Update on LAPS in AWIPS II

The Local Analysis and Prediction System (LAPS) has been a part of the AWIPS baseline for almost 20 years. From its earliest versions 61x61 grid, 21 vertical levels, 10km resolution) to its current form (301x301 grid, 2.5 km resolution and 42 levels), LAPS has worked to develop cutting edge technologies to support situational awareness and nowcasting at the NWS Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs). In 20132014, LAPS went through important upgrades as part of the AWIPS II transition. These include changes in the ingest of its numerous data sources, development of a LAPS Graphical User Interface (GUI) to give more control to the WFO users, and a new multiscale, simplified 4D variational version of the analysis package. A summary of the status of LAPS and its role in AWIPS will be presented, as well as upcoming improvements in the LAPS package. We will describe plans for a new LAPS User Group and Change Control Management (CCM) protocol, developed through the NWS Virtual Laboratory (VLab), and explain how these changes will serve NOAA's WeatherReady Nation and NWS' nowcasting capabilities.