At present, the operational use of three dimensional (3D)visualization of METOC information within DoD is rare. Software tools like Vis5D have been exploited by scientists and modelers for many years, but the operational forecaster has had little access or perceived use for such tools. This paper reports on the efforts of the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center in Monterey, California, to construct and deliver 3D visualizations to operational customers as an augmentation to 2D charts. It concludes that well considered 3D visualizations can help forecasters in understanding and communicating short term forecasts