere in the\nUnited States at anytime during the year. The months of greatest total\nfrequency are April, May, and June.\n4. Squall Line. A line of active thunderstorms or squalls which may extend\nover several hundred miles. It is the phenomenon of the mature or active stage\nof \"instability-line\" development and may be either a solid or broken line of\nthunderstorms.\n5. Density/Risk of Severe Thunderstorms. The following adjectives describe the\npossible density/risk of severe thunderstorms in an outlook area:\na. Slight risk - 2 to 5 percent coverage or 4-10 Manually Digitized Radar\n2\n(MDR) blocks with severe thunderstorms per 100,000 square miles (250,000 km .\nb. Moderate risk - 6 to 10 percent coverage or 11-21 MDR blocks with severe\nthunderstorms per 100,000 square miles (250,000 km ).\nC. High risk - greater than 10 percent coverage or more than 21 MDR blocks\n2\nwith severe thunderstorms per 100,000 square miles (250,000 km\nd. MIC (Maximum Instantaneous Coverage) - the percentage of the area that\nwill be covered by cumulonimbus cells at the time of maximum activity.\n(Military Weather Advisories only.)\nTAA (Total Area Affected) - the percentage of the area that will\ne.\nexperience one or more thunderstorms during the applicable valid period.\n(Military Weather Advisories only.)\nAdjectives such as the above will not be used to indicate the possible\ndensity of tornadoes in a watch. The Tornado Watch Bulletin will only state\nthat the threat 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 of\nconcerned agencies:\na. Thunderstorm - Wind gusts less than 50 knots (25 m/s) and hail, if any,\nof less than 3/4-inch diameter (20 mm) at the surface.\nb. Severe Thunderstorm - Wind gusts of 50 knots (25 m/s) or greater or hail\nof diameter 3/4-inch (20 mm) or greater at the surface. Wind damage may be used\nto infer the occurrence/existence of a severe thunderstorm.\n7. Tornado. A violent, rotating column of air usually forming a pendant from a\ncumulonimbus cloud, whose circulation reaches the ground. It nearly always\nstarts as a funnel cloud and is accompanied by a loud roaring noise. On a local\nscale, it is the most destructive of all atmospheric phenomena.\n8. Waterspout. A rotating column of air usually pendant from a cumulus or\ncumulonimbus cloud which forms over a body of water and whose circulation\ntouches the water.\n8","CHAPTER 3\nFORECASTS AND WARNINGS\n1. General. Although every effort has been made to standardize terminology,\nadopt common definitions, and adjust criteria to a common base, each agency has\ndiffering operational warning criteria that must be met. Although\nstandardization will be used wherever possible in forecasts and warnings, each\nagency retains the right to specify the forecast and warning criteria that are\nneeded to carry out the mission of its service.\n2.\nOther Warning Criteria. All phenomena (other than those classified as\nsevere storms, Chapter 2, Item 2) described in the various warnings, bulletins,\nand advisories should be categorized as \"other warning criteria\" and are not\ncalled severe weather phenomena. Such other warning criteria will be listed\nseparately in appropriate National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-\nNational Weather Service publications.\n3.\nNational Weather Service Watch/Warning Procedures.\na. General. The National Weather Service has statutory responsibility for\nproviding a Severe Local Storms Warning Service for all 50 States. NSSFC does\nnot issue watches for Alaska or Hawaii. Instead the WSFOs at Anchorage and\nHonolulu have the responsibility for maintaining weather watches and issuing\nwarnings as needed for their respective States. Procedures described in this\nplan are followed to the extent that they are applicable.\nThis Warning Service is available to the general public and to aviation and\nis provided through the National Severe Storms Forecast Center at Kansas City,\nthe National Meteorological Center at Camp Springs, Maryland, Weather Service\nForecast Offices, and Weather Service Offices.\nb. Watch/Warning Criteria. Events for which aviation and public severe\nweather watch and warning bulletins may be issued are the same. Any or all of\nthe categories listed below may be mentioned in such bulletins to indicate more\nfully the severe weather possible/occurring.\n(1) Severe Thunderstorm:\n(a) Wind - thunderstorm related surface winds (sustained or\ngusts) of 50 knots (25 m/s) or greater;\n(b) Hail - surface hail 3/4-inch (20 mm) or larger. The word\nhail in a watch bulletin implies hail at the surface as well as aloft unless a\nqualifying phrase such as \"hail aloft\" is used.\n(2) Tornado:\n(a) Severe weather watches/warnings that mention tornadoes imply\nthat thunderstorm activity, usually severe, is also expected/occurring. Severe\nweather watches will not refer to funnel clouds.\n9","CHAPTER 3\nNational Meteorological Center (NMC) NMC is the central data\nC.\nprocessing center for the NWS. NMC issues prognostic charts, discussions, and\nother forecast materials.\nd. National Severe Storms Forecast Center (NSSFC). NSSFC is responsible\nfor issuing and cancelling severe local storm watches and convective SIGMETS\n(Significant Meteorological Information) and for preparing other appropriate\nmaterial essential to the Severe Local Storms Warning Service.\n(1) Combined Public and Aviation Watch Bulletins. Although a warning\nservice is provided for public and aviation interests, separate watches are not\nissued for these interests, but are combined into one bulletin. Each combined\nwatch bulletin (see example below) contains information for the general public\n(sections A and B) and aviation interests in discrete, alphabetical, sequential\nsections. When a section is not applicable, it will be omitted. The text will\nbegin with the most serious type of severe weather expected - \"Tornado Watch\" or\n\"Severe Thunderstorm Watch.\" The location of the area affected and the valid\nperiod of the watch which are common to both public and aviation sections are\ngiven in Section A. Combined watches are numbered serially beginning with\nnumber 1 for the first issuance of each calendar year. NSSFC will issue an\nunnumbered watch cancellation message whenever it cancels a watch.