Pacific NW NWS Warning
Coordination Meteorologists
C di ti M t l it
Seattle Ted Buehner 206-526-6095 x223
ted.buehner@noaa.gov
db h @

Portland Tyree Wilde 503-326-2340 x223
tyree.wilde@noaa.gov
tyree wilde@noaa gov

Spokane Anthony Cavallucci 509-244-0110 x223
anthony.cavallucci@noaa.gov

Pendleton Dennis Hull 541-276-7832 x223
dennis.hull@noaa.gov
@ g

Medford Ryan Sandler 541-773-1067 x223
ryan.sandler@noaa.gov

Boise Robert Diaz 208-334-9860 x223
robert.diaz@noaa.gov

National Weather Service
Mission
(Serving America Since 1870)

Provide Weather, Hydrologic, and Climate
Forecasts and Warnings for the United
g
States, its Territories, Adjacent Waters
and Ocean Areas, for the Protection of Life
and Property and Enhancement of the
National Economy.

We are Partners with a Common Mission

Outline
• Significant Pacific NW Weather Patterns

• Storm Surveys

• Area Hazardous Weather Stats

• StormReady / TsunamiReady Communities

• NWS All-Hazards Weather Support

• What’s New In NWS Products and Services
What s

• Address Your Questions

Significant Pacific NW
Weather Patterns
W th P tt
• Meteorological “Bombs”

• Gap Winds

• Arctic Outbreaks

• ‘Pi
‘Pineapple Express’
l E ’

• Puget Sound Convergence
Zone
Zone

How Does the Pacific NW Rank
Nationally ?

Pacific NW Weather is Terrain Driven

Topography
vs

Annual
Precipitation

Pacific NW
Wind Storms
or
“Meteorological
Bombs”

Columbus Day Storm: Oct 12, 1962

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sew/WindstormBro.pdf

Gap Winds
p

• Related to pressure gradient forces
• Common in the Strait of Juan de Fuca,
Columbia River, Fraser River,
Cascade Passes
• Reverses from summer to winter
• Wi d accelerates in narrow gaps
Wind l t i
(”Bernoulli Effect”)

Gap Winds (summer example)
(reversal in winter)

Adapted from “Mountain Meteorology - Fundamentals and Applications”, Whiteman, 2000

Arctic Yukon High
Outbreaks

Outflow from
the Fraser
th F
Canyon

Two Feet of Snow

Atmospheric Rivers –
aka – the Pineapple Express
.........

Characteristics of
Pacific NW Flooding
Extended periods of heavy rain combined with
high freezing levels.
Orographic forcing over terrain usually plays
a major role in enhancing rainfall amounts.
Low elevation snowmelt (below ~3,500 feet)
can be an important factor.
factor
Typically higher mountain snowpack does not
contribute to runoff
runoff.
Spring snowpack thaw is only a serious flood
threat east of the Cascades.
Most floods occur between November and
February.

Puget Sound Convergence Zone
g g

Ingredients

1. Winds ith
1 Wi d with a westerly
t l
component.

2. A barrier. (In our case, the
Olympic Mountains.)
y p )

3. Moisture.
3 Moisture

What happens next?

• If the air is “blocked”
and cannot travel over
the mountains, it must
mountains
find an alternate route.
• What is the most probable
alternate route for the air?

• AROUND the Olympic
Mountains on both sides.

Convergence Causes Precipitation
• Air colliding is called
“convergence”
• When the air converges on
g
the east side of the Olympics
(usually over the Puget
Sound area), it causes
),
precipitation.
• Why?
• Convergence causes air to
rise, which causes the
moisture to condense and
it t d d
fall out as precipitation.

Air Air

Clearing Cloud Cloud
Cl d Cl d Clearing
Droplets
Droplets
Skies Skies

Air Air

Rain, Snow, or Thunderstorms?

• During the winter, if the air is
cold enough, precipitation can
fall out as snow!

• If there is enough instability we
can even get thunderstorms in
the Puget Sound area because
of the convergence zone!

