A primary goal for CASA during 2010 is to document the improvement in warning operations through the use of enhanced forecaster-emergency management communications.  The use of NWS personnel in the HWT allows us to test and refine how best to utilize CASA’s high-spatial (100 m) and temporal (1-minute) data, in coordination with field emergency managers (EMs).  Several particular areas of interest include the concepts of data overload, multi-sensor products, and the development of warn-on-forecast products and display.

The lack of severe weather in Central Oklahoma during Week #1 allowed CASA to refine its warning and communications operations.  Les Lemon (WDTB) spent much of the week with CASA PIs Brenda Philips and Ellen Bass refining the communication technologies to be used between the forecaster and EM.  Twitter and NWS Chat will be the primary means for communication, with additional use of Skype by some EMs and spotters.  Les spent Monday getting trained, learning about the latest products from CASA (e.g., new NWP forecasts available every 10 minutes!), and refined products (real-time 3DVAR analysis).  Tuesday through Thursday was spent reviewing and revising the interaction among the CASA forecasters and EMs.  Several EMs and spotters visited the HWT and practiced with various communication technologies.  Les spent Wednesday morning with Jerry Brotzge, Keith Brewster, Brenda, and Ellen in discussions on ways to improve the presentation of output from the real-time forecasts – in essence, how do we present “Warn-on-Forecast” information to forecasters already overwhelmed with data?   Friday ended with precipitation in the HWT – an opportunity to review CASA products one last time…but now with echoes!

Jerry Botzge, Univ. Oklahoma, EWP2010 CASA Scientist