[nws-changes] 20130916: Fwd: comments on exp enhanced coastal waters fcst-ADMIN NOTICE NOUS41 KWBC

• To: nws-changes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
• Subject: [nws-changes] 20130916: Fwd: comments on exp enhanced coastal waters fcst-ADMIN NOTICE NOUS41 KWBC
• From: Linda Miller <lmiller@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Date: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 12:11:51 -0600

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

974
NOUS41 KWBC 161809
PNSWSH

National Weather Service Headquarters Washington DC
210 PM EDT Mon Sep 16 2013

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

         Chief, Marine and Coastal Weather Services Branch

         Coastal Waters Forecast Using Rayleigh Distribution
         for Wave Heights through June 18, 2014

NWS is seeking user comments on its Experimental Enhanced
Coastal Waters Forecast Using Rayleigh Distribution for Wave
Heights through June 18, 2014. Selected NWS Weather Forecast
Offices (WFO)s in Southern Region, currently WFOs Miami and
Tallahassee, are testing an experimental enhancement to their
Coastal Waters Forecast (CWF), additional wave height fields
using the theoretical Rayleigh Distribution.

NWS can infer several different wave statistics from this
Distribution such as 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/
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/

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=SRERD

NWS is seeking comments through June 18, 2014. 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
Southern Regions Enhanced CWF an operational product. Other NWS
Southern Region WFOs may join this test.  Further Public
Information Statements will be issued as needed.

For more information please contact:

Melinda Bailey
Public/Marine Meteorologist
National Weather Service
Southern Region Headquarters
Fort Worth Tx 76102
817-978-1100 X107

National Public Information Statements are online at:

$$