Because weather terms are often unique, there is often no agreed upon translation. Additionally, just as there are dialects of English that vary by geography, so too are there different Spanish translations by geography. This is increasingly becoming a challenge for the Weather Enterprise. For example, the NWS Hazard Simplification effort, an evaluation of the watch, warning, advisory system, found that there are many translations of the word, “warning”[4] where as the phrase “outflow boundary” has no direct translation. There is also no standard across all television stations. During Impact Based Warnings focus groups, emergency managers raised concern about translating the terms “considerable” and “catastrophic,” terms used to denote a possible level of damage within tornado warnings. Not only are there direct translation issues, but there is also a lack of context for what the term means in the context of weather.[5]

Additionally, a number of recent efforts cite the need for more Spanish support. The Hurricane Matthew Service Assessment,[6] for example, cited efforts by the NWS Miami Forecast Office who translated key messages regarding hazards from Matthew. The Assessment pointed out that these welcomed efforts are inconsistently available across the enterprise.

In light of this need, this session is requesting abstracts that identify and address the following topics:  

• Past and present challenges in translating weather into Spanish
• Existing Spanish weather translation resources
• Ways to address these challenges in the future

[1] https://www.ametsoc.org/ams/index.cfm/about-ams/diversity-and-inclusion-at-ams/

[2] https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/newsroom/facts-for-features/2017/cb17-ff17.pdf

[3] Calculated using the following data: https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2013/demo/2009-2013-lang-tables.html

[4] Hazard Simplification Workshop/Focus Groups

[5] Impact Based Warnings Focus Group Report

[6] Hurricane Matthew Service Assessment

Because weather terms are often unique, there is often no agreed upon translation. Additionally, just as there are dialects of English that vary by geography, so too are there different Spanish translations by geography. This is increasingly becoming a challenge for the Weather Enterprise. For example, the NWS Hazard Simplification effort, an evaluation of the watch, warning, advisory system, found that there are many translations of the word, “warning”[4] whereas the phrase “outflow boundary” has no direct translation. There is also no standard across all television stations. During Impact Based Warnings focus groups, emergency managers raised concern about translating the terms “considerable” and “catastrophic,” terms used to denote a possible level of damage within tornado warnings. Not only are there direct translation issues, but there is also a lack of context for what the term means in the context of weather.[5]

Additionally, a number of recent efforts cite the need for more Spanish support. The Hurricane Matthew Service Assessment,[6] for example, cited efforts by the NWS Miami Forecast Office who translated key messages regarding hazards from Matthew. The Assessment pointed out that these welcomed efforts are inconsistently available across the enterprise.

In light of this need, this session is requesting abstracts that identify and address the following topics:  

• Past and present challenges in translating weather into Spanish
• Existing Spanish weather translation resources
• Ways to address these challenges in the future

[1] https://www.ametsoc.org/ams/index.cfm/about-ams/diversity-and-inclusion-at-ams/

[2] https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/newsroom/facts-for-features/2017/cb17-ff17.pdf

[3] Calculated using the following data: https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2013/demo/2009-2013-lang-tables.html

[4] Hazard Simplification Workshop/Focus Groups

[5] Impact Based Warnings Focus Group Report

[6] Hurricane Matthew Service Assessment

We propose that there be a session dedicated to presentations and/or discussions on advances in effective weather messaging.  We envision presentations from public and private sector meteorologists, social scientists and emergency management personnel, as there is much to learn from each other.  

Among the questions to be posed:  1) how do we improve our messaging, especially in a world with many distractions and a seemingly infinite number of methods to receive information; and 2) how do we get our point(s) across most effectively and efficiently?

• Accelerate Improvements in Weather Forecasting
• Accelerate Improvements in Flood Forecasting and Mitigation
• Accelerate Improvements in Hurricane Intensity Forecasting
• Accelerate Data Assimilation from Observations to Improve Forecasting

These focus areas have been further broken down into 27 supplemental projects with appropriate funding. The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)/ Office of Weather and Air Quality (OWAQ) has partnered with the National Weather Service (NWS)/ Office of Science Technology Integration (STI), the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), National Ocean Service (NOS) and Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) to ensure successful coordination, execution, and reporting of the 27 supplemental projects and funds. This session highlights the ongoing programmatic work and technical research that is conducted as a result of the hurricane supplemental funding. Participants are encouraged to submit programmatic as well as technical presentations related to the execution of these 27 projects. Additionally, all submitted talks will discuss how their research will accelerate the operational warning and forecasting of hurricanes and ultimately contribute to a Weather Ready Nation.