Observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs) are in progress with a regional NWP model and its data assimilation system to evaluate the potential impacts of the future NASA spaced-based Doppler wind Lidar (DWL) measurements on the forecast of high-impact weather systems (e.g., winter storms and hurricanes).

A preliminary study has been conducted to identify and evaluate the high-impact weather systems from the ECMWF natural runs. Early evaluation shows promising results and also challenging questions in the use of the ECMWF natural runs for regional OSSEs. These results and challenges will be discussed in the presentation with multiple detailed case studies. In addition, the most recent progress, results and future plan for regional OSSEs with assimilation of Lidar wind data will be reported.