The objectives of this paper are two fold: 1) to present results of a verification study for a locally run high-resolution mesoscale model and 2) to demonstrate the impact of ingesting local data into the Local Analysis and Prediction System (LAPS) and the Mesoscale Surface Assimilation System (MSAS) in AWIPS. These tools are part of the AWIPS Mesoscale Analysis and Prediction System (MAPS). Running high resolution local models and ingesting local data into the analysis and prediction system in AWIPS is part of an ongoing effort of providing forecasters the tools they need to make more detailed and accurate forecasts.

With the advent of faster and more cost effective computers, local forecast offices across the US are now able to run high-resolution versions of nationally run models locally. At the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Miami, a 10 KM version of the ETA (Workstation ETA) model is run twice a day. At the present time, the runs are being archived with the objective of conducting a verification study at the end of the rainy season (defined as the period from mid May through mid October). The verification will be conducted by comparing the forecasts with real time precipitation composites. This paper will present the results of the verification study.

Also, forecasts offices across Florida are now ingesting into AWIPS the Florida Agricultural Weather Network (FAWN) data. This data goes into the D2D plots and is also assimilated into the LAPS and MSAS analysis. Present plans include also the addition in the near future of Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS), data from the public service weather network of amateur radio operators and private citizens operating home weather stations (APRSWXNET), and real time Precipitable Water from the NOAA/FSL Ground-Based GPS Integrated Precipitable Water Vapor Demonstration Network (GPS-IPW). This paper will present results from comparing the analysis with and without these data networks going into the AWIPS MAPS.