{"Bibliographic":{"Title":"National severe local storms operations plan","Authors":"","Publication date":"1982","Publisher":""},"Administrative":{"Date created":"08-16-2023","Language":"English","Rights":"CC 0","Size":"0000071252"},"Pages":["QC\n940.6\n.U6\nN28\n1982\nDEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\nOF\nFEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR\nMETEOROLOGICAL SERVICES\nand\nAND SUPPORTING RESEARCH\nSTATES\nOF\nNational Severe Local Storms\nOperations Plan\nFCM-P11-1982\nWashington, D.C.\nJanuary 1982","THE FEDERAL COMMITTEE FOR\nMETEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH (FCMSSR)\nDR. RICHARD E. HALLGREN, Chairman\nDR. LAWRENCE R. GREENWOOD\nDepartment of Commerce\nNational Aeronautics and Space\nAdministration\nDR. T. B. KINNEY, JR.\nDepartment of Agriculture\nDR. FRANCIS S. JOHNSON\nNational Science Foundation\nDR. GEORGE P. MILLBURN\nDepartment of Defense\nMR. S. AHMED MEER\nDepartment of State\nMR. DAVID SLADE\nDepartment of Energy\nMR. JAMES BISPO\nFederal Aviation Administration\nVACANT\nDepartment of Transportation\nEnvironmental Protection Agency\nDR. ROBERT F. ABBEY, JR.\nMR. JOHN R. BRINKERHOFF\nU. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission\nFederal Emergency Management Agency\nMR. WILLIAM S. BARNEY\nMR. LEWIS T. MOORE\nActing Federal Coordinator\nDepartment of Interior\nDepartment of Commerce\nALONZO SMITH, JR., Executive Secretary\nOffice of the Federal Coordinator\nDepartment of Commerce\nTHE INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR\nMETEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH (ICMSSR)\nWILLIAM S. BARNEY, Chairman\nDR. SHELBY TILFORD\nActing Federal Coordinator\nNational Aeronautics and Space\nDepartment of Commerce\nAdministration\nDR. T. B. KINNEY, JR.\nDR. EUGENE BIERLY\nDepartment of Agriculture\nNational Science Foundation\nDR. RICHARD E. HALLGREN\nMR. JAMES MCLEAN\nNational Weather Service\nNational Transportation Safety Board\nDepartment of Commerce\nMR. EARL H. MARKEE, JR.\nCOLONEL PAUL D. TRY, USAF\nU. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission\nDepartment of Defense\nMR. JAMES C. DZIUK\nDR. HARRY MOSES\nFederal Aviation Administration\nDepartment of Energy\nDepartment of Transportation\nMR. WILLIAM H. KEITH\nCOMMANDER ROBERT E. HAMMOND, USCG\nEnvironmental Protection Agency\nU. S. Coast Guard\nDepartment of Transportation\nMR. ROBERT CRAWFORD\nFederal Emergency Management Agency\nALONZO SMITH, JR., Executive Secretary\nOffice of the Federal Coordinator\nMR. LEWIS T. MOORE\nDepartment of Commerce\nDepartment of Interior","NATIONAL SEVERE LOCAL STORMS OPERATIONS PLAN\nSILVER SPRING\nCENTER\nnington, D.C.\nary 1982\nMAR 22 1982\nP11-1982\nN.O.A.A.\nU. S. Dept. of Commerce\n82 00721","CHANGE LOG\nChange\nPage Numbers\nDate Posted\nSignature\nNo\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 fifteenth of an annual series of National Severe\nLocal Storms Operations Plans that was developed after a 1967 request\nby the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting\nResearch. This plan is one of several operations plans produced under\nthe auspices of the Federal Coordinator. It outlines the responsi-\nbilities of the various United States agencies which provide\nmeteorological services in observing and forecasting severe local\nstorms.\nInterdepartmental Severe Local Storms Conferences, of which there\nhave been seven, bring together cognizant Federal agencies to resolve\nproblems of mutual concern related to the National Severe Local Storms\nWarning Service. Such conferences will be held every two years, if\nitems warrant. National Weather Service Severe Local Storms\nConferences are held as required.\nThis plan supersedes the 1981 version and incorporates changes\nrecommended by the concerned agencies through their representatives on\nthe Subcommittee for Basic Services (SC/BS) Working Group on Severe\nLocal Storms.\nAdditional information describing the warning programs of the\nparticipating agencies can be found in Air Weather Service Regulation\n105-8, Meteorological Watch Program; National Weather Service\nOperations Manual Chapter C-40, Severe Local Storm Warnings; and\nOperations of the National Weather Service.\ns Barney\nActing Federal Coordinator for\nMeteorological Services and\nSupporting Research\nJanuary 6, 1982\niii","","NATIONAL SEVERE LOCAL STORMS\nOPERATIONS PLAN\nCONTENTS\nPage\nFOREWORD\niii\nChapter 1. Responsibilities of Cooperating Agencies\n1-1\nChapter 2. Definitions\n2-1\nChapter 3. Forecasts and Warnings\n3-1\nChapter 4. Communications\n4-1\nChapter 5. Observations\n5-1\nChapter 6. Publicity\n6-1\nAppendix 1. NORAD Region (NR) Joint Use and\nMilitary Only Radar Sites\nA1-1\nAppendix 2. Recommended Letter of Agreement\nBetween Local Units of NWS and USAF\nA2-1\nAppendix 3. Abbreviations and Acronyms\nA3-1\nV","LIST OF FIGURES\nPage\nFigure 3-1 - Example of Graphic Military Weather\nAdvisory\n3-5\nFigure 3-2 - Example of Graphic Teletype Portion of\nMilitary Weather Advisory\n3-6\nFigure 4-1 - Federal Emergency Management Agency\nNational Warning System\n4-2\nFigure 4-2 - Distribution of Combined Severe Weather\nWatch and Warning Bulletins\n4-4\nFigure 4-3 - Distribution of Aviation Severe\nWeather Forecasts\n4-5\nFigure 4-4 - Geographical Areas of USAF CONUS Meteoro-\nlogical Data System\n4-6\nFigure 5-1 - GOES Operational Data Flow\n5-9\nLIST OF TABLES\nTable 3-1 - Military Weather Advisory (MWA) Weather\n3-7\nElements\nTable 5-1 - Non-Network Upper Air Stations Which Might\nBe Sources of Data\n5-3\nTable 5-2 - Satellite and Satellite Data Availability\n5-7\nfor Severe Local Storms Season\nvi","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\nof stations 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\nthe National Meteorological Center (NMC), Camp Springs, Maryland.\nd. Severe Weather Watch Bulletins through the National Severe Storms\nForecast Center (NSSFC) at Kansas City, Missouri.\ne. Severe weather statements and warnings issued by Weather Service\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).\nAppropriate public educational materials concerning the severe\nh.\nlocal storms 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\nand times from the NSSFC.