Shifting Winds !!

Storm Surveys
y

• What Are They?

• When Are They
Done?

• Local Emergency
Manager’s
Participation
P ti i ti

I-90 Pileup – Feb 2007

Storm Surveys
y

• What Are They?
– Document significant
weather events

– Go into our
climatological history

– Records
• Short term – Local
Short-term
Storm Reports

• Long-term - Recorded
Nov 06 Floods in M thl StormData
i Monthly St D t

Storm Surveys
y

• When Are They Done?
– Follow severe convective weather events
• Examples – tornadoes, severe thunderstorms

• Vancouver tornado – Jan 2008

– Can follow significant ‘long-fused’ events
• Example – widespread major flooding

• Early Dec 2007 storm

Storm Surveys

• Local Emergency Manager’s Participation
– C
Convective Weather Events
• Asked to join the on-site survey of damage
• Media often covers the survey party

– Significant Long-Fuse Events
• Usually conducted in your office following the event
• Assesses NWS products and services throughout the
event

Storm Surveys
• StormData
– Monthly report submitted by all NWS Forecast Offices
• Submitted 3 Months Following
• Your Input Needed Depending on the Event
– Includes:
• Convective Weather Events
• Long-Fused Weather Events
• Fatalities, Injuries, Property Damage, Synopsis of Event
– National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)
• Publication – Monthly StormData
• Available on Line at:
– http://www5.ncdc.noaa.gov/pubs/publications.html

Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF)
Effective Feb 1, 2007
FUJITA SCALE EF SCALE
Fastest 1/4-mile 3 Second Gust 3 Second Gust
F# EF #
(mph) (mph) (mph)

0 40-72 45-78 0 65-85

1 73-112 79-117 1 86-110

2 113-157 118-161 2 111-135

3 158-207 162-209 3 136-165

4 208-260 210-261 4 166-200

5 261-318 262-317 5 Over 200
Recent example: Sep ‘09 Enumclaw tornado – EF1

Hazardous Weather Stats

• Presidentially Declared Weather-Related
Disasters

• Weather Statistics for Washington


• Presidentially Declared Weather-Related
Disasters
– #1 – Flooding ( ~50%)

– #2 – Wi d Storm / Wi t /I Storms
Wind St Winter/Ice St

– #4 – Wildfires

– #5 – Landslides


• Fatalities
– #1 - Heat
– #2 - Avalanche
– #3 - Wi d t
Windstorms
– #4 - Winter/Ice Storms
– #5 - Floods
– #6 - Landslides


– Short-fused Convective Events
• Thunderstorms
– Produce
» Lightning
» Hail
» H
Heavy P
Precipitation > Flash Floods
i it ti Fl h Fl d
» Downbursts
» Tornadoes

• Weather Statistics for
Washington
– Short-fused Convective
Events
• Thunderstorms
– Lightning
» 1 fatality about
every 5 years
» Several injuries
each year
» Avg 10-20
thunderstorms /
year
» Th public is
The bli i
NOT
thunderstorm
proficient

• Thunderstorms
– Heavy Precipitation / Flash Floods
» East of the Cascades concern
» Flash Flood prone areas
» Heppner, Ore Flash Flood
» June 14, 1903
14
» Second deadliest flash flood in American history
» 247 fatalities, washed away Heppner and Ione

• Tornadoes – Average between 1 or 2 / year
– O
Occur anytime of year, primarily during transition
ti f i il d i t iti
seasons of spring and fall
– Most quite weak – EF0 or EF1
– Three reported F3s in our history since 1950
– Apr 5, 1972 – Vancouver tornado
» Plowed thru grocery store, bowling house,
school
» Killed 6, injured 200+
» Led nation in tornado deaths that year

Washington
– Long-fused Events
• Heat
• Cold
• Avalanche
• Winter Storms / Ice Storms
• Flooding
• Landslides
• Wildfires
• Coastal Flooding / Storm Surge
• Dense Fog
• Drought
• Blowing Dust

