970121: Second Radiosonde Release Reiteration

• To: nws-changes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
• Subject: 970121: Second Radiosonde Release Reiteration
• From: Linda Miller <lmiller@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1997 14:37:31 -0700 (MST)

510 
NOUS41 KWBC 212059
PNSWSH
 
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
400 PM EST TUE JAN 21 1997
 
TO:            ALL NWS EMPLOYEES
 
FROM:          ELBERT W. FRIDAY, JR.
               ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR WEATHER SERVICES
 
SUBJECT:       REITERATION OF NWS POLICY FOR SECOND RELEASE OF
               RADIOSONDES
 
REFERENCE:     W/NP12: MEMORANDUM DATED DECEMBER 10, 1996,        
               SUBJECT:  NWS POLICY FOR SECOND RELEASE OF         
               RADIOSONDES
 
     LET ME REITERATE THE NWS POLICY STATEMENT FOR SECOND RELEASE
OF RADIOSONDES TRANSMITTED OVER AFOS ON DECEMBER 10, 1996.
 
1.   IN ALL CASES IN WHICH THE WEATHER SITUATION INDICATES THAT A
     SECOND RADIOSONDE RELEASE MIGHT BE NEEDED, THE WEATHER OFFICE
     SHALL CONTACT THE NATIONAL CENTERS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
     PREDICTION (NCEP) CENTRAL OPERATIONS SENIOR DUTY METEOROLOGIST
     (SDM) FOR A DECISION ON WHETHER A SECOND RELEASE IS NECESSARY.
 
2.   THE SDM, IN COORDINATION WITH THE AFFECTED WEATHER OFFICE AND
     THE NCEP STORM PREDICTION CENTER AND/OR TROPICAL PREDICTION
     CENTER LEAD FORECASTER, SHALL ASSESS THE CURRENT AND PREDICTED
     WEATHER SITUATION WITH PUBLIC SAFETY CONSIDERED AND DECIDE
     WHETHER A SECOND RELEASE IS NECESSARY.
 
     THE SDM CAN BE CONTACTED AT THE WORLD WEATHER BUILDING, 24
HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK BY PHONE, 301-763-8298, OR BY E-MAIL,
SDM@xxxxxxxx.
 
     THIS POLICY IS APPLICABLE FOR ALL (CONTERMINOUS, ALASKA, AND
PACIFIC) NWS REGIONS.  THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS THE FIVE MICRONESIAN
SITES IN THE PACIFIC REGION FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. 
AT THOSE SITES, THERE IS NO COST SAVINGS TO THE NWS; THEREFORE,
SECOND RELEASE APPROVAL BY THE SDM AT NCEP IS NOT REQUIRED. 
HOWEVER, APPROVAL IS REQUIRED FOR ALL THE NWS-FUNDED SITES IN THE
PACIFIC REGION.  
 
     PLEASE NOTE THAT IF A SONDE REACHES 400 HPA, A SECOND RELEASE
WILL NOT BE APPROVED.  SPECIAL NON-SYNOPTIC FLIGHTS FOR SEVERE
WEATHER REQUIREMENTS ARE ALSO CONSIDERED AS SECOND RELEASES AND
REQUIRE SDM APPROVAL.
 
     I EXPECT COMPLETE ADHERENCE TO THIS POLICY IN LIGHT OF OUR
CURRENT BUDGETARY CLIMATE.  I HAVE ASKED OM, IN COORDINATION WITH
NCEP AND OSO, TO ENFORCE COMPLIANCE OF THIS POLICY.
 
END