\nC. Provide appropriate satellite data to authorized research\nfacilities either directly or through the Environmental Data and Information\nService (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.\n1-1","e. Coordinate with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration\n(NASA) on providing data from its Research and Development (R&D) satellites to\nNOAA operational units for use on an as required basis.\n3. U. S. Air Force (USAF). The Air Weather Service (AWS) is responsible\nfor weather 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 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\nForce Base, Nebraska:\n(1) Weather warning support in the conterminous United States and\n200 miles (370 km) offshore to:\n(a) U. 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) Plant 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) Military 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) Point 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\nareas of severe weather potential. Further Outlooks will be issued twice daily\nin graphic and teletype format valid for the 12-hour periods beyond the 0900Z\nand 2100Z Military Weather Advisories.\n(e) A continuous meteorological watch on the possibilities of\nsevere weather developments and of other weather phenomena for which AFGWC has\nwarning responsibility.\n1-2","4. U.S. Navy. The Navy does not operate a centralized Severe Local Storms\nWarning Service. Requirements for early warnings of hazardous flying conditions\nand local destructive phenomena are met by NSSFC/AFGWC products interpreted\nlocally by personnel of the Naval Oceanography Command. Full use is made\nof\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\nJanuary 24, 1977 MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT between the NOAA and FAA to support the\nSevere Local 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\nall concerned agencies outlined in Chapter 1. Because NSSFC and AFGWC are the\nunits responsible 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.\nThe coordination channel for exchange of data between NSSFC and\nAFGWC shall be between the Commander, AFGWC, and the Director, NSSFC. Unre-\nsolved differences will be referred to the Public Services Branch, Meteoro-\nlogical Services Division, National Weather Service Headquarters, and to the\nHeadquarters, Air Weather Service.\nC. At the present time, the National Weather Service, National Earth\nSatellite Service, Environmental Research Laboratories' National Severe Storms\nLaboratory (NSSL), Air Force Geophysical Laboratory (AFGL), and the Air Weather\nService are actively engaged in developing objective severe weather forecasting\nand analysis techniques. These organizations will engage, whenever possible, in\na joint technique development program and will exchange any objective techniques\ndeveloped.\n7. Requests for Special Observations. Any special rawinsonde (RAWIN) or\npilot balloon (PIBAL) observations needed during the continuous weather\nmonitoring underway at NSSFC and at AFGWC are authorized and will be requested\nwhen 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\n1-3","all types, requests for special soundings during periods of potentially severe\nlocal storms should be made by NSSFC. The agency taking the special sounding is\nresponsible for funding.\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. In the event that NSSFC is unable to discharge\nits severe weather forecasting functions, the AFGWC will provide backup. Backup\nprocedures are documented in FCM-P14-1981, Federal Plans for Cooperative Backup\nAmong Operational Processing Centers.\nNotification of Military Installations. Selected military installa-\n9.\ntions, whose AWS detachments are not staffed by forecasters or whose radars are\ninoperative, will be notified by the NWS when severe convective weather is\nexpected to affect them. The notification will be performed by selected NWS\noffices which have radar and/or other information available. Notification will\nbe via NOAA Weather Radio Warning Alarms for those sites within the receiving\narea, provided such sites are equipped with receivers. This is the most rapid\nnotification available. Otherwise, notifications will be according to \"alerting\nagreements\" between the AWS/NWS offices concerned. (Such written agreements are\ninitiated by the AWS units, but require approval of NWS Headquarters before they\ncan go into effect. See Appendix 2. )\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 pro-\ncedures and priorities. The agreement will specify the hours during which the\nalerting service is to be provided.\na. Military/NWS Locations Involved. Agreements for providing the\nalerting service have been signed between the following locations. Changes may\nbe made to this list at any time.\nMilitary Location\nNWS office\nBarksdale AFB\nWSO Shreveport, LA\nWSO Sacremento, CA\nBeale AFB\nBergstrom AFB\nWSO Austin, TX\nBlytheville AFB\nWSFO Memphis, TN\nBuckley ANGB\nWSFO Denver, CO\n1-4","WSO Amarillo, TX\nCannon AFB\nWSO Charleston, SC\nCharleston AFB\nColumbus AFB\nWSFO Jackson, MS\nWSO Tucson, AZ\nDavis-Monthan AFB\nDobbins AFB\nWSFO Atlanta, GA\nWSO Atlantic City, NJ\nDover AFB\nWSO Abilene, TX\nDyess AFB\nWSO Palmdale, CA\nEdwards AFB\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\nWSFO Louisville, KY\nFt. Knox\nFt. Riley\nWSFO Topeka, KS\nWSO Palmdale, CA\nGeorge AFB\nGrand Forks AFB\nWSO Fargo, ND\nWSFO Indianapolis, IN\nGrissom AFB\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\nLuke AFB\nWSO Phoenix, AZ\nMaxwell AFB\nWSO Montgomery, AL\nMcClellan AFB\nWSO Sacramento, CA\nMcConnel AFB\nWSO Wichita, KA\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\nOffutt AFB\nWSO Omaha, NE\nPease AFB\nWSMO Brunswick, ME\nPlattsburgh AFB\nWSO Burlington, VT\nRandolph AFB\nWSFO San Antonio, TX\nWSFO Lubbock, TX\nReese AFB\nRichards-Gebaur AFB\nWSO Kansas City, MO\nRickenbacker AFB\nWSO Port Columbus, OH\nRobins AFB\nWSO Macon, GA\nWSFO St. Louis, MO\nScott AFB\nSelfridge ANGB\nWSFO Detroit, MI\nShaw AFB\nWSO Charleston, SC\nSheppard AFB\nWSO Wichita Falls, TX\nWSFO Oklahoma City, OK\nTinker AFB\nTravis AFB\nWSO Sacramento, CA\nWSO Kansas City, MO\nWhiteman AFB\nWurtsmith AFB\nWSO Houghton Lake, MI\n1-5","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\ncumulus or cumulonimbus cloud whose circulation does not reach the ground or\nwater.