\n(2) Convective SIGMETS. NSSFC issues hourly at H+55 and as required\nSpecial Convective SIGMET bulletins over the conterminous U.S. based on these\ncriteria:\n(a) Tornadoes\n(b) Lines of thunderstorms\n(c) Embedded thunderstorms\n(d) Thunderstorm areas greater than or equal to Video Integrated\nProcessor (VIP) Level 4 (LVL 4) with areal coverage of 4/10\n(40 percent) or more\n(e) Hail greater than or equal to 3/4-inch (20 mm) diameter\nNegative bulletins are issued if the criteria are not met.\nExample of Watch Bulletin\nBULLETIN IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED\nTORNADO WATCH NUMBER 392\nNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY MO\n620 PM CDT SAT MAY 17 1980\nTHE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER HAS ISSUED A\nTORNADO WATCH FOR\nMUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL OKLAHOMA\nPARTS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS\nFROM 7 PM CDT UNTIL 12 MIDNIGHT CDT THIS SUNDAY EVENING.\nTORNADOES\nLARGE HAIL\nAND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS\nARE POSSIBLE FOR THESE AREAS.\n10","CHAPTER 3\nTHE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 70 STATUTE MILES EITHER\nSIDE OF A LINE FROM 50 MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF HOBART\nOKLAHOMA TO 50 MILES EAST OF SALINA KANSAS.\nREMEMBER\nA TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE\nFAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS\nIN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA\nPERSONS IN THESE AREAS\nSHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS\nAND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.\nB\nTHIS TORNADO WATCH REPLACES TORNADO WATCH\nNUMBER 389. WATCH NUMBER 389 WILL NOT BE IN EFFECT AFTER\n7PM CDT.\nC\nTORNADOES AND A FEW SVR TSTMS WITH HAIL SFC AND\nALF TO 3 IN. EXTRM TURBC AND SFC WND GUSTS TO 80 KT.\nA FEW CBS WITH MAX TOPS TO 650. MEAN WIND VECTOR 25030.\nD\nTSTMS EXPCTD TO INTNSFY IN PVA AREA AHD OF STG\nVORT CNTR. UNSTBL AMS AND STG LO LVL WINDS ALSO FAVORABLE.\nE\nOTR TSTMS CONT WW NR 391. UPDATE AC TO INCL FEW\nSVR TSTMS ERN AR BY MRNG.\n.WILSON..\nExamples of Convective SIGMET Bulletins\nMKCC WST 302155\nCONVECTIVE SIGMET 41C\nOK AR TX\nFROM 30N FSM TO 50SW LFK TO 60SE LPD\nLN TSTMS 25 MI WIDE MOVG FROM 2825. MAX TOPS TO 500.\nFCST TO 2355Z\nLN WL MOV EWD 25 KT THRU 2355z. TORNADOES\nHAIL TO 3 IN\nWIND GUSTS TO 70 KTS PSBL. o\nMKCC WST 300655\nCONVECTIVE SIGMET 10C\nKS OK TX\nFROM 50N ICT TO 40E GAG TO 30E AMA TO 30SSW MAF\nLN TSTMS 20 MI WIDE MOVG FROM 2715. MAX TOPS TO 420.\n1-3/4 IN HAIL RPRTD TWO LCTNS IN TX PAST HR.\nFSCT TO 0855Z\nLN WL CONT MOVG EWD 15 KT THRU 0855Z. HAIL TO 1-3/4 IN.\nWIND GUSTS TO 65 KT PSBL.\n11","CHAPTER 3\ne. Weather Service Offices (WSOs) and Weather Service Forecast offices\n(WSFOs).\n(1) WSFOs and WSOs release to the public only information contained\nin\nsections A and B of watches. However, to help the public visualize which areas\nare affected by watches, designated offices prepare redefining statements (areal\noutlines) for those parts of their States within each public severe weather\nwatch. They also may discontinue watches for those portions of their areas no\nlonger threatened.\n(2) WSFOs and WSOs with county warning responsibilities are responsible\nfor warning the general public. Severe weather warnings are based on reports of\nactual or suspected severe weather in or near an Office's area of\nresponsibility. Each warning is identified as either a Tornado Warning or a\nSevere Thunderstorm Warning. When radar evidence is sufficient in the judgement\nof the responsible official to identify a dangerous storm, warnings are issued\nimmediately.\n(3) Offices issue frequent statements to keep the public informed of\nweather developments during a severe weather watch.\n(4) Designated WSFOs with in-flight weather advisory responsibilities\nissue nonconvective SIGMETS. Criteria for the issuance of nonconvective\nSIGMETS: severe or extreme turbulence, severe icing, and widespread dust/sand\nstorms lowering visibilities to below 3 miles (5 km).\nf. Satellite Field Service Stations (SFSS). The SFSSs receive and analyze\nsatellite pictures in near real time and assist NSSFC, WSFOs, and WSOs 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 Military installations for:\n(1) Tornadoes\n(2) Thunderstorms\n(3) Strong surface winds of 35 knots (65 km/h) or more that are not\nassociated with thunderstorms\n(4) Heavy rain or snow (2 inches (50 mm) or more in a 12-hour period)\n(5) Freezing precipitation\nThe criteria for severe thunderstorm warnings are the same as those of the\nNWS.\nb. Military Weather Advisories (MWA). AFGWC issues both graphic (Figure\n3-1) and teletypewriter (Figure 3-2) Military Weather Advisories (MWAs) and\nMilitary Weather Advisory Further Outlooks (FO). Military Weather Advisories are\nissued four times daily, valid for 12-hour periods beginning at 0300Z plus every\nhours. Further Outlooks are issued twice daily valid for 12-hour periods\n6\nbeyond the 0900Z and 2100Z MWAs. Each product gives the area where any of the\nweather elements listed in Table 3-1 are expected to occur during the valid\nperiod.\n12","Figure 3-1. Example of Graphic Military Weather Advisory.\n2/20\nbo-09Z\nK380\n2/20\nR400\nORANGE\nORANGE\nE.P.\nA\nPORTIONS OF\nGREEN 21-032\nORANGE\nR350\n1/10\n03-09Z\nSQUALL\nLN DVLG\nENEWRD\nR450 4/40\nX\nAREA 21Z\nMVG\n30KNOTS\nWRN\nZ\n300 1/10\n21-03Z\nORANGE\nBLACK\n21-01Z\nG35K\nS\nBLACK 21-03Z G4OK\nORANGE R400 3/20\nBLUE HVY 90 03-09Z\nR\n03Z G40K\nR480 15/70 LCLLY\nBLACK 21- R$500 4/40\nHvy 703-097\n15/70\nRED 21 3 Z\nG40K\nBLUE 21-037\n02Z\nBLACK\nX\nB\nR550\n21\nD/T 06 / 1800 Z\nFOR 06 /2100 Z\nTO 07 10900 Z\nMIL WEA ADVY NR.O6D\nAIR WEATHER SERVICE\nwwxx KGWC\nUS AIR FORCE\nDTG: 06/19187\n13","Figure 3-2. Example of Graphic Teletype Portion of a Military Weather Advisory.\nMILITARY WEATHER ADVISORY NO. 06G FOR 062100Z TO 070900Z\nS S S OFF\nI\nS\nS S S S is S S 5\nS S or S S S (1) S\nS S us u) S S S S\nS S in S S us S S\ninconclusive S S S S S\non S S (1) U)\nSU S in S S us\nS\nin S in S (S) S\nin\nS\nin us (2) (1) S\ninconclusive S\nu)\nS\nS\nS\nS\nSTATE\ninconclusive 0\n5\nS\nS\nS\nS\nin\nno\nin\nS\nS\nS OF\nno","CHAPTER 3\nCOLOR\nWEATHER ELEMENT(S)\nRED\nTornado\nBLUE\nSevere Thunderstorm\nGREEN\nModerate Thunderstorm\nWinds between 35 and 49 knots (65-90 km/h) inclusive\nor\nHail greater than or equal to 1/2 inch (10 mm) but\nless than 3/4 inch (20 mm) in diameter\nORANGE\nThunderstorm with winds less than 35 knots (65 km/h) and hail\nless than 1/2 inch (10 mm) in diameter\nBLACK\nSurface winds greater than or equal to 35 knots (65 km/h) not\nassociated with a thunderstorm\nPURPLE\nHeavy rains greater than or equal to 2 inches (50 mm) in\n12 hours\nHATCHED\nHeavy snow greater than or equal to 2 inches (50 mm) in\nPURPLE\n12 hours\nBROWN\nFreezing Precipitation\nTable 3-1\nMilitary Weather Advisory (MWA) Weather Elements\n(1) Purpose and Use. The Military Weather Advisories are designed to\nprovide basic guidance to both the field forecaster and to the point warning\nforecasters at AFGWC. These Advisories are issued at fixed times; preparation\ntime is limited by data availability and presentation format. Advisories may\ncover fairly large areas as in the case of thunderstorms, snow, and strong\ngradient winds, but the areas of more severe weather -- such as tornadoes and\nsevere thunderstorms -- are usually more limited in time and space.