• Heat
– #1 Weather-related killer in the U.S. and the World
– Over 1500 excess deaths from heat annually in the U.S.
alone
– More than all other weather-related fatalities combined
– Heart Attacks, Strokes, Respiratory IIlnesses, Heat
Stroke/Stress
– Most Vulnerable
» Elderly
» Very Young
» Those Left in Vehicles


Washington
Long fused Chicago, Illinois:
g
• Heat (#1 in
July 1995 Daily Mortality
Washington) 500
• Seattle area alone – 645
400
excess deaths 1975-1999
– Avg 27 per year 300
D eaths
above normal e

mortality rate 200

100

0
1 5 9 13 17 21 25 29
Day


Washington
Long fused
• Avalanche
– #2 Weather-related
killer in Washington
– Avg 3 fatalities per
year since mid
1990s

Washington
• Wind Storms
– #3 Weather-related killer in
Washington
– Average two fatalities per
year
– Several injuries per year
– Usual Cause - Falling
g
Trees or Limbs
– Hanakkah Eve Wind Storm
of 2006
Power Crew Working On
Downed Power Lines » 15 fatalities (4 direct,
11 indirect)

Washington
• Flooding
– No loss of life from
1999-2005
– Nov 2006 (2)
– Dec 2007 (2)
– Usual Causes
Nov 2006 Floods – Cowlitz River
» Driving across Photos Courtesy of Lewis County DEM
flooded
roadways
» Trying to cross
on foot


Washington
Long fused
• Landslides, Wildfires,
Dense Fog
• Winter Storms / Ice
Storms, Blowing Dust
– Have all caused
fatalities i th
f t liti in the
past
– Property Damage

Property Damage: Severe
W th 1950-2006
Weather 1950-

Total dollar amount of property damage is expressed in
millions of dollars

Data was grouped into decades

Five events were covered: windstorms, thunderstorms,
tornadoes, snow & ice, and flooding

Data is completely missing for the period between 1950-
1950-
1955

Fatalities: Severe Weather from
1950-
1950-2006
45
40
35
30
Windstorms
Wi d t
25
Thunderstorms
20 Tornadoes
15 Snow & Ice
10 Flooding
5
0
1950- 1960- 1970- 1980- 1990- 2000-
1959 1969 1979 1989 1999 2006

Injuries: Severe Weather from
1950-
1950-2006
350

300

250

200 Windstorms
Thunderstorms
150 Tornadoes
100 Snow & Ice
Flooding
50

0
1950- 1960- 1970- 1980- 1990- 2000-
1959 1969 1979 1989 1999 2006

Property Damage: Severe Weather
1950-
1950-2006
350
300
250
Windstorms
200
Thunderstorms
150 Tornadoes
100 Snow & Ice
50 Flooding

0
1950- 1960- 1970- 1980- 1990- 2000-
1959 1969 1979 1989 1999 2006

2006
The Distribution of Washington Tornados, 1950 -1994.
0
1 11
0 11
22 1 1 1
1
011 0 2 11
1 0 00 0
2 1 30 1 0 1
0 0 0 0 22
0
13
0
0
0 1 10
0 0 1 00 0
00
0
0 0
10 1 0
0 20 00 1 1
2 0 0 2 1
0 0 00
1 0
00 0 0 0 20
1
10
3

Tornadoes Western Washington 1954-2006

10
9
8
ncy

7
Frequen

6
5
4
3
2
1
0
y

ri l
ry

ay

r
ne

ly

r
st
ch

r
er

be
be

be
ar

Ju

gu
Ap
ua

ob
M

Ju
ar
nu

em
em

em
Au
br

M

ct
Ja

Fe

pt

ov
O

ec
Se

N

D
Month

Frequency of tornadoes each month of
the year

T o r n a d o W e s t e r n W a s h in g t o n T im e
1 9 5 4 -2 0 0 6

10

8
requency

6 A M H o u rs
4 P M H o u rs
Fr

2

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
H o u rs

Frequency of tornadoes throughout
each hour of the day


• Weather Awareness Campaigns
– All-Hazards Awareness Month (April)
– Air Q alit Awareness Week (Ma 2 6)
Quality A areness (May 2-6)
– Pacific NW Severe Weather Awareness
Week (May 1-7)
– Lightning Safety Awareness Week (June
19-25)
– Weather Radio Awareness Month (Sept)
• Includes Statewide Earthquake Drill and
Annual Coastal Tsunami Warning
Communications Test
– Pacific NW Winter Weather Awareness
Week (Oct 16-22)

