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-------- Original Message --------129 NOUS41 KWBC 181750
PNSWSH
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...COMMENT REQUEST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
150 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2009
TO: SUBSCRIBERS:
-FAMILY OF SERVICES
-NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE
-EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK
OTHER NWS PARTNERS...USERS AND EMPLOYEES
FROM: THERESE Z. PIERCE
CHIEF...MARINE AND COASTAL SERVICES BRANCH
SUBJECT: SOLICITING COMMENTS FOR EXPERIMENTAL SAFFIR-
SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE REVISION THROUGH
NOVEMBER 30 2009
BEGINNING JUNE 1 2009 AND CONTINUING THROUGH NOVEMBER 30
2009... NWS IS SEEKING USER FEEDBACK ON EXPERIMENTALLY
REMOVING STORM SURGE AND FLOODING REFERENCES FROM THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. THE CHANGE WOULD APPLY TO
STORMS IN THE ATLANTIC AND EASTERN NORTH AND CENTRAL
PACIFIC BASINS. NWS PROPOSES TO RENAME THE SCALE THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE.
THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE /DEFINITIONS AND
EFFECTS/ IN ITS CURRENT FORM INCLUDES STORM SURGE RANGES
AND FLOODING REFERENCES. STORM SURGE RANGES SHOWN IN THE
EXISTING SCALE ARE FREQUENTLY INCORRECT FOR THE INDICATED
CATEGORY AS DETERMINED SOLELY BY WIND SPEED AND POTENTIALLY
MISLEADING IN PREPAREDNESS DECISIONS SINCE THE ACTUAL
FLOODING DEPENDS ON SEVERAL OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS STORM
SIZE AND LANDFALL LOCATION.
THEREFORE...ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS FOR THE 2009 TROPICAL
CYCLONE SEASON...THESE STORM SURGE RANGES AND FLOODING
REFERENCES WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE DEFINITION/EFFECTS FOR
ALL CATEGORIES. THE REVISED CONTENT WILL BE INCLUDED
EXPERIMENTALLY THIS YEAR IN A SCALE CALLED THE SAFFIR-
SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE.EXPECTED STORM SURGE AND COASTAL FLOODING FOR INDIVIDUAL STORMS ARE CONTAINED IN OTHER NWS PRODUCTS: THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER /NHC/ AND CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER: -TROPICAL CYCLONE DISCUSSION NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER ONLY: -TROPICAL CYCLONE PUBLIC ADVISORY -GRAPHICAL TROPICAL CYCLONE STORM SURGE PROBABILITIES
LOCAL WEATHER FORECAST OFFICES -HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT
-AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION -SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT -COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT /USE LOWERCASE/: HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/INFOSERVICECHANGES/SSHWS.PDFTHE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE DEFINITIONS AND EFFECTS CAN BE VIEWED AT /USE LOWERCASE/: FOR NHC: HTTP://WWW.NHC.NOAA.GOV/ABOUTSSHS.SHTML
FOR CPHC: HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/CPHC/PAGES/ABOUTSSHS.PHPUSERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THIS EXPERIMENTAL CHANGE TO NHCWEBMASTER@xxxxxxxx FOR NHC AND W-HFO.WEBMASTER@xxxxxxxx FOR CPHC.
A LINK TO ALL NHC EXPERIMENTAL PRODUCTS IS ALSO PROVIDED AT /USE LOWERCASE/:
HTTP://WWW.NHC.NOAA.GOV/ABOUTEXPERIMENTAL.SHTMLIF YOU HAVE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS...PLEASE CONTACT:
TIMOTHY SCHOTT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
MARINE AND COASTAL SERVICES BRANCH
1325 EAST WEST HWY ROOM 13126
SILVER SPRING MARYLAND 20910
E-MAIL: TIMOTHY.SCHOTT@xxxxxxxx
PHONE: 301-713-1677 x122
NATIONAL PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS ARE ONLINE AT
/USE LOWERCASE/:
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/NOTIF.HTM $$
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