\n2. Severe Local Storms. Dangerous storms that usually cover relatively\nsmall geographical areas or move in narrow paths and are of sufficient intensity\nto threaten life and property. For the purpose of this plan, a severe local\nstorm is a tornado, funnel cloud, waterspout, or a thunderstorm with winds of 50\nknots (25 m/s) or greater and/or hail 3/4-inch (20 mm) in diameter or greater at\nthe surface. Wind damage may be used to infer the occurrence/existence of a\nsevere local storm.\n3. Severe Local Storms Season. Although the center of maximum frequency\nshifts during the year, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms may occur anywhere in\nthe United 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\nextend over several hundred miles. It is the phenomenon of the mature or active\nstage of \"instability-line\" development and may be either a solid or broken line\nof thunderstorms.\n5. Density/Risk of Severe Thunderstorms The following adjectives\ndescribe the possible density/risk of severe thunderstorms in an outlook area:\na. Low risk - 2 to 5 percent coverage or 4-10 Manually Digitized Radar\n(MDR) blocks with severe thunderstorms per 100,000 square miles (250,000 km2).\n.\nb. Moderate risk - 6 to 10 percent coverage or 11-21 MDR blocks with\nsevere thunderstorms per 100,000 square miles (250,000 km2).\n.\nC. High risk - greater than 10 percent coverage or more than 21 MDR\nblocks with severe thunderstorms per 100,000 square miles (250,000 km2)\nd. MIC (Maximum Instantaneous Coverage) - the percentage of the area\nthat will be covered by cumulonimbus cells at the time of maximum activity.\n(Military Weather Advisories only.)\ne. TAA (Total Area Affected) - the percentage of the area that will\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.\n2-1","6.\nThunderstorm 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\nany, of 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\nhail of diameter 3/4-inch (20 mm) or greater at the surface. Wind damage may be\nused to infer the occurrence/existence of a severe thunderstorm.\n7. Tornado. A violent, rotating column of air usually forming a pendant\nfrom a cumulonimbus cloud, whose circulation reaches the ground. It nearly\nalways starts as a funnel cloud and is accompanied by a loud roaring noise. On\na local scale, it is the most destructive of all atmospheric phenomena.\n8. Waterspout. A rotating column of air usually pendant from a cumulus\nor\ncumulonimbus cloud which forms over a body of water and whose circulation\ntouches the water.\n2-2","CHAPTER 3\nFORECASTS AND WARNINGS\n1. General. Although every effort has been made to standardize\nterminology, adopt common definitions, and adjust criteria to a common base,\neach agency has differing operational warning criteria that must be met.\nAlthough standardization will be used wherever possible in forecasts and\nwarnings, each agency retains the right to specify the forecast and warning\ncriteria that are needed to carry out the mission of its service.\n2. Other 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 the appropriate National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-\nNational Weather Service publications.\n3. National Weather Service Watch/Warning Procedures.\na. General. The National Weather Service has statutory responsibility\nfor providing a Severe Local Storms Warning Service for all 50 States. NSSFC\ndoes not 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.\nWatch/Warning Criteria. Events for which aviation and public\nb.\nsevere weather watch and warning bulletins may be issued are the same. Any or\nall of the categories listed below may be mentioned in such bulletins to\nindicate more fully 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.\nTornado: Severe weather watches/warnings that mention\n(2)\ntornadoes imply that thunderstorm activity, usually severe, is also expected/\noccurring. Severe weather watches will not refer to funnel clouds.\nNational Meteorological Center (NMC). NMC is the\ncentral\ndata\nC.\nprocessing center for the NWS. NMC issues prognostic charts, discussions, and\nother forecast materials.\n3-1","d. National Severe Storms Forecast Center (NSSFC). NSSFC is respon-\nsible for issuing and cancelling severe local storm watches and convective\nSIGMETS (Significant Meteorological Information) and for preparing other\nappropriate material essential to the Severe Local Storms Warning Service.\n(1)\nCombined Public and Aviation Watch Bulletins. Although a\nwarning service is provided for public and aviation interests, separate watches\nare not issued for these interests, but are combined into one bulletin. Each\ncombined watch bulletin (see example below) contains information for the general\npublic (sections A and B) and aviation interests in discrete, alphabetical,\nsequential sections. When a section is not applicable, it will be omitted. The\ntext will begin with the most serious type of severe weather expected - \"Tornado\nWatch\" or \"Severe Thunderstorm Watch.\" The location of the area affected and\nthe valid period of the watch which are common to both public and aviation\nsections are given in Section A. Combined watches are numbered serially begin-\nning with number 1 for the first issuance of each calendar year. NSSFC will\nissue an unnumbered watch cancellation message whenever it cancels a watch.\n(2)\nConvective SIGMETS. NSSFC issues hourly at H+55 and as\nrequired Special Convective SIGMET bulletins over the conterminous U.S. based on\nthese criteria:\n(a) Tornadoes;\n(b) Lines of thunderstorms;\n(c) Embedded thunderstorms;\n(d) Thunderstorm areas greater than or equal to Video Inte-\ngrated Processor (VIP) Level 4 (LVL 4) with areal\ncoverage of 4/10 (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 16 1981\nA... THE 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.\n3-2","THE 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 PERSONS 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.\nTORNADOES AND A FEW SVR TSTMS WITH HAIL SFC AND\nC\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 HAIL TO 3 IN\nWIND GUSTS TO 70 KTS PSBL.°\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.\n3-3","e. Weather Service offices (WSOs) and Weather Service Forecast offices\n(WSFOs).