StormReady /
Sto eady
TsunamiReady
Working Together to Save Lives

Ocean Shores Long Beach

StormReady and TsunamiReady
• Community preparedness programs with the
primary goal to improve public safety during
weather related emergencies

• Cornerstones

 Receive and disseminate weather
information in 24 hour warning point/EOC

 NOAA Weather Radios in public facilities

 Community Outreach

 Hazardous weather plan for community

www.stormready.noaa.gov

As of April 2011, there were over 1740
Storm/TsunamiReady Communities
y
across the nation

• StormReady
• TsunamiReady
• University/Lab
• I d t i l Site
Industrial Sit
• Indian Nation

Washington – 53 Designees
Oregon – 20, Idaho - 179

You Don’t Get A Second Chance To Be Prepared

How to Become a StormReady
or T
TsunamiReady Community?
iR d C it ?

• Want to Get Recognized for all your
Preparedness Efforts?

• Application and complete information
available at:
– www.stormready.noaa.gov

• Your local NWS office contact
– Your Warning Coordination Meteorologist
g g

The Pacific NW Faces Many Non-Weather Hazards
Non-

Earthquakes Tsunamis

Terrorism Major Chemical Spills

NWS All-Hazards
Weather Support
- Tsunami

- Volcanic

- HazMat

- Search and Rescue

- Earthquake

- Dam Break

- Terrorism

Working Together When
‘It’ Happens
• Weather Support
– Phone, Radio

– On-Line

– On-Site

• Emergency Message
Dissemination

• NOAA’s Hazmat Response
and Restoration Office
– Oil Spill

– Chemical Spill

– Coastal Contamination

National Response Framework
Emergency Support Functions (ESFs)
NOAA/NWS Participation
• ESF 1 – Transportation
• ESF 2 – Communications
• ESF 3 – Public Works and Engineering
• ESF 4 – Firefighting
• ESF 5 – Emergency Management
• ESF 7 – Resource Support
• ESF 9 – Urban Search and Rescue
• ESF 10 – Oil and Hazardous Materials Response
• ESF 11 – Agriculture and Natural Resources
• ESF 12 – Energy
• ESF 13 – Public Safety and Security
• ESF 14 – Long-term Community Recovery and Mitigation
Long term
• ESF 15 – External Affairs

All-
All-Hazards
Weather Support
W h S

New Carrissa Selendang AYU
1999 2005

- Weather Data
Missoula Derailment
1996
-FForecasts
t Hurricane Katrina
2005
- Incident Mets
- On-Site or from
NWS Office
- Exercises

NWS Fire Weather / All-Hazards
All-
24/7 Phone Contacts (Unlisted)

Forecaster Support and
Coordination
Seattle - 206-526-6088

Portland - 503-326-2420

Spokane - 509-244-5031

Pendleton - 541-276-8134

NWS Seattle Amateur
Radio W k t ti
R di Workstation
• UHF / VHF
– K7MMI Repeater System,
147.20
• Seattle 800 MHz, King,
, g,
Pierce, Snohomish
counties
• State CemNet
• Packet, APRS
• HF
• Skywarn Recognition Day
• Exercises