\n(2) Amendment. Advisories are amended when an unforecast criterion is\nobserved and expected to continue or when an advisory no longer adequately\ndescribes the severity or valid times of a forecast criterion.\n(3) Geographical Interpretation. A clear plastic overlay containing a\nscaled outline of the conterminous States, placed on the teletypewriter message\ncontaining the Military Weather Advisory, will provide geographical orientation.\nC. AFGWC Point Warnings. AFGWC Point Warnings are issued in plain language\n(see example below) 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 for\nand to specify locations in the smallest scale of space and time consistent with\nthe availability of data and the state-of-the-art. An effort is made to tailor\nthe size of the points to the requirements of the using agency. The locations\nfor which AFGWC has warning responsibility are listed in Volume III, Air Weather\n15","CHAPTER 3\nService Pamphlet 105-52; the number of installations is approximately 500.\nApproximately 50 percent of these locations are U.S. Air Force, 45 percent are\nU.S. army, and 5 percent are U.S. Navy. In addition to active military\ninstallations, AFGWC Point Warnings are issued for National Guard units,\narsenals, ammunition plants, and other civilian activities under contract to the\nDepartment of Defense (DOD). AFGWC Point Warnings are issued for specific\nlocations as the situation warrants in contract to Advisories which are issued\nat scheduled intervals for fixed valid periods. AFGWC Point Warnings can be\namended, extended, or cancelled as necessary.\nAFGWC Point Weather Warnings:\n(1) Provide specific warning to an installation where a forecaster is\nnot 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 supported.\nEXAMPLE OF MILITARY POINT WARNING\n0 032010Z\nWWXX WWXX WWXX 3 KGWC 032010Z\nTX 18-19\nTHUNDERSTORMS WITH 1-1/2 INCH HAIL AND SW GUSTS TO 65 KNOTS\nVALID 032200Z TO 040200Z TORNADO VALID 032200Z TO 040100Z\nOK 7-8\nTHUNDERSTORMS WITH NO HAIL AND SW GUSTS TO LESS THAN 35 KNOTS\nEXPECTED BETWEEN 032200Z AND 040400Z.\nd. Local Air Weather Service AWS Unit Warnings. At those locations where\nan Air Weather Service forecaster is on duty, the forecaster has final\nresponsibility for warning those agencies being supported. The criteria and\nlead time for such local warnings are established locally based on customer\nneeds.\n5. Distribution of Watches, Warnings, and Severe Weather Reports by Flight\nService Stations.\nThis Plan does not provide for the distribution of severe weather\ninformation 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 associated with the FSS\nreceiving the information. That WSO will issue the warning or pass the\ninformation to the WSO which has the warning responsibility for the county in\nwhich the requestor or phenomenon is located. The Federal Aviation\nAdministrations's Air Traffic Service (ATT-360) and the National Weather Service\nwill include, with their agency directives, the communication methods for\nassuring that these requests and reports reach the appropriate WSO.\n16","CHAPTER 4\nCOMMUNICATIONS\n1. National Weather Service Systems.\nRadar Report (RAREP) and Warning Coordination Circuit (RAWARC).\na.\nThe\nNational Weather Service internal teletypewriter system is a landline\nteletypewriter network consisting of five circuits, which terminate at the\nNational Severe Storms Forecast Center in Kansas City and the Communications\nControl Section at Suitland, Maryland. The communications center at NSSFC is a\nsystems monitor while the Communications Control Section (Communications\nDivision) performs the computer relay functions for the system. Traffic on\nRAWARC is basically unscheduled and is handled according to a priority system,\nwith severe weather information having the highest priority. Relays between\nRAWARC circuits are made by missions other than similar warning messages. The\nonly regularly scheduled material entered on RAWARC is an hourly collection\n(H+35) of radar reports (SD) Special radar reports and other material\nauthorized in the RAWARC manual can be transmitted at any time the circuits are\nnot in use.\nb. NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS). The NWWS consists of local loops\nserving metropolitan areas, Statewide intrastate/interstate circuits, and\noverlay circuits. The purpose of NWWS is to transmit consumer-oriented\nforecasts, watches, weather warning, and meteorological data to the mass news\nmedia for broadcast to the public. Various specialized users also obtain drops\non NWWS to meet their requirements.\nEach intrastate/interstate circuit has one Weather Service Forecast Office\ndesignated as the State Relay Center (SRC) The SRC is connected to the\nregional overlay interstate circuit (except in the Western Region) and serves as\nthe State relay point for transmissions over this regional circuit to other\nStates through their SRCs. Washington, DC, is the Overlay Relay Center and is\nresponsible for relaying traffic between regional overlay circuits.\nOnly WSFOs and WSOs ( or certain other authorized offices) have direct entry\non these circuits. The Weather Service Forecast Offices furnish broad-scale\ninformation, and local WSOs enter local information. Relays between adjacent\ncircuits are established as necessary to meet the requirements of the National\nWeather Service's Severe Local Storms Warning Service and of subscribers located\nalong State or area borders. When urgent material such as a warning is\ntransmitted, a prearranged bell signal is used to attract the attention of users\nto the transmission.