The National Weather Service (NWS) is currently implementing an Interactive Forecast Preparation System (IFPS) that assists forecasters in creating forecast products. One effect of this implementation is that the NWS Meteorological Development Laboratory (MDL) is changing the way it supports IFPS users. Until recently, IFPS software support procedures were rather informal. During that time, IFPS was a part of the forecast process at just a handful of WFOs. MDL successfully supported these offices by having several of its software developers respond to questions and issue as they arose. These developers continued to work normal business hours. They communicated directly with WFO staff and MDL did not specifically assign individuals to provide this support.

This paper will describe the changes MDL has implemented to support IFPS software and their results thus far. In response to NWS schedules for IFPS implementation, MDL has assigned a developer to act as a full-time IFPS expert with the AWIPS Site Support Team (SST). The SST is dedicated to providing detailed AWIPS software support. MDL has also established other customer service activities such as providing around-the-clock emergency software support, participating in NWS Training Center IFPS courses, training AWIPS support personnel in the use of IFPS, and creating World Wide Web based documentation.