Available NWS Services –
On-site Support
• Incident Meteorologist (IMET)
g ( )
– Local Expertise
– Able to work independent of local NWS office
– Provide weather input to response team
• Trained
– ICS
– HAZMAT Response
– Media
• Resources
– 4X4 response vehicle
– Laptop with portable two-way satellite dish
– Local weather observation equipment

www.weather.gov/seattle

www.weather.gov/spokane
www weather gov/spokane

www.weather.gov/pendleton

www.weather.gov/portland

Nationally -
www.weather.gov
g

Spot Forecasts
p
Your Local NWS
Web Site
Click the
Fire Weather Link

- Wildfire
- HAZMAT
- Search & Rescue

Spot Forecasts
SAR Spots HAZMAT Spots
25 45

40

20
35

30
15
25

20
10
15

10
5

5

0 0

SAR Spots HAZMET Spots

HYSPLIT
(Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory Model)
Single-Particle

For Events
Larger Than
10 k
km

Working Together When
‘It’ Happens

• Weather Support
– Phone, Radio

– On-Line

– On-Site

• Emergency Message
Dissemination

NWS Warning Government
Product Agencies

NOAA Port NOAA
Weather
Wire
EMWIN
Internet
Private Associated
Vendors Press ACCESS

NWR / EAS

Media

General Emergency Multiple
Public Mgmt Paths

NWS is an All-Hazards
All-
Weather Support Resource
In Summary – Working Together When
‘It’ Happens
• Site-Specific Weather Support
• Phone
• Radio
• On-Line
• On-Site
• Emergency Message Dissemination
• NOAA Weather Radio
• Emergency Alert System (EAS)
• Text Message to Newswires/Media
• E-Warn, iNWS, NWSChat
• Social Media

What s
What’s New?
• Social Impacts of Weather
• FLARE
• Area Forecast Discussions
• Weather Spotters
• CoCoRaHS
• NWSChat
• E-Warn
• iNWS
• NOAA Weather Radio
• HazCollect
• A Few More

Social Impacts of Weather
• What are the impacts of:
• High Wind
• Floods
• Winter Storms
• Heat
• Landslides and more

• Improving decision support for community leaders
• High Impact Weather Events (e.g. – Howard Hanson Dam)
• Planning in Advance
• Public Safety
• Protecting / Mitigating Impacts to Property
• Maintaining / Enhancing Commerce

• Proactive steps
• Weather Outlooks / Watches / Warnings / Statements
• On-line Weather Briefings
On line
• Forecast Discussions - 4 times per day
• Is there more? Your input desired

Virtual Weather Briefings

• Virtual and Interactive on-line
weather briefings

• Decision Support Services

• Audio provided by a toll-free conf
p y
call line

• Conducted prior to and through
anticipated significant weather
events

• Notification of briefings via email
g

• Secure control over desktop
sharing

Fully Localized Atmospheric Research Environment
FLARE
Desktop Weather Display S t
D kt W th Di l System

- 5 separate panels
- Observational data
- Local zone forecasts
- Icons
- Ticker
- Looping images
- Warning display
- Customize to your needs
- Great for Kiosks, EOCs,
desktops, etc
Available NOW!

Application http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/wrh/ssd/flare.msi
Documentation http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/wrh/ssd/index-flare.html

NWS Seattle to You

• NOAA W th R di
Weather Radio
• 22 stations serving
Washington
• All H
All-Hazards Warning
d W i
System
• Warning Alarm
• Emerg Alert System (EAS)

• On the Web
• weather.gov/seattle/
• Nationwide – weather.gov

This is a clickable
map that gives you
a point forecast

www.weather.gov/
seattle

Nationwide -
Click here for the
weather.gov
- Zone forecast or the
- Forecast Discussion

Area Forecast Discussion (AFD)
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
300 AM PDT THU AUG 14 2008

.SYNOPSIS...A STRONG UPPER RIDGE AND LOW LEVEL OFFSHORE FLOW WILL BRING SUNNY WEATHER
THROUGH SATURDAY WITH RECORD OR NEAR RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES UNSTABLE AIR WILL LEAD TO A
TEMPERATURES.
THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY. A TRANSITION TO A COOLER REGIME WILL GET UNDERWAY SUNDAY....AS
ONSHORE FLOW PUSHES COOLER MARINE AIR INLAND BY MONDAY. AN UPPER TROUGH WILL PRODUCE A
CHANCE OF SHOWERS BY WEDNESDAY.

