The Weather Archive and Visualization Environment (WAVE) Project

The Weather Archive and Visualization Environment (WAVE) is a cloud based model and observation viewer and archive. It was originally developed by National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters to compliment operational software and to support the Impact-based Decision Support Services (IDSS) the agency is moving towards. Since the beginning, WAVE was designed to be lightweight and portable, allowing forecasters to access it with a simple web browser, even when deployed offsite. The software generates forecast and model images and animations that are used by forecasters to communicate hydrometeorological threats at emergency operation centers, wildfires, forecast offices, and even social media platform.

In addition to its operational strengths, WAVE’s archive capabilities allows case studies and enhanced training opportunities to NWS forecasters. Additionally, its portability allows experimental datasets to be easily added to the cloud based environment which is not possible under the current operational software paradigm. WAVE continues to gain support in the NWS and our talk will focus on the current and upcoming development of the software and how it will fit in with the future of our agency.