[nws-changes] 20120530: corrected exp enhanced coastal waters Fwd: ADMIN NOTICE NOUS41 KWBC

• To: nws-changes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
• Subject: [nws-changes] 20120530: corrected exp enhanced coastal waters Fwd: ADMIN NOTICE NOUS41 KWBC
• From: Linda Miller <lmiller@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Date: Wed, 30 May 2012 08:49:37 -0600

-------- Original Message --------

535
NOUS41 KWBC 301445
PNSWSH

Public Information Statement, Comment Request
National Weather Service Headquarters Washington DC
1046 AM EDT Wed May 30 2012

To:      Subscribers:
         -Family of Services
         -NOAA Weather Wire Service
         -Emergency Managers Weather Information Network
         -NOAAPORT
         Other NWS Partners and Employees

FROM:    Mark Tew
         Chief, Marine and Coastal Weather Services Branch

SUBJECT: Corrected: Soliciting comments on the Experimental
         Enhanced Coastal Waters Forecast Using Rayleigh
         Distribution for Wave Heights through November 30, 2012

Corrected secondary contact email to sr-mfl.marine@xxxxxxxx

NWS is seeking user comments on the Experimental Enhanced
Coastal Waters Forecast Using Rayleigh Distribution for Wave
Heights through November 30, 2012. The NWS Weather Forecast
Office (WFO) in Miami is testing an experimental enhancement to
its Coastal Waters Forecast (CWF), additional wave height fields
using the theoretical Rayleigh Distribution.

Several different wave statistics can be inferred from this
distribution.  Among these, the Significant Wave Height (HS) and
the average height of the highest 10 percent of waves (H1/10)
observed at sea, approximately 1.272 times the significant wave
height.

The current CWF product provides a forecast range of the
expected HS across the coastal waters.  HS is defined as the
average height of the highest 1/3 of the waves.  For example:

TONIGHT...NORTHWEST WINDS 13 TO 18 KNOTS BECOMING NORTHEAST
16 TO 21 KNOTS.  SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET BUILDING TO 4 TO 6 FEET LATE.
DOMINANT PERIOD 6 SECONDS.  INTRACOASTAL WATERS CHOPPY IN
EXPOSED AREAS.  SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

Adding the H1/10 wave height to the CWF product will provide a
more descriptive and accurate assessment of the wave field
expected for any particular time across a given marine zone.
User knowledge of this information could reduce the number of
marine accidents at sea, saving lives.  This new information
will follow this template:

HS with occasional H1/10 SEAS POSSIBLE.

For example:

.TONIGHT...NORTHWEST WINDS 13 TO 18 KNOTS BECOMING NORTHEAST
16 TO 21 KNOTS.  SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET WITH OCCASIONAL 5 FEET
BUILDING TO 4 TO 6 FEET WITH OCCASIONAL 8 FEET POSSIBLE
LATE.  DOMINANT PERIOD 6 SECONDS.  INTRACOASTAL WATERS
CHOPPY IN EXPOSED AREAS.  SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

These additions will be made available as part of the routine
forecast provided online at

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/

and broadcast over NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards.  This
information will not be provided through the point and click
format.

Comments regarding this enhancement to the CWF can be provided
at:

www.nws.noaa.gov/survey/nws-survey.php?code=MIAERD

Or send comments to:

Sr-mfl.marine@xxxxxxxx

Comments will be solicited through November 30, 2012. During
this comment period, a proactive effort will be made to educate
users and partners of the product availability and use.  At the
end of the comment period, NWS will decide whether to make WFO
Miami Enhanced CWF an operational product.  At that time, the
enhanced CWF will also be evaluated for use at other WFOs and
regions.

For more information please contact:

Dr. Pablo Santos
Meteorologist in Charge
National Weather Service
Miami, FL 33165-2149
305-229-4500
pablo.santos@xxxxxxxx

National Public Information Statements are online at:

http://www.weather.gov/os/notif.htm

$$