8A.3 Next generation warning products and services

Tuesday, 28 October 2008: 2:00 PM
North & Center Ballroom (Hilton DeSoto)
John T. Ferree, NOAA/NWS Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services, Norman, OK ; and K. A. Scharfenberg

Continually evolving National Weather Service watch/warning/advisory products and services are required to meet the Weather and Water goal in NOAA's Strategic Plan, specifically:

- Reduce loss of life, injury, and damage to the economy

- Provide better, quicker, and more trusted weather and water information to support informed decisions

- Increase satisfaction with quality of weather and water information and services

- Employ scientific and emerging technological capabilities to advance decision-support services and educate stakeholders.

As new scientific techniques and better technology become available, severe storm forecasting improvements can be divided into two basic categories:

1. The data and tools used by forecasters making watch and warning decisions, and

2. The transmitted products and services.

New decision-making tools and the structure of new products and services should be designed not only to increase accuracy but to improve the communication of hazard information to the public and key partners such as emergency managers and the media so they can make timelier and better-informed decisions in advance of expected hazards.

This presentation will discuss the ongoing development activity for the Next Generation Warning Tool, and the gathering of user requirements for new and improved warning products and services. These efforts will allow improved understanding of weather timing and expected impacts (situational awareness), maximizing responsiveness to NWS warnings.

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