National Weather Service

Effective Use of theEffective Use of theWeather Event Simulator Weather Event Simulator

National Weather Service

Weather Event SimulatorWeather Event Simulator

• Allows forecasters to replay weather Allows forecasters to replay weather events in either displaced real-time or events in either displaced real-time or case study mode case study mode

• Lets forecasters to sharpen their skills Lets forecasters to sharpen their skills related to weather forecasting, satellite related to weather forecasting, satellite and radar interpretation, and warning and radar interpretation, and warning generation for winter weather, tropical generation for winter weather, tropical cyclones, severe storms, flash flooding, cyclones, severe storms, flash flooding, and headwater flooding events.and headwater flooding events.

• Allows forecasters to enhance their Allows forecasters to enhance their situation awareness skills.situation awareness skills.

National Weather Service

You Really Should ReadYou Really Should Read

National Weather Service

WDTB Support SiteWDTB Support Site

National Weather Service

WES 6.0 OverviewWES 6.0 Overview

National Weather Service

You Must CreateYou Must CreateNew AWIPS LocalizationsNew AWIPS Localizations

With Every WES/AWIPS BuildWith Every WES/AWIPS Build

National Weather Service

Connecting Multiple Machines Connecting Multiple Machines

For advanced userFor advanced user““plug and play” in plug and play” in

futurefuture

server client

mount case

National Weather Service

““LSR Importer” Creates MapsLSR Importer” Creates MapsDirectly From SPC’s LSR LogDirectly From SPC’s LSR Log

National Weather Service

NWS Instruction 20-101NWS Instruction 20-101

• The MIC will ensure all WFO staff with The MIC will ensure all WFO staff with forecast and warning responsibilities forecast and warning responsibilities complete at least two appropriate WES complete at least two appropriate WES simulations prior to the start of each simulations prior to the start of each significant weather season.significant weather season.

• At the minimum, all offices will define at At the minimum, all offices will define at least two significant weather seasons.least two significant weather seasons.

National Weather Service

NWS Instruction 20-101NWS Instruction 20-101

• The MIC will ensure all WFO staff with The MIC will ensure all WFO staff with forecast and warning responsibilities forecast and warning responsibilities complete at least two appropriate WES complete at least two appropriate WES simulations prior to the start of each simulations prior to the start of each significant weather season.significant weather season.

• At the minimum, all offices will define at least At the minimum, all offices will define at least two significant weather seasons.two significant weather seasons.

• SSD will ask:SSD will ask:““Have you incorporated the WES into Have you incorporated the WES into

your office training?”your office training?”

National Weather Service

Regional/NationalRegional/NationalCase LibrariesCase Libraries

National Weather Service

What Makes an What Makes an Effective Simulation?Effective Simulation?

• Clear learning objectives.Clear learning objectives.• Why was this event chosen as a training case?Why was this event chosen as a training case?• What can be learned from it?What can be learned from it?

• Level of difficulty appropriate for the trainee(s) Level of difficulty appropriate for the trainee(s) skill level.skill level.

• Appropriate type of simulation.Appropriate type of simulation.• Real-time SimulationReal-time Simulation• Interval-based SimulationInterval-based Simulation• Situation Awareness SimulationSituation Awareness Simulation• Virtual Reality SimulationVirtual Reality Simulation• Case Study ReviewCase Study Review

National Weather Service

What MakesWhat Makesan Effective Simulation?an Effective Simulation?

• The opportunity to fail safely.The opportunity to fail safely.• Bernard’s boring Gadsden Purchase story.Bernard’s boring Gadsden Purchase story.

National Weather Service

A unique D2D user account (e.g., 2001Nov15) can be created for a particular event or simulation. Procedures can then be constructed using that account which will load and display data at specified time periods and discussion points. When used in conjunction with a self-paced simulation guide (see below) such procedures can be used for unsupervised training exercises.

Case-Specific User Accountsand Custom Procedures

National Weather Service

HTML Simulation Guides for Independent Training

By following an HTML simulation guide the trainee can be led through the review of an event as independent study. When coupled with the D2D procedures mentioned above, the trainee's attention can be drawn to critical data and features at specific times during the event. Such guides may also include links to supplemental information such as screen shots of AWIPS hydrology applications and links to additional training resources.

National Weather Service

When is a SimulatorWhen is a SimulatorReallyReally a Simulator? a Simulator?

Although you can’t have the Simulator Although you can’t have the Simulator create a pulse thunderstorm over Monroe create a pulse thunderstorm over Monroe County at 10:00 am Thursday, you can…County at 10:00 am Thursday, you can…

• Simulate the loss of some or all local radar Simulate the loss of some or all local radar data.data.

• Add, modify or withhold spotter reports.Add, modify or withhold spotter reports.• Let the trainees experience a null case.Let the trainees experience a null case.• Practice office backup.Practice office backup.

National Weather Service

Appropriate SimulationsAppropriate Simulations

• Practice coordination/collaboration within or Practice coordination/collaboration within or between offices.between offices.

• Practice interpreting forecasts for decision Practice interpreting forecasts for decision makers during impact weather events.makers during impact weather events.

• Introduce/test new data/products.Introduce/test new data/products.• Demonstrate forecast opportunities when Demonstrate forecast opportunities when

forecaster can add substantial value to the forecaster can add substantial value to the numerical guidance.numerical guidance.

National Weather Service

Latest Estimates of Schedule Latest Estimates of Schedule Subject to ChangeSubject to Change

W E S 6.0 +

Training Functionality in AWIPS Baseline…

April 2006

ORPG

Fall 2006

WES7.1

OB7.1OB6.0

WES6.0

July 2006

GFE/GHG

WES6.0ww

And more…