Session NOAA's Water in the West Initiative and Atmospheric River Research, Prediction, and Operations Plans

Wednesday, 31 January 2024: 12:15 PM-1:15 PM
Holiday 4 (Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor)
Host: Agency Updates
Organizer:
Steven Thur, NOAA/OAR, Silver Spring, MD
Moderators:
Steven Thur, NOAA/OAR, Silver Spring, MD and Pamela Heinselman, NSSL, FRDD, Norman, OK
Panelists:
Jennifer L. Mahoney, OAR, Global System Laboratory, Silver Spring, MD; Robert S. Webb, NOAA ESRL, Physical Sciences Lab, Boulder, CO; David R. Novak, NOAA/NWS, Weather Prediction Center, College Park, MD and Edward P. Clark, NWS, Office of Water Prediction, Silver Spring, MD

Across the 11 western states, flood damages from atmospheric rivers (AR) total roughly $1B per year. The frequency, intensity, and socio-economic impacts of these extreme western water events are strongly influenced by climate variations (such as El Niño-Southern Oscillation), and climate change is only expected to further exacerbate drought conditions punctuated by periods of intense precipitation. To become more resilient in the face of these events, skillful AR forecasts with sufficient lead time are needed. Improved forecasts will allow western water resource managers and other stakeholders to better prepare for hazardous weather impacts and manage reservoir operations. In addition, improved forecast skill will provide better information on how drought and flood risks will shift over the coming decades, which is vital to long-term infrastructure planning. NOAA leaders and scientists will speak on NOAA’s work to better understand and predict these phenomena and other western water issues.

Papers:
12:15 PM
Panel Discussion

Recorded Presentation
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