Abstract

Conveying the Impact of NWS Watch, Warnings, and Advisories
Track: Atmosphere, Climate, and Weather
Authors: Jack Settelmaier

For decades, the National Weather Service (NWS) has been issuing mission-critical weather watch, warning, advisory, and forecast information. Delivery of this vital information continues over traditional communication platforms, but recently the availability of new communications media (e.g., social media) has broadened the audience for NWS products and services. Using ESRI's ArcGIS Desktop and Server tools, NOAA/NWS forecasters and communicators can now provide important contextual information to accompany oft-issued NWS products and services.

The summer of 2011 was notable for a prolonged and widespread heat wave that impacted a large part of the U.S. This presentation will, predominantly, review the preparation of user-friendly heat-related weather information and forecasts using GIS desktop and server tools, but examples from the winter of 2011/2012 may also be shared. Challenges and successes associated with communicating weather impacts using geospatial tools will be discussed.