\nC. National Warning System (NAWAS) This is the Federal Emergency\nManagement Agency (FEMA) Civil Defense Warning System designed to provide attack\nwarnings to federal, state, and local government agencies nationwide.\nConnections are also provided to some WSFOs, WSOs, and WSMOs (Weather Service\nMeteorological Observatory) within each state and between some states. Figure\n4-1 is a representative location chart of the 2400 NAWAS terminals.\n17","FEMA Chart No. 80\nAREAS REGIONAL FIELD OFFICES\nNew Jersey\nNew York\nNebraska\nMissouri\nKansas\nSERVICED BY\nIowa\nAugust 1976\nNew York City\n. Kansas City\nNWC\nALT\nSYSTEM\nCircuits\nCircuit\nWarning\nControl\nAgency\nnumbers\ntotal\nNWC\nPoints\n1/\nRegional Offices\nWarning Points\nWarning\nSample\n4-1.\nWarning\n1/\nState\nFigure\nHawaii","CHAPTER 4\nd. Emergency Broadcast System (EBS). Although all standard AM, FM and\ntelevision broadcast stations may, at their discretion, use the EBS for\nshort-fused warnings, not all use it. Where its use is acceptable, EBS should\nbe requested for all tornado warnings. Since EBS use is at the discretion of\nthe individual stations, arrangements for its use are made prior to the severe\nlocal storm season, unless such use is a continuing agreement. In those areas\nwhere EBS use is not an acceptable procedure, all tornado warnings carry the\nnotation \"Immediate Broadcast Requested.\" EBS is not normally requested for\nsevere thunderstorm warnings.\ne. NOAA Weather Radio. THE WSOs/WSFOs equipped with NOAA Weather Radio can\ntransmit continuous weather warnings on one of three assigned frequencies;\n162.400 MHz, 162.475 MHz, and 162.550 MHz. These radio transmitters provide\ncontinuous weather information to an area of about 40-mile (65 km) radius.\nLocal radio and TV stations can record and rebroadcast the material even though\nland lines in the area may be disrupted. These transmitters have a tone signal\nalert capability which can be used to activate specially designed receivers.\nf. Miscellaneous. Other types of distribution methods are used, as\nappropriate, to make warnings available to other WSOs/WSFOs and to the public as\nrapidly as possible.\ng. Distribution of Severe Weather Watch and Warning Bulletins. The\ndistribution of Public Severe Weather Watch and Warning Bulletins is shown in\nFigure 4-2. The distribution of Aviation Severe Weather Watch Bulletins and\nIn-Flight Weather Advisories is outlined in Figure 4-3.\n2. U.S. Air Force Systems (USAF).\na. Within the conterminous United States, USAF radar weather observations\nare collected by means of the Continental U.S. (CONUS) Meteorological Data\nSystem (COMEDS). Collected reports are transmitted from the Carswell Automatic\nDigital Weather Switch (ADWS) to the Air Force Global Weather Central, the FAA\nWeather Message Switching Center (WMSC), and to the National Meteorological\nCenter through computer-to-computer links. Severe radar reports are available\nto NSSFC/Radar Analysis and Development Unit in the bulletin that has the\nheading WOUS1 KAWN. Routine radar reports are transmitted from WMSC to NSSFC.\nb. The COMEDS is divided into 20 geographic areas, with a single collecting\nand disseminating circuit covering each area (Figure 4-4). Area 20 covers\nHawaii.\nC. The COMEDS is used to disseminate all Military Weather Advisories and\nPoint Warnings issued by AFGWC.\n19","4\nCHAPTER\nFigure 4-2. Distribution of Combined Severe Weather Watch and Warning Bulletins.\nNATIONAL PRESS WIRE\nSTATE AND LOCAL\nNOAA WEATHER\nSERVICES\nWIRE SERVICE\nRADIO AND TELEVISION\nEBS\nPUBLIC\nCOMMUNICATIONS\nOTHER TELETYPE-\nWRITER CIRCUITS\nAND WARNINGS\nNOAA WEATHER\nNWS OFFICES\nRAWARC AND\nSTATEMENTS\nLOCAL\nRADIO\nWATCH\nWMSC\nNSSFC\nFEEDBACK\nLOCAL OFFICIALS\nBROADCAST NET\nSTATE AND\nDISASTER\nNAWAS\nSIRENS\nSTORM SPOTTERS, STATE\nAND LOCAL POLICE, CIVIL\nDEFENSE, SCHOOLS, HAM\nOPERATORS, OTHERS.\nPHONE SERVICE\nLIMITED","CHAPTER 4\nNSSFC\nAFGWC\nWatch\nIssuances\nConvective\nSIGMETs\nWMSC\nADWS\nFAA Kansas City Switch\nCarswell\nWSFOs and\nFA Centers\nSIGMETs\nNWS\nFAA\nMilitary\nService A\nCOMEDS\nService A\nService A\nFlight\nBase\nWSFOs/WSOs\nService\nARTCCs\nWeather\nStations\nStation\nBroadcasts\nPILOT\nFigure 4-3. Distribution of Aviation Severe Weather Forecasts.\n21","16\n12\n13\n10\nCARSWELL\n6\n7\n8\n9\n4\n5\n4-4.\n3\n1\nFigure\n2\n.","CHAPTER 4\n3. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Systems.\na. Service \"A\" will be used for the collection and distribution of severe\nlocal storms information as follows:\n(1) Hourly and Special Aviation Observations\n(2) PIREPS\nb. Service \"A\" will be used for the distribution of severe local storms\ninformation as follows:\n(1) Aviation Severe Weather Watch\n(2) Airmen's Meteorological Information (AIRMETs) , Significant\nMeteorological Information (SIGMETS) , and Convective SIGMETS.\nC. RAREP and Warning Coordination (RAWARC) teletypewriter system\nRAWARC will be used for the collection and distribution of severe local\nstorms information and hourly radar reports. Secondly, and as circuit time\npermits, RAWARC serves as a bypass to Service A, C. and o for more routine\ninformation when these circuits are busy.\n4. U.S. Navy.\nCOMEDS is used to collect and disseminate U.S. Navy weather reports.\n23","","CHAPTER 5\nOBSERVATIONS\n1. Radar Observing and Reporting Plans.\na. Radar data, which are routinely used in the support of this Plan and in\nthe preparation of National Severe Storms Forecast Center and Air Force Global\nWeather Central products, are available from radars of the U.S. Basic Weather\nRadar Network. This Network is composed of NWS radars, U.S. Air Force weather\nradars, and in the western United States, air route traffic control radars. The\nair route traffic control radars are remoted into the Air Route Traffic Control\nCenters (ARTCC) at Salt Lake City, UT, Palmdale, CA; Albuquerque, NM; and\nAuburn, WA. NWS local warning radars supplement the network radars. National\nWeather Service personnel at Palmdale, Albuquerque, and Auburn develop a\ncomposite of the radar data from radars remoted into these sites and transmit\nthe data on an interagency (Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and National\nWeather Service) facsimile circuit to the National Weather Service Radar Unit at\nthe Salt Lake City ARTCC. These data are then collated with the Salt Lake City\nradar data, and, by means of a data-telephone link, the observations are sent to\nNMC for use in the Radar Summary Chart, and to AFGWC for use in meeting AWS\nrequirements.