Multiple Radar/Multiple Sensor (MRMS) System: Next-Generation Optimization and Enhancement Project

The Multiple Radar/Multiple Sensor (MRMS) system is a state-of-the-science hydrometeorological data ingest and analysis framework that combines data streams from multiple radars, satellites, surface and upper air observations, lightning and gauge data, and numerical model analysis and prediction to produce a suite of real-time decision-support products every two minutes over the CONUS. Developed at the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) in collaboration with the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies (CIMMS) and other research entities, the objective for MRMS is to be the world’s most advanced system for severe weather and stormscale hydrometeorology, leveraging the best science and observation systems to produce the most accurate and reliable hydrometeorological analyses, quantitative precipitation estimates (QPE), severe weather analyses, and flash flood detection and nowcasting.

In 2014, MRMS was successfully transferred to operations at the National Weather Service’s National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), with MRMS products becoming available in real time to NWS forecasters, national centers as well as numerous customers and partners in the public and private sectors. Along with extensive use of MRMS products in warning and forecast operations, MRMS has also become a critical facet in a number of analysis and forecast systems, including NCEP’s High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) and National Water Model (NWM) prediction systems. Because of MRMS’ crucial role in current and future weather and water services, NOAA has targeted a significant enhancement to MRMS over the next few years utilizing resources from the 2018 Disaster Supplemental Appropriations. The primary project will involve optimization of the underlying code and architecture of MRMS, enabling MRMS to optimally utilize future NOAA computing infrastructure, including potentially cloud computing. Additionally, new tools will be developed for MRMS to enable NWS hydrometeorologists to more easily quality control QPE for NOAA’s hydrologic model, and a new Caribbean sector domain will be added to help improve hydrometeorological analysis and warnings for this region. This presentation will provide an overview of the plans and ultimate deliverables for these projects, as well as the most recent plans for how these efforts will support key initiatives such as Warn-on-Forecast and FACETs.