\n(1) WSFOs and WSOs release to the public information contained\nonly in sections A and B of watches. However, to help the public visualize\nwhich areas are affected by watches, designated offices prepare redefining\nstatements (areal outlines) for those parts of their States within each public\nsevere weather watch. They also may discontinue watches for those portions of\ntheir areas no longer threatened.\n(2)\nWSFOs and WSOs with county warning responsibilities are\nresponsible for warning the general public. Severe weather warnings are based\non reports of actual 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\nof weather developments during a severe weather watch.\n(4) Designated WSFOs with in-flight weather advisory\nresponsibilities issue nonconvective SIGMETS. Criteria for the issuance of\nnonconvective SIGMETS: severe or extreme turbulence, severe icing, and\nwidespread dust/sand storms lowering visibilities to below 3 miles (5 km).\nf.\nSatellite Field Service Stations (SFSS). The\nSFSSs\nreceive\nand\nanalyze satellite pictures in near real time and assist NSSFC, WSFOS, and WSOs\nin applying 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\nnot associated with thunderstorms;\n(4) Heavy rain or snow (2 inches (50 mm) or more in a 12-hour\nperiod)\n(5) Freezing precipitation.\nThe criteria for severe thunderstorm warnings are the same as those of the\nNWS.\n3-4","3-1. Example of Graphic Military Weather Advisory.\n2/20\n100-0979\nR38d\n2/20\nR400\nORANGE\nORANGE\nE.P,\nA\nT\nPORTIONS OF\nGREEN 21-032\nORANGE\nR350\nSQUALL\nLN DVLG\n03-09Z\n1/10\nENEWRD\nR450 4/40\nX\nAREA 21Z\nMVG\n30KNOTS\nWRN\nZ\n300 1/10\n21-03Z\n21-01Z\nORANGE\nBLACK\nG35K\nS\nBLACK 21-037 G40K\nORANGE R400 3/20\nBLUE R HVV % 03-09Z\nR\n21- 03Z G40K\nR480 15/70 LCLLY\n500 4/40\nHvy 703-097\n15/70\nRED 21 3 Z\nG40K\nO2Z\nBLUE 21-037\nBLACK\nX\nB\nR550\n21\nBLACK\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\nFigure","3-2. Example of Graphic Teletype Portion of a Military Weather Advisory.\nMILITARY WEATHER ADVISORY NO. 06G FOR 062100Z TO 070900Z\nS S S is u) S S S S S S\nS S is S is\nis into S S S 05 05\nin S into S S S S S\nS S S S (1) u)\nin us S S $ 5\ninconclusive S S in is\n(1) is S 0\nS S S S\nS (1) is is S S S\nin S us in S\nin is (1) in S\n(1)\nin co in S S us\nS\nin\nS\nS\nS\nSTATE\nin in\nis in\nS\nS\nS OT\nin\nS\nin\nS\nA\nFigure","b. Military Weather Advisories (MWA) . AFGWC issues both graphic\n(Figure 3-1) and teletypewriter (Figure 3-2) Military Weather Advisories (MWAs)\nand Military Weather Advisory Further Outlooks (FO). Military Weather Advisories\nare issued four times daily, valid for 12-hour periods beginning at 0300Z plus\nevery 6 hours. Further Outlooks are issued twice daily valid for 12-hour\nperiods beyond the 0900Z and 2100Z MWAs. Each product gives the area where any\nof the weather elements listed in Table 3-1 are expected to occur during the\nvalid period.\nTable 3-1\nMilitary Weather Advisory (MWA) Weather Elements\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\nhail less than 1/2 inch (10 mm) in diameter\nBLACK\nSurface winds greater than or equal to 35 knots (65 km/h)\nnot associated 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\n(1) Purpose and Use. The Military Weather Advisories are designed\nto provide 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)\nAmendment. Advisories are amended when an unforecast\ncriterion is observed and expected to continue or when an advisory no longer\nadequately describes the severity or valid times of a forecast criterion.\n3-7","(3)\nGeographical Interpretation. A clear plastic overlay\ncontaining a scaled outline of the conterminous States, placed on the tele-\ntypewriter message containing the Military Weather Advisory, will provide\ngeographical orientation.\nC. AFGWC Point Warnings. AFGWC Point Warnings are issued in plain\nlanguage (see example below) for the same phenomena as Advisories. While\nAdvisories provide general guidance to all military forecasters in terms of\nlarge and intermediate scale synoptic developments, AF GWC Point Warnings are\nissued for and to specify locations in the smallest scale of space and time\nconsistent with the availability of data and the state-of-the-art. An effort is\nmade to tailor the size of the points to the requirements of the using agency.\nThe locations for which AF GWC has warning responsibility are listed in Volume\nIII, Air Weather Service Pamphlet 105-52; the number of installations is\napproximately 500. Approximately 50 percent of these locations are U.S. Air\nForce, 45 percent are U.S. Army, and 5 percent are U.S. Navy. In addition to\nactive military installations, AFGWC Point Warnings are issued for National\nGuard units, arsenals, ammunition plants, and other civilian activities under\ncontract to the Department of Defense (DOD). AF GWC Point Warnings are issued\nfor specific locations as the situation warrants in contract to Advisories which\nare issued at scheduled intervals for fixed valid periods. AFGWC Point Warnings\ncan be amended, extended, or cancelled as necessary.\nAFGWC Point Weather Warnings:\n(1) Provide specific warning to an installation where a forecaster\nis 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 responsi-\nbility for 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 Warning. At those locations\nwhere an 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.\n3-8","5. Distribution of Watches, Warnings, and Severe Weather Reports by Flight\nService Stations. This Plan does not provide for the distribution of severe\nweather information by FSSs. However, these stations occasionally receive\nrequests for such information or are given a severe weather report by an\nobserver. Such information or requests will be referred to the WSO associated\nwith the FSS receiving the information. That WSO will issue the warning or pass\nthe information to the WSO which has the warning responsibility for the county\nin which 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.\n3-9","CHAPTER 4\nCOMMUNICATIONS\n1. National Weather Service Systems.