National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

The National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Event Simulator (WES) is a powerful training tool which allows staff members to replay weather events as if they are in a real-time warning environment, while also providing a platform for extra data interrogation or general practice in making severe weather warning decisions. A WES workstation is installed at each NWS office across the country, where real-time data is archived for later playback after notable events. Data includes computer model forecast output, surface and upper air observations, lightning data, satellite data, NWS Doppler radar imagery, and much more.

The ability to capture and review these events provides a unique opportunity for NWS forecasters to sharpen their skills related to weather forecasting, satellite and radar interpretation, and warning decision/generation for winter weather, severe storms, and flash flood events. Outside of use strictly by and for NWS personnel, some offices (including NWS Louisville KY) have used the WES to familiarize our deep core communication partners with the watch/warning processes, allowing them to get hands-on experience in the operational warning chair (aka “hot seat!”). This Fall, our office has made a similar opportunity available, with the hopes that this experience would aid our key media partners in their ability to communicate threats in a severe weather environment. We also hoped that through these simulations, we’d be able to further build our relationships with the media outlets, which prove vital when it comes to the overall dissemination of severe weather threats and hazards in our forecast area.   

Thus far, we have been fortunate enough to have several local media personnel run through a simulation, which focused on the February 24th, 2016 severe weather event that produced several tornadoes across portions of Virginia and North Carolina. Throughout the simulation, forecasters analyzed the complexities of the environment in a near real-time basis, made informed decisions, answered decision support related questions, and ultimately issued appropriate warnings. Through these experiences, our media partners were able to see the importance of communication in a warning type of environment, while also gaining a better understanding of the steps and considerations that a warning forecaster goes through in a high impact weather event.

We’d like to personally thank each of the media outlets that cover parts of our area, and the participating meteorologists for dedicating their knowledge and time to completing the simulation, and providing feedback, valuable insight, and questions throughout the process.

Want to give it a shot from home? Try out the revamped HotSeat simulator developed and maintained by the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL). The simulator can be accessed from here!

 

 

Participants NWS Personnel
WVTF: Nick Gilmore James Morrow (Meteorologist)
WCYB: Ricky Matthews + Chris Michaels Phil Hysell (Warning Coordination Meteorologist)    
WSET: George Flickinger, Melissa LeFevre, and Will Stafford Steve Keighton (Science Operations Officer)
WDBJ: Brent Watts, Ian Cassette, and Christian Johansen Robert Stonefield (Meteorologist)
WHSV: Aubrey Urbanowicz William Perry (Meteorologist)
WVVA: Travis Roberts and Katherine Thompson  
WFMY: Tim Buckley and Terran Kirksey  

 

 

 

 

Nick Gilmore (WVTF Radio) incorporates simulated NWS Chat relayed damage reports into a Tornado Warning message during the event simulation.

 

 

 

 

 

Caption: Nick Gilmore (WVTF Radio) incorporates simulated NWS Chat relayed damage reports through a tornado warning severe weather update during the event simulation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NWS Blacksburg Meteorologist James Morrow (Right) provides instruction to Meteorologists Chris Michaels (Center) and Ricky Matthews (Left) from WCYB during the media event simulation

 

 

 

 

Caption: NWS Blacksburg Meteorologist James Morrow (right) provides instruction to Meteorologists Chris Michaels (center) and Ricky Matthews (left) from WCYB during the media event simulation.

 

 

 

 

Meteorologists George Flickinger (Left), Melissa LeFevre (Center), and Will Stafford (Right) from WSET work together in determining if a Tornado warning is required during the simulation event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caption: Meteorologists George Flickinger (left), Melissa LeFevre (center), and Will Stafford (right) from WSET work together in determining if a tornado warning is required during the simulation event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meteorologist Ian Cassette (Left) answers a simulated decision support services question during the simulation as Meteorologist Brent Watts and Christian Johansen of WDBJ make warning decisions during the simulation event.

 

 

 

 

 

Caption: Meteorologist Ian Cassette (left) answers a simulated decision support services question during the simulation as Meteorologist Brent Watts (center) and Christian Johansen (right) of WDBJ make warning decisions during the simulation event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meteorologist Aubrey Urbanowicz (WHSV) was too excited not to take a quick selfie after completing the simulation event!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caption: Meteorologist Aubrey Urbanowicz (WHSV) was too excited not to take a quick selfie after completing the simulation event!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meteorologists Travis Roberts (left) and Katherine Thompson (center) celebrate a successful completion of the WES with NWS Meteorologist James Morrow (right).

 

 

 

 

 

Caption: Meteorologists Travis Roberts (left) and Katherine Thompson (center) from WVVA celebrate a successful completion of the WES with NWS Meteorologist James Morrow (right).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caption: Meteorologists Terran Kirksey (left) and Tim Buckley (right) from WFMY work to determine whether or not a storm has met severe criteria during the simulation.