The Use of the Key Messages Concept at the Climate Prediction Center

Following the example of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and Weather Prediction Center (WPC) from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) in their preparation of Key Messages (KM) value-added products, the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) initiated a similar effort during the summer of 2022. Informed from CPC official outlooks and information, CPC began a group activity to provide impact-focused, concise, key information for potential upcoming events. CPC has been drafting KMs for high impact, high confidence events since summer 2022 to support Impact-Based Decision Support Services (IDSS). CPC issues KMs to highlight potentially hazardous weather and climate conditions during the next 8-14 days (Week 2). KMs are also issued when there is high confidence of an impactful pattern change occurring during the next 2-4 weeks. When issuing, CPC coordinates / collaborates closely with the National Weather Service (NWS) regions, the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) and other NWS core partners before releasing KMs, and this summer has been an excellent example of collaboration between WPC and CPC for heat events that span prediction timescales. This presentation will introduce and discuss KMs at CPC, lessons learned, and positive outcomes and feedback from this initiative.