\na. Radar Report (RAREP) and Warning Coordination Circuit (RAWARC). The\nNational Weather Service internal teletypewriter system is a landline teletype-\nwriter network consisting of five circuits, which terminate at the National\nSevere Storms Forecast Center in Kansas City and the Communications Control\nSection at Suitland, Maryland. The communications center at NSSFC is a systems\nmonitor while the Communications Control Section (Communications Division)\nperforms the computer relay functions for the system. Traffic on RAWARC is\nbasically unscheduled and is handled according to a priority system, with severe\nweather information having the highest priority. Relays between RAWARC circuits\nare made by missions other than similar warning messages. The only regularly\nscheduled material entered on RAWARC is an hourly collection (H+35) of radar\nreports (SD). Special radar reports and other material authorized in the RAWARC\nmanual can be transmitted at any time the circuits are not 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\nn 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) operated hot line interstate telephone system which\nconnects FEMA Warning Points, WSFOs, and WSOs, and WSMOs (Weather Service\nMeteorological Observatory) within each State and between States. Figure 4-1\ngives the location of FEMA warning points.\n4-1","VIRGIN ISLANDS\nFigure 4-1. Federal Emergency Management Agency - NATIONAL WARNING SYSTEM\nPUERTO RICO\nJuly 1980\nVOEL\nINA\nYORK\n.\nVIRGINIA\nGEORGIA\nNES\nFLORIDA\nNWC\nALT\nOMIOS\nMICHIGAN\nENTUCY\nNATIONAL WARNING SYSTEM\nTECNESSEE\nMISS\nMICH\nWISCONSIN\nLOUIS ANA\nARKANSAS\nMISSOURI\nMINNESOTA\nOKLAHOMA\nIOWA\n1/ SAMPLE REPRESENTATION OF TOTAL NUMBERS\nNORTH DAKOTA\nSOUTH DAKOTA\nTEXAS\nNEBRASK\nREGIONAL HEADQUARTERS/FRC'S\nNEW MEXICO\nCOLORADO\nNWC\nLOCAL WARNING POINTS 1/\nWYOMING\nSTATE WARNING POINTS\nWARNING CENTERS\nUTCH\nARIZONA\nDAHO\n.\n*\nNEVADA\nOREGON\nALASKA\nCALIFORNIA\nHAWAII","d. Emergency Broadcast System (EBS). Although all standard AM, FM and\ntelevision broadcast stations may, at their discretion, use the EBS for short-\nfused warnings, not all use it. Where its use is acceptable, EBS should be\nrequested for all tornado warnings. Since EBS use is at the discretion of the\nindividual stations, arrangements for its use are made prior to the severe local\nstorm season, unless such use is a continuing agreement. In those areas where\nEBS use is not an acceptable procedure, all tornado warnings carry the notation\n\"Immediate Broadcast Requested.\" EBS is not normally requested for severe\nthunderstorm warnings.\nNOAA Weather Radio. THE WSOs/WSFOs equipped with NOAA Weather\ne.\nRadio can transmit continuous weather warnings on one of following frequencies:\n162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525, and 162.550 MHz. These\nradio transmitters provide continuous weather information to an area of about\n40-mile (65 km) radius. Local radio and TV stations can record and rebroadcast\nthe material even though land lines in the area may be disrupted. These\ntransmitters have a tone signal alert capability which can be used to activate\nspecially 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.\nThe\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 observa-\ntions are 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\ncollecting and disseminating circuit covering each area (Figure 4-4). Area 20\ncovers Hawaii.\nC. The COMEDS is used to disseminate all Military Weather Advisories\nand Point Warnings issued by AFGWC.","CERTIFIED\n4\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\nRAWARC AND\nNWS OFFICES\nSTATEMENTS\nWATCH\nLOCAL\nRADIO\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\nCOMEDS\nService A\nService A\nService A\nFlight\nBase\nWSFOs/WSOs\nService\nARTCCs\nWeather\nStations\nStation\nBroadcasts\nPILOT\nFigure 4-3. Distribution of Aviation Severe Weather Forecasts.\n4-5","","3. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) systems.\na. Service \"A\" will be used for the collection and distribution of\nsevere local 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\nstorms information 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 storms\ninformation and hourly radar reports. Secondly, and as circuit time permits,\nRAWARC serves as a bypass to Service A, C. and o for more routine information\nwhen these circuits are busy.\n4. U. S. Navy. COMEDS is used to collect and disseminate U.S. Navy\nweather reports.\n4-7","CHAPTER 5\nOBSERVATIONS\n1. Radar 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 and Air Force\nGlobal Weather Central products, are available from radars of the U.S. Basic\nWeather Radar Network. This Network is composed of NWS radars, U.S. Air Force\nweather radars, and in the western United States, air route traffic control\nradars. The air route traffic control radars are remoted into the Air Route\nTraffic Control Centers (ARTCC) at Salt Lake City, UT; Palmdale, CA;\nAlbuquerque, NM; and Auburn, WA. NWS local warning radars supplement the\nnetwork radars. National Weather Service personnel at Palmdale, Albuquerque,\nand Auburn develop a composite of the radar data from radars remoted into these\nsites and transmit the data on the Radar Facsimile Circuit (RAFAX) to the\nNational Weather Service Radar Unit at the Salt Lake City ARTCC. These data are\nthen collated with the Salt Lake City radar data and transmitted on RAFAX to\nusers throughout the West.\n(1) National Weather Service coded radar observations, including\nthose from these four ARTCCs, are transmitted hourly on the Radar Report (RAREP)\nand Warning Coordination Circuits (RAWARC) at H+35. More frequent observations\nare taken and transmitted on RAWARC in severe weather situations. Hourly\ncomposites from ARTCCs are transmitted to a number of offices in the western\nintermountain region on the RAFAX 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\n(AWS) radar stations assigned to the U.S. Basic Weather Radar Network are\nforwarded to AFGWC from the Automated Digital Weather Switch (ADWS) at Carswell\nAFB by means of the data link. The NSSFC receives routine military radar\nweather observations from the ADWS through the FAA Weather Message Switching\nCenter. Severe military RAREPS (those describing tornadoes, severe\nthunderstorms, or hail observations and carrying the bulletin heading WOUS) are\nobtained by dual means; § 1+ a drop on the COMEDS; and 2+ through the FAA WMSC.