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ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
200 PM EDT THU APR 13 1995
TO: ALL NWS OFFICES AND NWS EMPLOYEES
FROM: DONALD R. WERNLY, CHIEF, WARNING AND FORECAST BRANCH
SUBJECT: OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR LOCAL DISSEMINATION OF
ULTRAVIOLET INDICES (UVI)
RE: WSH ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE, SAME SUBJECT, DATED APR 12 1995
Pending official issuance of the Operations Manual Letter for the
UVI program, field offices should follow the following operational
guidelines for local dissemination of the UVI.
...NOAA WEATHER RADIO (NWR) DISSEMINATION...
Field offices that have UVI sites within their NWR service
area(s) are responsible for broadcasting those UVI values on the
appropriate NWR stations. UVI broadcasts on NWR should generally air
from early April through the end of September. These start and stop
dates may be adjusted, at regional/local discretion, depending on
local climatic factors and user needs. In most areas of the country,
the broadcast of UVI on NWR is not usually necessary in winter due to
consistently low values.
The UVI values should be appended to the 1- to 2-day part of the
NWR station's service area forecast to air on each cycle beginning
with the late afternoon forecast package around 4 p.m. local time.
(The NWR service area forecast is a 1- to 5-day forecast tailored to
the station's area of reliable reception.) The UVI broadcast should
continue through the late evening forecast package update. It should
be REMOVED from the early morning forecast package around 4 a.m. local
time, even though it is understood that morning broadcasts of the UVI
on the valid day would coincide with maximum audience interest. The
reason for removal at that time, however, is that the previous day's
1200 UTC model output of UVI values may no longer reflect forecast
conditions, but forecasters would not have appropriate information to
adjust these old UVI values. Furthermore, it would be inconsistent
and confusing to NWR listeners if old UVI forecasts were included if
the forecaster thought they were still accurate but not included at
other times.
The UVI values should be given along with a very short
explanation of risk. For example: "TOMORROW'S ULTRAVIOLET INDEX
FORECAST FOR <city> IS <number>. THIS IS IN THE <minimal/low/
moderate/high/very high> RANGE." At regional/local office discretion,
and according to user needs, additional brief information may be
included, such as effects, sunburn time, comparison with the previous
day's UVI, etc. In any case, the operational UVI forecast information
should be as brief as possible, since it is broadcast every cycle.
Offices should broadcast informational/promotional messages about
UVI for a couple of weeks around the time of annual seasonal
resumption of UVI values on NWR. Although these messages are not
intended for broadcast on every cycle, they should be aired at least
several times a day using the time insert or other techniques (see
Weather Service Operations Manual (WSOM) Chapter C-64, NOAA Weather
Radio, Section 7.1.5, page 30). The messages should include such core
information as routine times of UVI broadcasts, UVI definitions,
health effects, preventive measures, and the upcoming resumption dates
(for advanced notice only). THE LAST ITEM WOULD BE EXCLUDED IN
PROMOTIONS THIS YEAR IF OFFICES ARE RESUMING UVI DISSEMINATION WITHOUT
ADVANCE NOTICE DUE TO THE DELAYED DECISION OF THE PROGRAM'S STATUS.
Offices may use information gleaned from the examples below or,
at regional discretion, use other similar messages.
"THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, IN COOPERATION WITH THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL,
IS ISSUING A DAILY ULTRAVIOLET EXPOSURE INDEX FOR <metro area(s)>."
"YOUR NWR STATION <I.D.> WILL RESUME BROADCAST OF THE
ULTRAVIOLET OR UV INDEX VALUES BEGINNING <day/date> FOR THE PEAK
SUNLIGHT HOUR AROUND 1 PM LOCAL DAYLIGHT TIME (or noon local standard
time, if appropriate) FOR <the next day>." (for advanced notice).
"THE UV INDEX IS A NUMERICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE FORECAST OF THE
MAXIMUM EXPOSURE TO ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION FROM THE SUN'S RAYS AROUND
SOLAR NOON (NOON STANDARD TIME OR 1 P.M. DAYLIGHT TIME). THE UV INDEX
EXPOSURE LEVELS ARE MINIMAL, LOW, MODERATE, HIGH AND VERY HIGH.
NUMERICAL VALUES RANGE FROM ZERO TO TEN PLUS IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE HIGHER THE NUMBER, THE GREATER THE EXPOSURE OF ULTRAVIOLET
RADIATION TO UNPROTECTED SKIN OF ALL TYPES AND EVERYBODY'S EYES."
"SEVERAL FACTORS AFFECT THE UV INDEX VALUE. THE BIGGEST CHANGE
FROM DAY TO DAY WILL BE DUE TO CHANGING CLOUD COVER. THE LESS CLOUDS,
THE HIGHER THE UV INDEX VALUE. THE THINNING OF THE OZONE LAYER IN THE
UPPER ATMOSPHERE MEASURED BY SATELLITE CAN ALSO INCREASE THE FORECAST
UV INDEX. UV INDEX VALUES CHANGE WITH LOCAL CONDITIONS AS WELL.
WATER, SAND AND SNOW ALL REFLECT AND INTENSIFY UV LEVELS. HIGHER
ELEVATIONS ALSO INCREASE UV EXPOSURE. A GOOD RULE OF THUMB FOR ANYONE
OUTDOORS: IF YOU SEE YOUR SHADOW, YOU SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONS
AGAINST OVEREXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT."
A message should also be broadcast alerting listeners when the
UVI values will be removed for the winter season.
...OPTIONAL LOCAL ALPHANUMERIC DISSEMINATION...
Although users will receive the alphanumeric national UVI
product, field offices may, at regional discretion, also append their
UVI values to such locally disseminated text products as the Local
Forecast Product (LFP), the Recreation Forecast (REC) and the Daily
Climatological Report (CLI). Next day UVI forecasts would only be
included in afternoon and evening versions of these local products.
UVI values should NOT be included in zone forecasts (ZFP) because zone
groupings change and the UVI value may not be appropriate.
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