Not only do NWS forecasters and partners from around the United States participate in HWT experiments each spring, but meteorologists from around the globe also travel to Norman to be a part of efforts such as FACETs. These meteorologists are able to learn about the research going on at NSSL and OU and take that back to their own meteorological services, and also contribute their perspective and expertise based on the natural hazard services and warning systems in their own countries.
During the week of May 13th, two meteorologists from Environment and Climate Change Canada observed and participated in the PHI-Hazards Services Experiment. These meteorologists work as forecasters at the Meteorological Services Canada Prairie/Arctic Storm Prediction Centre in Winnipeg. Along with observing the PHI-HS experiment, they also participated in the Storm Prediction Center’s Spring Forecasting Experiment, which includes among its research goals this year projects to examine methodologies to produce higher temporal resolution probabilistic outlooks for severe storms. The week of May 20th saw Mark Bevan of the UK Met Office participate in the PHI Prototype Experiment. Mark works as a Met Office Civil Contingencies Advisor, working to provide weather services and decision support to government officials in southwest England. Mark provided the experiment team with valuable perspective on the warning and hazardous weather support system in the UK, and also gained knowledge about FACETs which hopes to prove useful in developing and improving warning systems for short term weather hazards in the UK.