\n(1) National Weather Service coded radar observations, other than those\nfrom these four ARTCCs, are transmitted hourly on the Radar Report (RAREP) and\nWarning Coordination Circuits (RAWARC) at H+35. More frequent observations are\ntaken and transmitted on RAWARC in severe weather situations. Hourly composites\nfrom ARTCCs are transmitted to a number of offices in the western intermountain\nregion on the interagency facsimile circuit. Each ARTCC Radar Unit prepares a\nnarrative summary of its composite and transmits the summary on RAWARC. These\nsummaries and selected hourly radar observations are transmitted hourly on\nselected Service A circuits by the Modernized Weather Teletypewriter\nCommunications System in Kansas City.\n(2) At H+35, coded radar reports from the Air Weather Service (AWS)\nradar stations assigned to the U.S. Basic Weather Radar Network are forwarded to\nAFGWC from the Automated Digital Weather Switch (ADWS) at Carswell AFB by means\nof the data link. The NSSFC receives routine military radar weather\nobservations from the ADWS through the FAA Weather Message Switching Center.\nSevere military RAREPS (those describing tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, or\nhail observations and carrying the bulletin heading WOUS) are obtained by dual\nmeans; $1+ a drop on the COMEDS; and 82+ through the FAA WMSC.\n(3) The National Weather Service, Air Force, and Navy operate a number\nof non-network radar facilities. Used primarily for local forecasting and\nwarning and for immediate service to local agencies, these radars also provide\nselected information on severe storms. For example, all USAF weather radar\nfacilities in the conterminous United States, whether or not they are assigned\nNetwork responsibilities, report radar-detected hailstorms, severe thunder-\nstorms, and tornadoes, both on COMEDS communications and by telephone to the\nnearest WSFO or WSO, when so requested. Furthermore, all U.S. Air Force storm\ndetection radar facilities, whether on the network or not, transmit hourly radar\nreports and necessary specials whenever their station is covered by a Military\nWeather Advisory area or point warning calling for tornadoes or severe thunder-\nstorms, unless they are within 30 nm (55 km) of a network reporting station.\n25","CHAPTER 5\nb. The USAF air defense radar sites are capable of limited detection and\ninterpretation of weather echoes. Appendix lists the AWS units supporting each\nNORAD Region/Air Division (NR/AD). Operational commitments permitting, these\nmilitary radar sites can provide limited supplementary weather data upon\nrequest. Contact by AFGWC or NSSFC should be made by calling the appropriate\nNR/AD weather station.\nC. If a WSO needs radar data from a nearby military radar (network, air\ndefense, or local use), such data can be obtained by local arrangements between\nthe National Weather Service Meteorologist-in-Charge/Official-in-Charge and the\nAWS Detachment Commander or the Naval Oceanography Command Commanding\nOfficer/Officer-in-Charge of the activity operating the radar facility.\nAuthorizations for such arrangements have been completed between the National\nWeather Service and the military agencies in prior agreements. These data will\nbe supplied on a non-interference basis and should usually be limited to severe\nweather situations.\n2. Rawinsonde-Observing Stations.\na. Rawinsonde observations are scheduled twice daily, 0000Z and 1200Z, at\nthe 71 stations in the National Weather Service and Military Upper Air Network.\nThese stations also take special observations whenever required and requested by\nthe agency concerned.\nTransponder capability is available at most stations to permit more accurate\nmeasurement of upper winds under strong wind conditions. Evaluated data from\nthe routine soundings are transmitted over the Service C and COMEDS\nteletypewriter systems in the radiosonde code. Data from special soundings\nrequested for potential or existing severe weather situations are transmitted by\nmeans of RAWARC and other appropriate communications circuits to NSSFC and\nAFGWC. Special soundings transmitted on RAWARC will use the standard upper air\nmessage heading to assure their relay to AFGWC.\nb. Low-level soundings in support of Air Pollution Meteorological Services\nare taken on an as-needed basis at several stations. When requested, these\nstations take observations to 700 millibars (70 kPa) about sunrise, and, if\nneeded, again around noon. Data for the soundings taken about sunrise in the\neastern half of the United States are transmitted on the Service C circuit at\n1424Z and relayed, as necessary, to NSSFC and AFGWC. Data for the other\nsoundings 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 military\nagencies concerned do not deem it advisable to include all of the observations\nin this Plan. Non-network upper air stations which might be sources of data are\ngiven in Table 5-1.\nDuring the months of April, May, and June when the National Severe Storms\nLaboratory at Norman, Oklahoma, and other agencies are usually engaged in an\nintensive severe local storms data collection program in central Oklahoma, upper\nair soundings are taken at a number of locations in support of this program.\nHowever, these data are processed by computer and are not available for\nreal-time use.\n26","WILL TAKE\nREQUESTED\nSPECIALS\nNo\nNo\nNo\nNo\nNo\nNo\nNo\nAUTOVON 835-7313, ask for Wx Facility\nAUTOVON 236-3914, ask for Wx Facility\nAUTOVON 691-3651, ask for Wx Facility\nAUTOVON 737-9819, ask for Wx Facility\nAUTOVON 639-3200, ask for Wx Facility\nAUTOVON 863-2015, ask for Wx Facility\nCommander, Det. 21, 2nd Wea. Sq.;\nCommander, Det. 10, 5th Wea. Sq.;\nCommander, Det. 58, 5th Wea. Sq.;\nCommander, Det. 14, 5th Wea. Sq.;\nCommander, Det. 11, 5th Wea. Sq.;\nCommander, Det. 31, 5th Wea. Sq.;\nCommander, Det. 3, 5th Wea. Sq.;\nNon-Network Upper Air Stations Which Might Be Sources of Data\nAGENCY CONTACT\nAUTOVON 350-4318\nDISTRIBUTION\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nTable 5-1.\nTIME OF OBSERVATIONS\nUnscheduled\nUnscheduled\nUnscheduled\nUnscheduled\nUnscheduled\nUnscheduled\nUnscheduled\nOPERATED BY\nUSAF\nUSA\nUSA\nUSA\nUSA\nUSA\nUSA\nFort Benning,\nEdwards AFB,\nFort Carson,\nFort Bragg,\nSTATION\nFort Hood,\nFort Sill,\nFort Polk,\nCA\nGA\nNC\nCO\nTX\nOK\nLA\n27","LINE\nu\nWILL TAKE\nREQUESTED\nSPECIALS\nYes\nYes\nYes\nNo\nNo\nAUTOVON 258-2537, ask for Met. Team\nCommander, Det. 10, 2nd Wea. Sq;\nCO, Met. Team, USA Electronics\ncommercial 805-982-8948,\ncommercial 805-982-8948,\nMr. Hickson or Mr. Lee,\nMr. Hickson or Mr. Lee,\nNon-Network Upper Air Stations Which Might Be Sources of Data\nAGENCY CONTACT\nAUTOVON 351-8748\nAUTOVON 351-8748\nAUTOVON 872-5710\nFTS 453-3109\nBob Turner,\nCommand;\nTable 5-1 (continued)\nHuntsville,\nto RAWARC.