The new Warning Environment Simulator (WES) offers a new training tool for National Weather Service forecasters. For the first time in the AWIPS era, forecasters can experience the challenges faced in a warning event in a simulation in their own office. The simulator not only provides a realistic time element of product arrival, but also dissemination practice using the WarnGen software. Upon completion of the simulation, forecasters can also obtain valuable feedback on their performance

The WES can provide a more realistic warning event if challenges experienced in actual events are incorporated into the scenario. Spotter reports play a critical role in most warning events, but the forecaster must judge the value of a particular report. Actual reports from Storm Data or station logs can be mixed with misleading reports. Equipment outages can be simulated to challenge the user to implement backup procedures. The playback of recorded HAM radio traffic and television coverage can add reality and important decision making information to the scenario. Ultimately, proper use of the Warning Environment Simulator in a structured scenario can lead to an increase in experience and expertise for a forecaster in an off-line setting.

This demonstration of the Warning Environments Simulator will include a step by step process of how to develop a complete scenario. There will be both a description of the data sets that can be archived in real-time for future scenario development, and a list of potential locations of historical data sets. The tools the WES provides for playback will be exhibited. Finally, tips for how to best incorporate the challenges of a real warning event will be discussed.