In our continuing work on the implementation and applications of an operational mesoscale modelling system dubbed "Deep Thunder", we examine its application for commercial and industrial plant and facility operations. The Deep Thunder system has provided 24-hour forecasts for several metropolitan regions in the United States for a number of years. Model forecasts, are typically updated twice daily with triply, nested grids down to 1 to 2 km resolution. Explicit, bulk cloud microphysics are included in the model predictions to enable forecasts of potentially severe weather. All of the processing, modelling and visualization are completed in one hour on relatively modest hardware to enable sufficiently timely dissemination of forecast products for potential weather-sensitive applications.

Some of the recent extensions to Deep Thunder have included support for weather-sensitive operations at several major IBM facilities in the northeastern United States. These facilities range from large office complexes to research facilities and semi-conductor manufacturing plants. As part of a “green” corporative initiative to further improve the operational efficiency of these facilities, we are investigating the application of high resolution numerical weather prediction models focused on their operational environment. In particular, we are attempting to quantify the potential for improving energy and water management as well as other plant and site operations which may include facility construction and maintenance, operational logistics and manufacturing and operations of information technology systems. We will discuss our overall approach to these issues and some of the results to date.