\nTIME OF OBSERVATIONS DISTRIBUTION\nAL, then\nloop to\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nLocal\nWSO\n2300Z and 1800Z\nDaily 0300Z and\ndependent upon\nMonday-Friday,\nMonday-Friday,\n1300Z, 1800Z,\nUnscheduled,\nUnscheduled\noperations\nand 2300Z\n1500Z\nOPERATED BY\nNASA\nUSAF\nUSN\nUSN\nUSA\nCenter, San Nicolas\nHuntsville, AL\nMarshall Space\nMissile Range,\nFlight Center,\nCenter, Point\nNavy Pacific\nMissile Test\nNavy Pacific\nMissile Test\nWhite Sands\nIsland, CA\nSTATION\nEglin AFB,\nMugu, CA\nNM\nFL\n21\n8","CHAPTER 5\n3. Surface Weather Observational Network. To provide the basic weather data\nneeded for the analyses performed by the National Meteorological Center, NSSFC,\nand AFGWC, all available surface data are used. The following stations provide\ndata:\na. WSFOs/WSOs/WSMOs and Automatic Meteorological Observing Stations.\nb. Federal Aviation Administration weather reporting stations--flight\nservice stations, towers, and contract observer aviation weather reporting\nstations.\nC. 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. Pilot Reports (PIREPS).\na. The present FAA Instrument Flight Rules regulation (91.125, radio\ncommunications, section b) requires pilots to report, \"(b) Any unforecast\nweather conditions encountered; and\n\"\nb. Pilots should report any weather condition they encounter which is\nhazardous to aviation.\nC. FSSs, ARTCCs, and towers accept and solicit PIREPS. ARTCCs and towers\npass PIREPS to FSSs for dissemination on the Service A teletypewriter circuit.\n5. Severe Storm Surveillance by Meteorological Satellites.\nGeostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES). .\na.\nThe\nGOES\nsystem consists of two operational spacecraft, GOES East at 75 W and GOES West\nat 135 W. Standby spacecraft with limited operational capabilities are\npositioned between 75°W and 135° W. The principal GOES products are 1/2 hourly\npictures with implanted grids automatically applied to all sectors. During\ndaylight hours, approximately 1, 2, and 4 km resolution fixed standard sectors\nare produced. During the night (also available in daylight), the same\ngeographical coverage standard sectors are produced with 9km resolution\ninfra-red (IR). The IR data may be enhanced to emphasize various features.\nFloating sectors which are scheduled by the Satellite Field Service Stations\n(SFSSs) are produced to augment the standard sector coverage support. All\nproducts are delivered in near real time to the National Earth Satellite Service\n(NESS) Synoptic Analysis Branch (SAB) the SFSSs and Weather Service Forecast\nOfficers (WSFOs) . (See GOES Operational Data Flow, Figure 5.1, and Satellite\nData Availability, Table 5-2).\nb. NOAA Polar-Orbiting Satellites. These satellites cross the U.S. twice\ndaily near the equatorial crossing times as indicated in Table 5-2. Data are\navailable via direct read-out (HRPT and APT) or central processing, AVHRR data\nare available on a limited basis through the GOES distribution system.\n29","CHAPTER 5\nC. Satellite Field Service Stations (SFSS).\n(1) Support Concept. Under the NESS SFSS support concept., GOES imagery\nin support of the severe weather warning services is distributed by the Central\nData Distribution Facility (CDDF) at Marlow Heights, MD, to the SFSSs in Miami,\nSan Francisco, Kansas City, Washington, Anchorage, and Honolulu. These SFSSs\nare collocated with NWS units and are responsible for providing support to them.\nThe Kansas City SFSS is collocated with the National Severe Storms Forecast\nCenter (NSSFC) and is responsible for satellite support to NSSFC and the central\nU.S. from Canada to Mexico. Each SFSS except Anchorage has floating sectors\nwhich can be centered over significant weather areas at 1, 2, and 4 km\nresolutions for visible data and the same geographical coverage in 9 km IR data.\nIn addition, Kansas City uniquely receives data via the NESS Rapid Interval Scan\nOperation Plan (RISOP) which provides data over the severe storm area every\nfifteen (15) minutes.\n(2) Station Contact. SFSS satellite meteorologists can be contacted as\nfollows:\nBetween 0630-1630 EDST and 2000-0400\nMiami\n(FTS 350-4310)\nEDST at 305-350-4310 and 4460\n(FTS 470-9122/23)\n24 h/day at 415-876-9122/23\nSan Francisco\n(FTS 763-8425)\n24 h/day at 301-763-8425\nWashington\n(FTS 758-2102)\n24 h/day at 816-374-2102\nKansas City\n(FTS Operator)\n24 h/day at 808-836-2776\nHonolulu\nSan Francisco FTS 556-0220,\nHNL 836-2776\n(FTS Operator)\n24 h/day at 907-271-3473\nAnchorage\nSeattle FTS 399-0150, ANC 271-3173\n24 h/day (summer of 1981)\nNew Orleans\n30","5\n1. 1, 2 and 4 km resolution visible standard\n4. Floating sectors at 1, 2 and 4 km resolu-\nLF - Light Fine (Visual Scanning Radiometer 0.3 nmi (0.6km))\n2. 9 km resolution equivalent IR geographic\nsectors covering western U.S., midwest,\nLS - Light Smooth (Visual Scanning Radiometer 1.5 nm (2.8\nTS - Thermal Smooth (Infrared Scanning Radiometer 1.5 nmi\nstandard sectors for the entire U.S.\ntion (visible) (equivalent IR 9 km).\n1. Mapped digitized data (cloud cover\n1. Unmapped imagery (all data types).\n2. Sea-surface temperature analysis.\n2. Mapped Imagery (LS/TS data only).\n3. Equivalent IR-enhanced imagery.\n5. Full disc IR (day and night).\nTF - Thermal Fine (Infrared Scanning Radiometer\nand eastern U.S. (daylight)\nVISSR - Visible Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer\nSatellite and Satellite Data Availability for Severe Local Storms Season\n8. Cloud top heights.\n3. Moisture analysis.\nREMARKS\n7. Wind analysis.\n6. Movie loops.\n4. Soundings.\nimagery).\n(night).\nkm) )\n0.3 nmi (0.6 km) )\ninterval viewing\nEvery 30 mins.\n(2.8 km))\n(Limited scan\nTable 5-2.