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-------- Original Message --------
436
NOUS41 KWBC 111602
PNSWSH
Public Information Notice
National Weather Service Headquarters Washington DC
1100 AM EST Tue Dec 11 2012
To: Subscribers:
- Family of Services
- NOAA Weather Wire Service
- Emergency Managers Weather Information Network
- NOAAPORT
Other NWS partners and NWS employees
From: Eli Jacks
Chief, Fire and Public Weather Services Branch
Subject: Soliciting Comments through March 31, 2013, on a
Non-Operational Demonstration to Simplify NWS
Watch, Warning and Advisory (WWA) Winter Weather
Hazard Messages
NWS is accepting comments through March 31, 2013, on a non-
operational demonstration of a proposed alternative approach for
communicating expected winter weather hazards. Specifically, we
are proposing an alternative to the current "Watch, Warning and
Advisory" (WWA) Winter Weather Hazards headline system.
Motivation for this demonstration is driven by feedback from
surveys, service assessments and user interactions indicating
there may be confusion on the meaning and intent of NWS WWA
headlines. As part of the "Weather Ready Nation" initiative,
NWS goal is to ensure all hazard messages are as clear and
understandable as possible.
This demonstration will have no impact on NWS official winter
weather hazard products. All Valid Time Event Codes (VTEC)
associated with NWS official products will be disseminated as
usual. Alternative winter weather hazard message headlines,
designed to clarify the intent of the official NWS hazard
messages, are being created automatically and continually during
this demonstration.
These alternative hazard headlines are being generated by
special software created for purposes of this demonstration
only. The software is "translating" the official WWA headlines
to the proposed alternative headlines for 26 participating
Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) only. Then a shortened version
of official WWA messages are displayed side-by-side with the
proposed alternative messages on a Website created for purposes
of this demonstration only:
http://nws.weather.gov/haz_simp/
This website also provides access to a map and listing of the
26 participating WFOs, details on the demonstration and the
proposed language used in the alternative messages and
information on how to access the messages and provide comments.
Users may also access the demonstration Web page throughout the
course of the demonstration via a "web widget" in the lower
left-hand corner of the NWS national Web page at:
http://www.weather.gov/
Daily message comparisons for specific WFOs will also generally
be accessible via "Top News" links at the top of participating
WFO home pages.
These non-operational, alternative headlines will be available
from the links cited above only. Again, all official NWS winter
weather hazards messages with VTEC will be issued as usual.
Also, all individual winter weather product graphics associated
with our official winter weather hazard products will also be
accessible via the NWS national Web page.
The proposed alternative hazard headline language is using the
plain English terms "Potential" and "Advise Caution" in place of
the official "Watch" and "Advisory" terms, respectively. The
"Warning" term is retained in the proposed alternative due its
connection to the NWS mission of protecting life and property;
however, in all alternative messages, individual hazard
products, such as "Winter Storm Watch," "Winter Weather
Advisory" and "Winter Storm Warning" are replaced with proposed
plain English text within the alternative headlines.
The proposed alternative for this demonstration is just one
possible approach to simplifying and clarifying our winter
weather hazard message headlines. NWS is soliciting public and
partner comments on whether a change away from the current WWA
system should be considered at all, and if so, whether this
approach or another approach should be considered.
Please send general comments on this demonstration via the
survey on the link provided below:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/survey/nws-survey.php?code=WHSD
Users may provide comments on specific message comparisons for
specific dates, or ask questions about this demonstration via
email at:
hazsimp@xxxxxxxx
A Product Description Document (PDD) is online at:
https://products.weather.gov/PDD/hazsimp_pdd.pdf
This demonstration will continue through March 31, 2013, and the
comment period will remain open through this time. Once the
2012-13 winter season has concluded, the NWS will gather and
analyze all comments and determine next steps.
For more information, please contact:
Eli Jacks
National Weather Service
Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Elliott.Jacks@xxxxxxxx
National Public Information Notices are online at:
http://www.weather.gov/os/notif.htm
$$
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