Collaborative Development between the US National Weather Service and UK Met Office to Produce Next Generation World Area Forecast System SIGWX Forecasts

The two World Area Forecast Centers (WAFCs), WAFC Washington and WAFC London, are responsible for producing global Significant Weather (SIGWX) forecasts as a part of the World Area Forecast System (WAFS) in support of international aviation safety. Currently, these labor-intensive forecasts are produced by operational meteorologists located at the National Weather Service Aviation Weather Center (AWC) in the United States and the Met Office in the United Kingdom. Over the past several years, a collaborative effort between both WAFCs has been underway to develop the next generation of SIGWX forecasts, which will be automated.

Automation of next generation SIGWX forecasts will allow for a reprioritization of operational meteorologist resources at both WAFCs. Additionally, automation will allow for the production of additional forecast time steps, availability of forecasts in ICAO Meteorological Information Exchange Model (IWXXM) format, and increased extent of vertical and horizontal forecast domain. Challenges and successes of the international collaborative development process between WAFCs will be discussed, along with an overview of the production process for creating the next generation SIGWX forecasts.