\n(3) The National Weather Service, Air Force, and Navy operate a\nnumber of non-network radar facilities. Used primarily for local forecasting\nand warning and for immediate service to local agencies, these radars also\nprovide selected information on severe storms. For example, all USAF weather\nradar facilities in the conterminous United States, whether or not they are\nassigned Network responsibilities, report radar-detected hailstorms, severe\nthunderstorms, and tornadoes on COMEDS and, when so requested, by telephone to\nthe nearest WSFO or WSO.\n5-1","b. The USAF air defense radar sites are capable of limited detection\nand interpretation of weather echoes. Appendix 1 lists the radar sites\nsupporting each NORAD Region (NR). Operational commitments permitting, the\nradar sites within each region can provide limited supplementary weather data\nupon request. Contact by either AFGWC or NSSFC should be made by calling the\nappropriate AWS unit (see Appendix 1).\nC. If a WSO needs radar data from a nearby military radar (network,\nair defense, or local use), such data can be obtained by local arrangements\nbetween the National Weather Service Meteorologist-in-Charge/Official-in-Charge\nand the AWS 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,\nthe 71 stations in the National Weather Service and Military Upper Air\nat\nNetwork. These stations also take special observations whenever required and\nrequested by the agency concerned.\nTransponder capability is available at most stations to permit more\naccurate measurement of upper winds under strong wind conditions. Evaluated\ndata from the 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. The DOD takes unscheduled observations at a number of schools, at\nmobile locations, 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.\n5-2","WILL TAKE\nREQUESTED\nSPECIALS\nNo\nNo\nNo\nNo\nNo\nNo\nNo\nNo\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. 21, 2nd Wea. Sq.\nCommander, Det. 10, 5th Wea. Sq.\nCommander, Det 21, 5th Wea. Sq.\nCommander, Det. 3, 5th Wea. Sq.\nNon-Network Upper Air Stations Which Might Be Sources of Data\nAGENCY CONTACT\nCOM 303-579-3620\nAUTOVON 737-9819\nCOM 817-532-9327\nAUTOVON 863-2015\nCOM 318-537-2015\nAUTOVON 971-5432\nCOM 912-352-5207\nAUTOVON 639-3200\nCOM 405-351-3200\nAUTOVON 350-4318\nCOM 805-277-4318\nAUTOVON 835-7313\nCOM 404-545-7313\nAUTOVON 236-3914\nCOM 919-396-3914\nAUTOVON 691-3651\nTIME OF OBSERVATIONS DISTRIBUTION\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nTable 5-1\nUnscheduled\nUnscheduled\nUnscheduled\nUnscheduled\nUnscheduled\nUnscheduled\nUnscheduled\nUnscheduled\nOPERATED BY\nEdwards AFB, CA USAF\nFort Benning, GA USA\nUSA\nUSA\nUSA\nUSA\nUSA\nFort Stewart, GA USA\nFort Carson, CO\nFort Bragg, NC\nFort Hood, TX\nFort sill, OK\nFort Polk, LA\nSTATION\n5","WILL TAKE\nREQUESTED\nSPECIALS\nYes\nYes\nYes\nNo\nNo\nNo\nNo\nNo\nCommander, Det. 10, 2nd Wea. Sq.\nCommander, Det 8, 5th Wea Sq.\nCommander, Det 1, 5th Wea Sq.\nCommander, Det 6, 5th Wea Sq.\nChief, Forecast Section\nMr. Hickson or Mr. Lee,\nMr. Hickson or Mr. Lee\nAGENCY CONTACT\nAUTOVON 258-2605/1032\nWhite Sands Met Team\nNon-Network Upper Air Stations Which Might Be Sources of Data\nAUTOVON 351-8748,\nAUTOVON 351-8748,\nAUTOVON 856-3327\nCOM 913-239-3327\nAUTOVON 635-2519\nCOM 502-798-2519\nAUTOVON 357-5967\nCOM 206-967-5967\nAUTOVON 872-5710\nCOM 904-882-5452\nCOM 805-982-8948\nCOM 805-982-8948\ndependent upon WSO Huntsville FTS 453-3109\nBob Turner\nTable 5-1 (continued)\nTIME OF OBSERVATIONS DISTRIBUTION\nLocal loop to\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nCOMEDS\nAL then to\nRAWARC\nDaily 0300Z and\n1800Z and 2300Z\nMonday-Friday,\nMonday-Friday,\n1300Z, 1800Z,\nUnscheduled,\nUnscheduled\nUnscheduled\nUnscheduled\nUnscheduled\noperations\nand 2300Z\n1500Z\nOPERATED BY\nUSAF\nNASA\nUSA\nFort Campbell, KY USA\nUSA\nUSN\nUSN\nUSA\nCenter, San Nicolas\nMissile Range, NM\nHuntsville, AL\nFort Riley, KS\nFort Lewis, WA\nMarshall Space\nFlight Center,\nEglin AFB, FL\nCenter, Point\nNavy Pacific\nMissile Test\nNavy Pacific\nMissile Test\nWhite Sands\nSTATION\nIsland, CA\nMugu, CA","Surface Weather Observational Network. To provide the basic weather\n3.\ndata needed for the analyses performed by the National Meteorological Center,\nNSSFC, and AFGWC, all available surface data are used. The following stations\nprovide data:\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\nb. Pilots should report any weather condition they encounter which is\nhazardous to aviation.\nC. FSSs, ARTCCs, and ATCTs accept, solicit and broadcast PIREPS.\nAdditionally, ARTCCs and ATCTs pass PIREPS to FSSs for dissemination on the\nService A teletypewriter circuit.\n5. Severe Storm Surveillance by Meteorological Satellites.\na. Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES). The GOES\nsystem consists of two operational spacecraft, GOES East at 75°W and GOES West\nat 135°W. Standby spacecraft with limited operational capabilities are posi-\ntioned between 75 W and 135°W. The principal GOES products are half-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 geograph-\nical coverage standard sectors are produced with 9 km resolution infrared (IR).\nThe IR data may be enhanced to emphasize various features. Floating sectors\nwhich are scheduled by the Satellite Field Services Stations (SFSSs) are\nproduced to augment the standard sector coverage support. All products are\ndelivered in near real time to the National Earth Satellite Service (NESS)\nSynoptic Analysis Branch (SAB), the SFSSs and Weather Service Forecast Offices\n(WSFOs). (See GOES Operational Data Flow, Figure 5.1, and Satellite Data\nAvailability, Table 5-2).\nb. NOAA Polar-Orbiting Satellites. These satellites cross the U.S.\ntwice daily near the equatorial crossing times as indicated in Table 5-2. Data\nare available via direct read-out (HRPT and APT) or central processing, AVHRR\ndata are available on a limited basis through the GOES distribution system.\n5-5","C. Satellite Field Services Stations (SFSS).