Monitoring Tools For Better Situational AwarenessMonitoring Tools For Better Situational Awareness

DEREK DEROCHEDEREK DEROCHENOAA / NWS, Weather Forecast Office, Pleasant Hill, MissouriNOAA / NWS, Weather Forecast Office, Pleasant Hill, Missouri

Severe Weather Seminar Severe Weather Seminar March 2, 2010March 2, 2010

Severe Weather Seminar Severe Weather Seminar March 2, 2010March 2, 2010

Review of Multimedia Web Briefings

Updates• Instructions for Version 6 Instructions for Version 6 have been added to have been added to graphics binder (for graphics binder (for tabbed browser only, tabbed browser only, powerpoint coming soon)powerpoint coming soon)

• Working towards adding Working towards adding links to intranet page to links to intranet page to allow for quicker allow for quicker preparationpreparation

• Use of browser tabs for Use of browser tabs for quick loading??? RSS quick loading??? RSS feeds???feeds???

Effective Placefiles…SAD???

Utilize favorite SA tool to display pertinent information: Gibson Ridge Software (GRLevelX), Google Earth, StormLab, RadarLab HD, others

Placefile Possibilities• CR SA Displays• Spotter Network• NWS Warnings• SPC Watches• SPC Mesoscale Discussions• SPC Day 1 Outlook/Probabilities• MRESS observations• METAR observations• Local mesonet observations• Local Storm Reports (LSR)• WSR-88D algorithms• Incorporated GPS location• NOAA Wx Radio locations• Amateur Radio Repeaters• Customized GIS locations

Influx of mobile storm observers (most cases, highly experienced)Influx of mobile storm observers (most cases, highly experienced) Greatest density April–June (includes rural areas) Greatest density April–June (includes rural areas)

Wealth of information/data now Wealth of information/data now possible to obtain in real-timepossible to obtain in real-time

Emerging technologies in the fieldEmerging technologies in the fieldin support of operations and researchin support of operations and research

through electronic meansthrough electronic means

Review of Emerging TechnologiesReview of Emerging TechnologiesReview of Emerging TechnologiesReview of Emerging Technologies

•Spotter NetworkSpotter Network•MRESSMRESS•Live Chase CamsLive Chase Cams

SN Report Information

Event Type: Hail (m2.75”)Time: 2330 UTCLat/Lon Location: 41.0812/-99.0611Participant Info: John DoeComments: Broken windows

Severe Wx EventSevere Wx Event

KD5KOW – ActiveBlair (Off-duty NWS)2009-03-11 19:53:23 UTCHeading: 110Cell: 785-123-4567Notes: NWS call anytime

Mobile Rapid Environmental Mobile Rapid Environmental Sampling SystemSampling System

Introduced in 2008…currently only one vehicleIntroduced in 2008…currently only one vehicle

Remote, mobile weather observations funneled to a central data Remote, mobile weather observations funneled to a central data repository for external web access repository for external web access

MM participants with properly mounted, scientific-grade instrumentationMM participants with properly mounted, scientific-grade instrumentation

Available in real-time (MRESS repository, Available in real-time (MRESS repository, GRlevel placefile)GRlevel placefile)

Increased resolution in microscale storm Increased resolution in microscale storm environment and data sparse regionsenvironment and data sparse regions

Great value in the warning decision Great value in the warning decision processprocess

http://www.mress.org/data/OneMinuteObs.txthttp://www.mress.org/data/OneMinuteObs.txt

Mobile Rapid Environmental Mobile Rapid Environmental Sampling SystemSampling System

7 April 20087 April 2008Electra, TexasElectra, Texas

Inflow Environment:Temp: 73 ° Td: 61°

Wind: E @ 30 G37 mph

Live Chase CamsLive Chase Cams

Huge potential to support the warning decision processHuge potential to support the warning decision process!!