\nLOCAL TIME\nfor short-\n(24 h/day)\n0700 /1900\navailable)\n1545/0345\n0740/1940\n1430/0230\nAVHRR - Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer\nGAC and LAC (recorded)\nHRPT and APT (direct)\nGAC - Global Area Coverage (recorded reduced)\nHRPT - High Resolution Picture Transmission\nAPT - Automated Picture Transmission (4 km)\nLAC - Local Area Coverage (recorded high-\nTOVS - TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder\nresolution for central processing\nresolution data, limited amount)\nTYPE OF DATA\nLF/TF LS/TS\n(Planned launch May 1981)\nTOVS ONLY\nVISSR\nAVHRR\nTOVS\n4 Spacecraft (standby)\nlimited operational\nGOES West - 135.0W\nGOES East - 75.0W\n(1.1 km)\ncapability\nSATELLITE\nTIROS-N\nNOAA-6\nNOAA-7\nDMSP","CHAPTER 5\nd. DOD Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) This is a DOD-managed\nsystem to collect and process meteorological data from spaceborne sensors.\nThese data are processed by the AFGWC and are available for timely application\nto severe weather forecasting. DMSP data are currently archived by NOAA/NESS at\nthe University of Wisconsin and is available for use in severe weather research\nand development.\n6. Severe Local Storm Actions of Nonmeteorological Agencies and Individuals.\nThe National Weather Service uses observations of severe local storms,\nparticularly tornadoes, from many nonmeteorological agencies and personnel such\nas: utility companies, State Highway Patrols, local police departments, road\nmaintenance patrols, citizen spotters (network), cooperative National Weather\nService climatological observers, Citizen Band radio groups, local Civil Defense\norganizations, radio and television station mobile units, city employees (for\nexample, the Chicago Sanitary District), the FAA, and individual citizens.\nReports are received by various means and are not uniform at each WSO. The\nmeans include Citizen Band or Civil Defense radio facilities with a transceiver\noften located in the WSO and operated by local cooperators, police radio, direct\ntelephone lines involving unlisted numbers, the National Warning System (NAWAS),\nState Highway Patrols, teletypewriter circuits by means of telephone or a\nteletypewriter on statewide NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) circuits, and\nService A teletypewriter circuits.\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 commercial),\nand Civil Defense radio facilities. The \"fan-out\" principle is used wherever\npractical.\n32","CHAPTER 5\nGOES\nw\nAFGWC\nOFFUTT AFB\nGOES\nNEBRASKA\nE:\nSSEC\nCDA\nMADISON,\nWALLOPS\nWISCONSIN\nSUITLAND\nCOMPLEX\nIR DATA\nSECTORIZORS\nWINDS\nUNIT\nSFSS\nWORLD WEATHER BLDG.\nHONOLULU\nTO SFSS's\n*\nSAB\nDIRECT\nSFSS\nSFSS\nSFSS\nSFSS\nSFSS\nNEW ORLEANS\nSAN FRANCISCO\nKANSAS CITY\nWASHINGTON\nMIAMI\nWESTERN\nMID-WEST\nEASTERN\nSAN JUAN\nWSFO's\nWSFO's\nWSFO's\nWSFO\nAnchorage SFSS is in the GOES Operational Data Flow\n*\nNOTE:\nbut primarily uses the NOAA Polar-Orbiting Satellite data.\nFigure 5-1.\nGOES Operational Data Flow.\n33","","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 shall\nnot be released to the public. News media releases that concern the cooperative\nefforts in severe storms activities of the Department of Defense and NOAA\nweather services and of other agencies should reflect the joint nature of these\nefforts by giving due credit to participating agencies. Copies of these\nreleases should be forwarded to:\nDeputy Dirctor for Operations\n(Environmental Services)\nOJCS\nWashington, D. C. 20301\nDirector of Operations and Readiness\nAirspace and Air Traffic Service Division\nUSAD/XOOTF\nWashington, D.C. 20330\nAssistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence\nDepartment of the Army\nAttention: DAMI-DOT-C\nWashington, D. C. 20310\nCommander, Naval Oceanography Command\nNSTL Station\nBay St. Louis, Mississippi 39520\nHeadquarters, Air Weather Service (AWS/CS)\nScott Air Force Base, Illinois 62225\nNOAA Public Affairs Office\n6010 Executive Boulevard\nRockville, Maryland 20852\nCommandant, United States Marine Corps\nHeadquarters, United States Marine Corps\nCode ASL-44\nWashington, D. C. 20380\n35","","APPENDIX 1\nNORAD REGION/AIR DIVISION (NR/AD)\nWEATHER STATIONS AND MILITARY RADAR SITES\nThe following AWS units supporting NR/AD can obtain appropriate operational\npersmission and contact radar sites within the division area of responsibility:\nNR/AD\n(General Area of\nAutovon\nFTS\nMilitary Radar\nResponsibility)\nAWS Unit\nNumber\nTelephone\nSites\n20AD (Southeast Det 9, 12 WS\n920-2856\n946-2011\nLake Charles, LA\nHancock Field, NY\n283-2856\nFort Fisher, NC\nOceana NAS, VA\n21AD (Northeast) Det 27, 12 WS\n587-9535\n953-5765\nGibbsboro, NJ\nHancock Field, NY\nNorth Truro, MA\n23AD (N.Central) Det 8, 12 WS\n825-8746\n783-9692\nCalumet, MI\nDuluth IAP, MN\n727-8211\nPort Austin, MI\nExt. 766\n25AD (Northeast) Det 11, 17 WS\n976-3434\n399-0111\nMakah, WA\nMcChord AFB, WA\n-5489\n984-3434\n-5489\n26AD (Southwest) Det 15, 25 WS\n853-6805\n261-3900\nPort Arena, CA\nLuke AFB, AZ\n935-6837\n37","","APPENDIX 2\nRECOMMENDED LETTER OF AGREEMENT\nBETWEEN LOCAL UNITS OF NWS AND USAF\nFROM:\nDET X, X WW,\n, AFB\nSUBJECT: Letter of Agreement (LOA) - Notification of Severe Convective\nWeather\n(Appropriate NWS Office)\nTO:\n1. Introduction.\na. Purpose. To establish responsibilities and procedures for\n(Appropriate NWS office) to notify (Det X, X WW or military\ninstallation) when severe convective weather is expected to affect\n(military installation or site) and the supporting AWS detachment, Det\nX, X WW, is not manned by a forecaster or the detachment's radar is\ninoperative.\nb. Severe convective weather is defined as thunderstorms with\nwinds of 50 knots (25m/s) or more, hail 3/4 inch (20mm) in diameter or\nlarger, or tornadoes.\nThis LOA supersedes LOA dated\nwhich\nC.\nshould be destroyed.\n2. Specific Terms of the Agreement.\na. Det X, X WW, will:\n(1) Notify (appropriate NWS office) when Det X is not manned\nby a forecaster. Normal forecaster duty hours are as follows:\n(Describe normal forecaster duty hours)\n(2) Notify (appropriate NWS office) when Det X's radar is\ninoperative except for normal preventive maintenance.\n(3)\nProvide (appropriate NWS office) a single point of\ncontact for notification. Telephone number for this point of contact\nis XXX-XXXX. Det X will inform (appropriate NWS office) of changes in\nthis point of contact of telephone number.\n39","b. The (appropriate NWS office) will:\nNotify (appropriate military installation) by calling\n(1)\n(single point of contact/telephone number) whenever a severe local\nstorm warning is issued for the area including (military installation\nor site), when Det X, X WW is not manned by a forecaster or Det X's\nradar is inoperative.\nProvide notification by telephone. This notification\n(2)\nwill be made only after dissemination commitments are completed and\nonly when doing SO will not impact public warning operations.