\n(1) Support Concept. Under the NESS SFSS support concept, GOES\nimagery in support of the severe weather warning services is distributed by the\nCentral Data Distribution Facility (CDDF) at Camp Springs, MD, to the SFSSs in\nMiami, San Francisco, Kansas City, Washington, Anchorage, New Orleans, and\nHonolulu. These SFSSs are collocated with NWS units and are responsible for\nproviding support to them. The Kansas City SFSS is collocated with the National\nSevere Storms Forecast Center (NSSFC) and is responsible for satellite support\nto NSSFC and the central U.S. from Canada to Mexico. Each SFSS except Anchorage\nhas floating sectors which can be centered over significant weather areas at 1,\n2, and 4 km resolutions for visible data and the same geographical coverage in 9\nkm IR data. In addition, Kansas City uniquely receives data via the NESS Rapid\nInterval Scan Operation Plan (RISOP) which provides data over the severe storm\narea every fifteen (15) minutes.\n(2) Station Contact. SFSS satellite meteorologists can be\ncontacted as follows:\nMiami\nBetween 0630-1630 EDST and 2000-0400\nEDST at 305-350-4310 and 4460\n(FTS 350-4310)\nSan Francisco\n24 h/day at 415-876-9122/23\n(FTS 470-9122/23)\nWashington\n24 h/day at 301-763-8425\n(FTS 763-8425)\nKansas City\n24 h/day at 816-374-2102\n(FTS 758-2102)\nHonolulu\n24 h/day at 808-836-2776\n(FTS Operator)\nSan Francisco FTS 556-0220,\nHNL 836-2776\nAnchorage\n24 h/day at 907-271-3473\n(FTS Operator)\nSeattle FTS 399-0150, ANC 271-3173\nNew Orleans\n24 h/day at 504-649-5130\n(FTS 682-2807)\n5-6","LF - Light Fine [Visual Scanning Radiometer 0.3 nmi (0.6 km) ]\n1. 1, 2 and 4 km resolution visible standard\n4. Floating sectors at 1, 2 and 4 km resolu-\n2. 9 km resolution equivalent IR geographic\nsectors covering western U.S., midwest,\nTS - Thermal Smooth [Infrared Scanning Radiometer 1.5 nmi\nstandard sectors for the entire U.S.\ntion (visible) (equivalent IR 9 km).\nLS - Light Smooth [Visual Scanning Radiometer 1.5 nm\n1. Sea-surface temperature analysis.\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.\n2. Moisture analysis.\n0.3 nmi (0.6 km)\nREMARKS\n7. Wind analysis.\n6. Movie loops.\n3. Soundings.\n(2.8 km)\n(night).\n(2.8 km) ]\n(Limited scan\nEvery 30 min.\nTable 5-2\nLOCAL TIME\nfor short-\n(24 h/day)\navailable)\n0740/1940\n1430/0230\ninterval\nviewing\nAVHRR - Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer\nGAC - Global Area Coverage (recorded reduced)\nHRPT - High Resolution Picture Transmission\nGAC and LAC (recorded)\nGAC and LAC (recorded)\nAPT - Automated Picture Transmission (4 km)\nHRPT and APT (direct)\nHRPT and APT (direct)\nLAC - Local Area Coverage (recorded high-\nTOVS - TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder\nresolution for central processing\nresolution data, limited amount)\nTYPE OF DATA\nGOES East - 75.0 W VISSR\nAVHRR\nAVHRR\nTOVS\nTOVS\nGOES West - 135.0 W\nO\n(standby) limited\no\n4 Spacecraft\noperational\ncapability\nSATELLITE\nNOAA-6\nNOAA-7","d.\nDOD Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). This is\na\nDOD-managed system to collect and process meteorological data from spaceborne\nsensors. These data are processed by the AFGWC and are available for timely\napplication to severe weather forecasting. DMSP data are currently archived by\nNOAA/NESS at the University of Wisconsin and is available for use in severe\nweather research and development.\n6. Severe Local Storm Actions of Nonmeteorological Agencies and Individ-\nuals. The 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 tele-\ntypewriter on statewide NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWSS) circuits, and Service A\nteletypewriter circuits.\nReports are disseminated to mass news disseminators, to other WSOs, and to\nsafety agencies by NWS 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.\n5-8","CHAPTER 5\nGOES\nw.\nAFGWC\nOFFUTT AFB\nGOES\nNEBRASKA\nE:\nSSEC\nCDA\nMADISON,\nWALLOPS\nWISCONSIN\nSUITLAND\nCOMPLEX\nIR DATA\nSECTORIZORS\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\n*\nNOTE: Anchorage SFSS is in the GOES Operational Data Flow\nbut primarily uses the NOAA Polar-Orbiting Satellite data.\nFigure 5-1. GOES Operational Data Flow.\n5-9","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 Director for Operations\n(Environmental Services)\nOJCS\nWashington, D.C. 20301\nDirector of Operations and Readiness\nAirspace and Air Traffic Service Division\nUSAF/XOORF\nWashington, D. C. 20330\nAssistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence\nDepartment of the Army\nAttention: DAMI-ISP\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\n6-1","APPENDIX 1\nNORAD REGION (NR) JOINT USE AND MILITARY ONLY RADAR SITES\nThe supporting AWS units of each of the listed NORAD Regions (NR) can\nobtain appropriate operational permission, contact military/civilian controllers\nat the NR radar sites within each region's area of responsibility, and obtain\nlimited radar weather data.\nNR\nAREA\nAWS UNIT\nTELEPHONE NUMBERS\nRADAR SITE\n20\nDet 9, 12WS\nSE US\nAUTOVON 970-2856\nGrand Bay, AL\nTyndall AFB, FL\nCOM 904-283-2856\nCross City, FL\nCudjoe Key, FL\nFt. Lonesome, FL\nKey West, FL\nPatrick AFB, FL\nRichmond, FL\nWhitehouse, FL\nLake Charles, LA\nSlidell, LA\nFt. Fisher, NC\nJedburg, SC\nEllington AFB, TX\nOilton, TX\nOceana, VA\n21\nDet 27, 12WS\nAUTOVON 587-9525\nNE US\nN. Truro AFS, MA\nHancock FLD, NY\nCOM 315-458-5500\nBucks Harbor, ME\nExt. 3535\nEmpire, MI\nCalumet AFS, MI\nPort Austin AFS, MI\nNashwauk, MN\nGibbsboro AFS, NY\nSuffolk, NY\nUtica, NY\n25\nDet 11, 17WS\nNW US\nAUTOVON 976-3434\nCrescent City, CA\nMcChord AFB, WA\nCOM 206-984-3434\nKalispell, MT\nMalmstron AFB, MT\nFinley AFS, ND\nWatford City, ND\nSalem, OR\nMakah AFS, WA\nMica Peak, WA\n26\nSW US\nDet 15, 25WS\nAUTOVON 853-6805\nPhoenix, AZ\nLuke AFB, AZ\nCOM 602-935-6805\nMill Valley AFS, CA\nMt Laguna AFS, CA\nPaso Robles, CA\nPoint Arena AFS, CA\nSan Pedro, CA\nSilver City, NM\nEl Paso, TX\nOdessa, TX\nA1-1","APPENDIX 2\nRECOMMENDED LETTER OF AGREEMENT\nBETWEEN LOCAL UNITS OF NWS AND USAF\n, AFB\nFROM:\nDET X, X VV,\nSUBJECT: Letter of Agreement (LOA) - Notification of Severe Convective Weather\n(Appropriate NWS Office)\nTO:\n1. Introduction.\na. Purpose. To establish responsibilities and procedures for (Appro-\npriate NWS office) to notify (Det X, X WW or military installation) when severe\nconvective weather is expected to affect (military installation or site) and the\nsupporting AWS detactment, Det X, X WW, is not staffed by a forecaster or the\ndetachment's radar is inoperative.\nb. Severe convective weather is defined as thunderstorms with winds of\n50 knots (25 m/s) or more, hail 3/4 inch (20 mm) is diameter or larger, or\ntornadoes.