Popularity and availability rapidly increased in 2008Popularity and availability rapidly increased in 2008

Streaming video feed from video camera through Streaming video feed from video camera through mobile internet applications to designated web pagemobile internet applications to designated web page

Free to the public to view online in real-time Free to the public to view online in real-time (video hosted by: personal web pages, Severe Studios, etc)(video hosted by: personal web pages, Severe Studios, etc)

The ultimate ground-truth tool for severe weather operationsThe ultimate ground-truth tool for severe weather operations

Real visualization of storm structure with radar data = excellent awarenessReal visualization of storm structure with radar data = excellent awareness

LCC

© 2008 Matt Grantham, alabamaweather.org

22 May 2008Hoxie, KS

As viewed real-time from theNational Weather Service Goodland, KS

Real-time Visual Confirmation

Putting It All Together

Live MRESSOperator: Bob Fritchiewww.mress.org

Valid: 2009-5-23 (2332UTC)

Temp/Td: 76/63

Severe Wind GustWind: 63.2 mphDir: 290 deg

Prelim data, WFO calls welcome

KD5KOW – ActiveScott Blair2009-5-23 2344 UTCSTATIONARYPhone: 785-123-4567Note: Off-Duty NWS

Real-time SA Tools

Live TV Streams

• Allows WFO’s to monitor other television stations outside of their viewing area by placing a slingbox at the TV station or EM office.

• STJ and IRK this year…COU, etc to come???

Traffic/Web cams

• Can supply Can supply real-time real-time Verification Verification

• Not only found Not only found within within metropolitan metropolitan areasareas

• Check intranet Check intranet page for listingpage for listing

TV Station Blogs/Live Chat Rooms

• Some TV stations Some TV stations monitor and post monitor and post reports within a live reports within a live forumforum

• Viewers can post Viewers can post reports as wellreports as well

• Can be useful for Can be useful for verificationverification

Weather MailA SEVERE THUNDERSTORM warning was issued for your area at 613 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2009.We would appreciate it if you contacted us with any information on severe weather you mighthave observed with this storm.We are interested in the following kinds of weather information:

  1) Hail the size of a dime or larger.  2) Winds that cause any kind of damage, or that are estimated to have exceeded 60 MPH.  3) Tornadoes and/or funnel clouds.

Please be as descriptive as possible, and keep the following in mind if you are replying...For All Events: Reference location of observed severe weather to cities, and road names.For Hail: Include size of hail stones (estimated or measured), and time it occurred.For Wind: Include speed (if known) or describe damage done, and time it occurred. As anexample include diameter of any limbs blown from trees, and any details on other objects that where damaged.For Tornado/Funnel Cloud: Include description of where it was observed, if any damage was done, andtime it occurred.You can follow the following link to a web-page hosted by the Iowa State University Department of Agronomywhich can give you information on the SEVERE THUNDERSTORM warning, and where the storm was.http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/GIS/apps/rview/warnings_cat.phtml?year=2009&wfo=EAX&eventid=188&phenomena=SV&significance=W

Reponse: hello and thanx for email    here on the town square in kingston winds were approx 60 mph.  i have a 30 foot top blown off of a 60 foot black locust tree in my front yard. there was also extreme ponding from 1 1/4 inch of rain falling in minutes..thankl you/ dennis yoakum

• Used for verificationUsed for verification• Sends out an email to Sends out an email to spotters in database within spotters in database within polygonpolygon

• Received ~700 responses Received ~700 responses during 2009 svr wx seasonduring 2009 svr wx season

• Possibilities with new Possibilities with new technology…ie include call technology…ie include call back number and spotter back number and spotter network reporting via smart network reporting via smart phones phones

Social Networking

• Facebook quickly Facebook quickly becoming one of the most becoming one of the most frequently visited sites on frequently visited sites on internetinternet

• Reach newer, potentially Reach newer, potentially larger audiencelarger audience

• Upload waypoints from Upload waypoints from damage survey appdamage survey app

•Utilize geo-locations to Utilize geo-locations to view tweet via maps. Could view tweet via maps. Could be potentially useful for be potentially useful for reports. reports.

Social Networking