&&

.SHORT TERM...AS EXPECTED A STRONG UPPER RIDGE HAS DEVELOPED ALONG THE WEST COAST OF NORTH
AMERICA IN RESPONSE TO A DEEPENING TROUGH OFFSHORE ALONG 150W (image). THE LOW LEVEL FLOW HAS
TURNED WEAKLY OFFSHORE AS A THERMALLY INDUCED SURFACE TROUGH EXTENDS NORTHWARD
FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ALONG THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST. OF COURSE THIS IS THE CLASSIC
SCENARIO FOR HOT SUMMER WEATHER IN WESTERN WASHINGTON...AND IT WILL PRODUCE GENERALLY SUNNY
SKIES AND RECORD OR NEAR RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS.

THE HOT SPELL WILL REALLY GET UNDERWAY TODAY AS 500 MB HEIGHTS CLIMB ABOVE 590 DAM AND THE
THERMAL TROUGH EXTENDS ACROSS VANCOUVER ISLAND (image). WEAK NORTHERLY FLOW WILL KEEP
TEMPERATURES FROM REACHING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL OVER MUCH OF WESTERN WASHINGTON...BUT SOME
OF THE RECORD HIGHS FOR TODAY ARE ANOMALOUSLY LOW AND THEY SHOULD BE TIED OR BROKEN. FOR
EXAMPLE THE RECORD AT SEATAC IS ONLY 88.

These are hypertext links to images
FRIDAY WILL BE WARMER YET AS THE UPPER RIDGE SHIFTS ONLY SLIGHTLY EASTWARD...AND THE SURFACE
THERMAL TROUGH REMAINS ANCHORED ALONG THE COAST THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE WILL REALLY WARM UP
COAST.
that h
th t show the weather pattern in the
th th tt i th
BETWEEN TODAY AND FRIDAY WITH 850 MB TEMPERATURES CLIMBING INTO THE LOW 20S (image).
Enhanced AFD
SATURDAY SHOULD BE THE WARMEST DAY IN THE SERIES...AT LEAST FOR THE WESTERN WASHINGTON INTERIOR.
THE UPPER RIDGE WILL BE TO OUR EAST AND UPPER HEIGHTS WILL FALL SLIGHTLY...BUT THE LOWER
ATMOSPHERE WILL CONTINUE TO WARM SLIGHTLY AND...MOST IMPORTANT...THE THERMAL TROUGH WILL SHIFT

Spotters are so important!
• They help the NWS by reporting on hazardous
weather in their area

• Their reports lead to better forecast and
warning accuracy

• Their reports help verify and accompany radar
and satellite data

• Bottom line: They provide ground truth!
“The
“Th eyes and ears of the NWS”
d f th

• Training scheduled year round

How are Spotter Reports Used?
p p

• NWS Warning Program
– “Ground Truth”
– Reinforce current warning messages
– Basis and Verification of weather warnings and
advisories
d i i

• Transmitted to…..
– Media (TV, radio, newspapers, Internet)
– Local Emergency Management Staff

Where Do Spotter Reports Go?
p p

CoCoRaHS
Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow network

• Volunteers Report Precipitation
On-Line. Community and Citizen
Involvement!
– Rain , Hail , Snow

• Daily & Event Driven Reports
• Interactive Web site:
www.cocorahs.org
• Adds Greater Precipitation
Report Density Across WA/OR
• WANTED: (observer/square mile)

• Training

CoCoRaHS
Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow network

• Volunteers Report Precipitation
On-Line. Community and Citizen
Involvement!
– Rain , Hail , Snow

• Daily & Event Driven Reports
• Interactive Web site:
www.cocorahs.org
• Adds Greater Precipitation
Report Density Across WA
• WANTED: (observer/square mile)