\nC. This LOA supersedes LOA dated\nwhich should be\ndestroyed.\n2. Specific Terms of the Agreement.\na. Det X, X WW, will:\n(1) Notify (appropriate NWS office) when Det X is not staffed by a\nforecaster. 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 inopera-\ntive except for normal preventive maintenance. Additionally, Det X will notify\n(appropriate NWS office) when their radar becomes operational again.\n(3) Provide (appropriate NWS office) a single point of contact for\nnotification. Telephone number for this point of contact is XXX-XXXX. Det X\nwill inform (Appropriate NWS office) of changes in this point of contact of\ntelephone number.\nA2-1","b. The (appropriate NWS office) will:\n(1) Notify (appropriate military installation) by calling (single\npoint of contact/telephone number) whenever a severe local storm warning is\nissued for the area including (military installation or site), when Det X, X WW\nis not staffed by a forecaster or Det X's radar is inoperative.\n(2) Provide notification by telephone. This notification will be\nmade only after dissemination commitments are completed and only when doing so\nwill not impact public warning operations.\n(3) Provide notification by telephone call; however, if line is\nbusy one additional call will be made.\n(4) Notify Det X, X WW when their radar is inoperative except for\nnormal maintenance.\nC. Detachment X and (appropriate NWS office) will, as workload\npermits, pass to each other by phone, local severe weather information of mutual\nbenefit to both agencies. Such information would include, but not limited to,\nreported hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, or radar observations indicating\nsevere thunderstorms or tornadoes.\nSignature\nSignature\nMeteorologist in Charge\nDetachment Commander\nor Official in Charge\nDate\nDate","APPENDIX 3\nABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS\nAAT\nAir Traffic Service (FAA)\nAD\nAir Division\nAutomatic Digital Weather Switch\nADWS\nAFB\nAir Force Base\nAFGL\nAir Force Geophysical Laboratory\nAFGWC\nAir force Global Weather Central\nAFOS/NDC\nAutomation of Field Operations and Services/National Distribution\nCircuit\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\nATCT\nAir Traffic Control Tower\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\nFederal Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting\nResearch\nFCM\nFederal Coordinator for Meteorology\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\nGreenwich Mean Time\nGMT\nGOES\nGeostationary Operational Environmental Satellite\nHRPT\nHigh Resolution Picture Transmission\nA3-1","IAP\nInternational Airport\nICMSSR\nInterdepartmental Committee for Meteorological Services and\nSupporting Research\nIR\nInfrared\nKCRT\nKeyboard Cathode Ray Tube\nLAC\nLocal Area Coverage 1.1 km resolution\nLF\nLight Fine Video Data (1/3 nmi (0.6 km) )\nLOA\nLetter of Agreement\nLS\nLight Smooth Video Data (1.5 - 2.0 nmi (2.8 - 3.7 km) )\nLVL\nLevel\nMDR\nManually Digitized Radar\nMIC\nMaximum Instantaneous Coverage\nMKC\nKansas City\nMWA\nMilitary Weather Advisory\nNAFAX\nNational Facsimile Network\nNASA\nNational Aeronautics and Space Administration\nNAWAS\nNational Warning System\nNESS\nNational Earth Satellite Service\nNHC\nNational Hurricane Center\nNMC\nNational Meteorological Center\nNOAA\nNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\nNR\nNORAD Region\nNRC\nNuclear Regulatory Commission\nNSSFC\nNational Severe Storms Forecast Center\nNSSL\nNational Severe Storms Laboratory\nNWS\nNational Weather Service\nNWWS\nNOAA Weather Wire Service\nOJCS\nOffice Joint Chiefs of Staff\nPATWAS\nPilots Automatic Telephone Weather Advisory Service\nPIBAL\nPilot Balloon\nPIREP\nPilot Report\nR&D\nResearch and Development\nRAREP\nRadar Report\nRAWARC\nRadar Report and Warning Coordination Circuit\nRAWIN\nRawinsonde\nSAB\nSynoptic Analysis Branch\nSC/BS\nSubcommittee for Basic Services\nSD\nCircuit Heading for Radar Reports\nSFSS\nSatellite Field Service Station\nSIGRAD\nSignificant Radar Message\nSIGMET\nSignificant Meteorological Information\nSMS\nSynchronous Meteorological Satellite\nSR\nStored Data\nSRC\nState Relay Center\nA3-2","Total Area Affected\nTAA\nThermal Fine Data (1/3 nmi (0.6 km) )\nTF\nTelevision Infrared Observation Satellite\nTIROS\nTIROS Operational Vertical Sounders\nTOVS\nThermal Smooth Data (1.5 - 2.0 nm (2.8 - 3.7 km) )\nTS\nTranscribed Weather Broadcast\nTWEB\nUSA\nUnited States Army\nUnited States Air Force\nUSAF\nUSN\nUnited States Navy\nVery High Resolution Radiometer\nVHRR\nVIP\nVideo Integrated Processor\nVisible Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer\nVISSR\nVOR\nVHF Omni-Directional Radio Range\nSevere Weather Watch Will Be Issued\nWIBIS\nWMSC\nWeather Message Switching Center\nWeather Service Forecast Office\nWSFO\nWSMO\nWeather Service Meteorological Observatory\nWeather Service office\nWSO\nWeather Service Operations Manual\nWSOM\nA3-3\n*U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE:\n1982-0-360-997/2010","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\nAVIATION SERVICES\nBASIC SERVICES\nSPACE ENVIRONMENT FORECASTING\nWorking Groups\nSYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT\nAgricultural Meteorological Services\nCooperative Backup Among Operational\nWorking Groups\nProcessing Centers\nDissemination of NMC Products\nAutomated Surface Observations\nHurricane Operations\nAutomated Weather Information\nMarine Environmental Predictions\nRadiological, Gaseous and\nMeteorological Codes\nParticulate Transport Models\nMetric Implementation\nWeather Radar Systems\nOperational Processing Centers\nSevere Local Storms Operations\nSurface Observations\nOPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITES\nUpper Air Observations\nWeather Radar Observations\nWinter Storms Operations\nWorld Weather Program\nSUBCOMMITTEE ON BASIC SERVICES\nMR. GERALD A. PETERSEN, 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 SEVERE LOCAL STORMS OPERATIONS\nMR. RICHARD I. COLEMAN, Chairman\nDR. ROBERT F. ABBEY, JR.\nDepartment of Commerce\nNuclear Regulatory Commission\nLTC RICHARD H. GRAMZOW, USA\nLTC GENE J. PFEFFER, USAF\nDepartment of Defense\nDepartment of Defense\nMR. G. STANLEY DOORE, Secretary\nOffice of the Federal Coordinator"]}