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Advanced Nowcasting Capabilities. Richard L. Carpenter, Jr., Ph.D., CCM Weather Decision Technologies, Inc. MDSS Stakeholder Meeting – October 2005, Boulder, CO. About Weather Decision Technologies. Founded by research meteorologists in Norman, OK, in 2000
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Advanced Nowcasting Capabilities Richard L. Carpenter, Jr., Ph.D., CCM Weather Decision Technologies, Inc. MDSS Stakeholder Meeting – October 2005, Boulder, CO
About Weather Decision Technologies • Founded by research meteorologists in Norman, OK, in 2000 • Work with (and license technology from) research organizations • Advanced uses of weather data and algorithms
Key Weather Questions • When is the (snow, freezing rain, etc.) going to start? • When is it going to stop? • How much will accumulate?
Future Radar: MAPLE • Developed at McGill University (Montreal) • Exclusively licensed by WDT
Future Radar: MAPLE Observed Predicted
Forecast of 2-hour Precip Accumulation Observed Predicted
Comparison of MAPLE with Numerical Model (WRF) Observed Accumulation WRF MAPLE Skill Map
Blending of MAPLE and Models • During the first 4 hours, MAPLE performs better than models • After 4-6 hours, model forecasts are more accurate than MAPLE • WDT is working with McGill to optimally blend MAPLE and WRF Skill MAPLE better Models better Kilambi & Zawadzki 2005
Operational MAPLE Forecasts • Using NEXRAD Level II and Canadian radar mosaics • 6 hour forecasts updated every 15 min • 1 km grid
Conditional Precip Type • Precip type (snow, freezing rain, etc.) overlay based on hourly updating numerical model (WRF)
MAPLE Precip Accumulation MAPLE Nowcast MAPLE 4 h Precip Accumulation (also available by type)
Hazardous Weather Alerting 60 min threat of lightning 60 min threat of ¾ and 2 inch hail
Hazardous Weather Alerting ETA/ETD (onset/all-clear) for a given location
High-resolution Numerical Model Forecasts (WRF) National Forecast Mesonet data (e.g., DOT sensors) Regional/Statewide Forecasts of Temperature, Wind, Precip, and Weather 5 km grid