– Currently over 740
• Training

NWS Chat

• Chat Room

• Real-time collaboration with on duty
Real time on-duty
meteorologists

• NWS P NW offices are up and running
PacNW ffi d i
with NWS Chat

• Join us for collaboration

https://nwschat.weather.gov

NWS Chat
• Chat Room • NWS BOT
• Multiple Chat Rooms • Hyperlink to any warning product

Bonus Feature – NWS BOT
• NWS BOT
• Hyperlink to any warning product

New! NWS Chat Live
nwschat.weather.gov/live
h t th /li

NWS Chat
How do I get started?
• Request account for NWS
Partners at:
https://nwschat.weather.gov/create.php
 login (e.g., EM-John.doe)
 password

• Download and install Pidgin
IM client
 http://www pidgin im/
http://www.pidgin.im/
Use pidgin v2.7.11
 Also an Internet version

• Start Chatting

E-Warn
• Automatic Email Notification (PC, cell phone, PDA)
• Set up for single or multiple counties
• Just need your desired email address and type of messages you
wish to receive
• To Register, contact your Warning Coordination Meteorologist

•NWS Mobile is an application th t will run on mobile devices
NWS M bil ppli ti that ill m bil d i s
•Allows you to browse the following weather data using a map
interface:
•NWS watches warnings, and advisories
watches, warnings
•Radar and satellite imagery
•Observations
•Forecasts
Forecasts

http://inws.wrh.noaa.gov

area

county zipcode

Multiple alert areas, even
outside WA

Social Media

• Facebook
– www.facebook.com/US.National.Weather.Service.gov

– www.facebook.com/US.NationalWeatherService.Seattle.gov

• Twitter Storm Report
– http://www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/twitter/twitter.php

• YouTube Channel
– http://www.youtube.com/usnoaagov

• www.noaa.gov/socialmedia

NWS Products and Services
Guide for Oregon and
g
Washington
• Updated this Winter

• On NWS Seattle Web Site

• On NWS Portland Web Site

• Offers:
– NWS Products

– NWS Dissemination
System

– Terminology

– And much more!

On-Line Weather Educational
Slide Sh
Slid Shows

• Started in 2007
• More being added

• Local Topics
• Pacific NW Wind Storms
• Puget Sound Convergence Zone
• Pineapple Express
• Heat Waves
• Arctic Outbreaks
• Lightning Safety

• Less Than 15 Min Long
• Great for Home, Work, Classroom
• weather.gov/seattle
• What Topics Do You Want ??

The COMET® Program
g

COMET founded as a Cooperative Program
in 1990 by NOAA NWS

A program within the University Corporation
for Atmospheric Research

In addition to NOAA, 8 other sponsoring
p g
organizations

Offers free computer based distance learning
computer-based
via the MetEd Website, for over 120,000
registered users world-wide

COMET® Resources

Offers dozens of education and training
modules via the International Multi-
Hazards Early Warning Systems site
on MetEd.

Designed for NMHS and Emergency
Management professions, as well as
g
government decision makers and the
general public.

Many modules available in both English
and Spanish.

http://www.meted.ucar.edu/hazwarnsys/index.php

The COMET® Program
Education and Training
http://www.meted.ucar.edu/hazwarnsys/index.php

NWS Heat Health Watch/Warning
System
S stem
• Seattle Area’s Debuted Summer 2005

• Portland’s Debuted Summer of 2006

• Heat is a Killer – Even Here!
• 1975-1999 – 645 excess deaths in Seattle area
• Avg of 27 per year above normal mortality rate
g p y y
• #1 weather-related killer
• System is Tailored for our Climate and Community

• Issued during Unseasonable Hot Spells if a Threat to Lives

• Education and Awareness Partnership with Area Health
d i d hi i h lh
Community and Emergency Management Officials

NWS Products and Services
Your Weather Support Partner
Serving America
g
Since 1870

Helping Protect
Lives and
Property and
Enhancing
Our Economy

Ted Buehner
Warning Coordination
Meteorologist
NWS Seattle/Tacoma, Wa

Time to Surf a NWS
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