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

• To: nws-changes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
• Subject: [nws-changes] 20120530: comments-exp enhanced coastal waters fcst-Fwd: ADMIN NOTICE NOUS41 KWBC
• From: Linda Miller <lmiller@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Date: Wed, 30 May 2012 07:18:13 -0600

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

271
NOUS41 KWBC 301057
PNSWSH

Public Information Statement, Comment Request
National Weather Service Headquarters Washington DC
658 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: Soliciting comments on the Experimental Enhanced
         Coastal Waters Forecast Using Rayleigh Distribution
         for Wave Heights through November 30, 2012

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

$$