\n(3) Make only one telephone call; however, if line is busy\none additional call will be made.\n(4) Notify Det X, X WW when their radar is inoperative except\nfor normal preventive maintenance.\nC. Detachment X and (appropriate NWS office) will, as workload\npermits, pass to each other by phone, local severe weather information\nof mutual benefit to both agencies. Such information would include,\nbut not be limited to, reported hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, or\nradar observations indicating severe thunderstorms or tornadoes.\nSignature\nSignature\nDetachment Commander\nMeteorologist in Charge,\nor Official in Charge\nDate\nDate\n40","APPENDIX 3\nABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS\nAAT\nAir Traffic Service (FAA)\nAD\nAir Division\nADWS\nAutomatic Digital Weather Switch\nAFB\nAir Force Base\nAFGL\nAir Force Geophysical Laboratory\nAFGWC\nAir force Global Weather Central\nAFOS/NDC\nAutomation of Field Operations and Services/National\nDistribution Circuit\nAFS\nAir Force Station\nAIRMET\nAirmen's Meteorological Information\nAM\nAmplitude Modulation\nANGB\nAir National Guard Base\nAPT\nAutomatic Picture Transmission\nARTCC\nAir Route Traffic Control Center\nAWS\nAir Weather Service\nAW\nAviation Tornado Watch\nAVHRR\nAdvanced Very High Resolution Radiometer\nCDDF\nCentral Data Distribution Facility\nCONUS\nContinental United States\nCOMEDS\nCONUS Meteorological Data System\nDMSP\nDefense Meteorological Satellite Program\nDOD\nDepartment of Defense\nEBS\nEmergency Broadcast System\nEDIS\nEnvironmental Data and Information Service\nFAA\nFederal Aviation Administration\nFCMSSR (FCM)\nFederal Coordinator for Meteorological Services\nand Supporting Research\nFEMA\nFederal Emergency Management Agency\nFM\nFrequency Modulation\nFO\nMilitary Weather Advisory Future Outlooks\nFSS\nFlight Service Station\nFTS\nFederal Telecommunications Service\nGAC\nGlobal Area Coverage 4 km Resolution\nGMT\nGreenwich Mean Time\nGOES\nGeostationary Operational Environmental Satellite\nHRPT\nHigh Resolution Picture Transmission\nIAP\nInternational Airport\nIR\nInfrared\nKCRT\nKeyboard Cathode Ray Tube\n41","APPENDIX 3\nLocal Area Coverage 1.1 km resolution\nLAC\nLight Fine Video Data (1/3 nmi (0.6 km) )\nLF\nLetter of Agreement\nLOA\nLight Smooth Video Data (1.5 - 2.0 nmi (2.8 - 3.7 km) )\nLS\nLevel\nLVL\nManually Digitized Radar\nMDR\nMaximum Instantaneous Coverage\nMIC\nKansas City\nMKC\nMilitary Weather Advisory\nMWA\nNational Facsimile Network\nNAFAX\nNational Aviation Meteorological Facsimile Circuit\nNAMFAX\nNational Aeronautics and Space Administration\nNASA\nNational Warning System\nNAWAS\nNational Earth Satellite Service\nNESS\nNational Hurricane Center\nNHC\nNational Meteorological Center\nNMC\nNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\nNOAA\nNORAD Region/Air Division\nNR/AD\nNuclear Regulatory Commission\nNRC\nNational Severe Storms Forecast Center\nNSSFC\nNational Severe Storms Laboratory\nNSSL\nNational Weather Service\nNWS\nNOAA Weather Wire Service\nNWWS\nOffice Joint Chiefs of Staff\nOJCS\nPilots Automatic Telephone Weather Advisory\nPATWAS\nService\nPilot Balloon\nPIBAL\nPilot Report\nPIREP\nResearch and Development\nR&D\nRadar Report\nRAREP\nRadar Report and Warning Coordination Circuit\nRAWARC\nRawinsonde\nRAWIN\nSynoptic Analysis Branch\nSAB\nSubcommittee for Basic Services\nSC/BS\nCircuit Heading for Radar Reports\nSD\nSatellite Field Service Station\nSFSS\nSignificant Radar Message\nSIGRAD\nSignificant Meteorological Information\nSIGMET\nSynchronous Meteorological Satellite\nSMS\nStored Data\nSR\nState Relay Center\nSRC\nTotal Area Affected\nTAA\nThermal Fine Data (1/3 nmi (0.6 km) )\nTF\nTelevision Infrared Observation Satellite\nTIROS\n42","APPENDIX 3\nTOVS\nTIROS Operational Vertical Sounders\nThermal Smooth Data (1.5 - 2.0 nm (2.8 - 3.7 km) )\nTS\nTranscribed Weather Broadcast\nTWEB\nUnited States Army\nUSA\nUnited States Air Force\nUSAF\nUnited States Navy\nUSN\nVery High Resolution Radiometer\nVHRR\nVIP\nVideo Integrated Processor\nVisible Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer\nVISSR\nVHF Omni-Directional Radio Range\nVOR\nSevere Weather Watch Will Be Issued\nWIBIS\nWeather Message Switching Center\nWMSC\nWeather Service Forecast Office\nWSFO\nWeather Service Meteorological Observatory\nWSMO\nWeather Service Office\nWSO\nWeather Service Operations Manual\nWSOM\n43","FEDERAL COMMITTEE FOR\nMETEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH (FCMSSR)\nFEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR\nMETEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH\nINTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR\nMETEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH (ICMSSR)\nSUBCOMMITTEES\n- AVIATION SERVICES\n- BASIC SERVICES\n- SPACE ENVIRONMENT FORECASTING\nWorking Groups\n- SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT\nWorld Weather Program\nOperational Processing Centers\nWorking Groups\nMarine Environmental Prediction\nAutomation of Weather\nWeather Radar Observations\nInformation Systems\nCooperative Backup Among\nAutomatic Surface Observations\nOperational Processing Centers\nRadiological, Gaseous and\nUpper Air Observations\nParticulate Transport Models\nMeteorological Codes\nWeather Radar Systems\nAgricultural Meteorological Services\nMetric Implementation\nSurface Observations\n- OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITES\nSevere Local Storms Operations\nNational Hurricane Operations\nNational Winter Storms Operations\nDissemination of NMC Products\nSUBCOMMITTEE ON BASIC SERVICES\nDR. WILLIAM D. BONNER, Chairman\nCOMMANDER ROBERT E. HAMMOND\nDepartment of Commerce\nU. S. Coast Guard\nDR. DAVID M. HERSHFIELD\nMR. JAMES B. NORTON\nDepartment of Agriculture\nFederal Aviation Administration\nCOLONEL CHARLES H. MOSS, USAF\nDR. RONALD C. TAYLOR\nDepartment of Defense\nNational Science Foundation\nDR. ROBERT E. TURNER\nMR. LEWIS T. MOORE\nNational Aeronautics and\nDepartment of Interior\nSpace administration\nMR. ONIAL THOMAS, Executive Secretary\nOffice of the Federal Coordinator\nWORKING GROUP ON NATIONAL SEVERE LOCAL STORMS\nMR. RICHARD I. COLEMAN, Chairman\nMR. JAMES B. NORTON\nDepartment of Commerce\nFederal Aviation Administration\nCOL. CHARLES H. MOSS, USAF\nCOMMANDER ROBERT E. HAMMOND\nDepartment of Defense\nU. S. Coast Guard\nMR. G. STANLEY DOORE, Executive Secretary\nOffice of the Federal Coordinator"]}