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NAME U.S. Forecaster Rotation. Erik Pytlak NOAA/NWS Tucson, AZ. The Process. Call issued January 8 Circulated and coordinated widely (NWS, several universities, private sector) Some weight given to practice forecasters in 2003 and SMN-NWS exchange visitors
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NAME U.S. Forecaster Rotation Erik Pytlak NOAA/NWS Tucson, AZ
The Process • Call issued January 8 • Circulated and coordinated widely (NWS, several universities, private sector) • Some weight given to practice forecasters in 2003 and SMN-NWS exchange visitors • Four member selection committee: (Douglas, Liles, Maddox, Pytlak) • 60 applicants • 20 forecasters, 10 assistant forecasters, 11 alternates • Diverse backgrounds/experiences
The Scheduling • 5 day rotations = 7 days of travel • Work with the NWS home office schedules • 11 Alternates (7 within Arizona) • Distant ones to be called upon first • Close-in ones are last minute reserve • Allows NWS offices some flexibility in case of… • IMET deployment • Illness • Promotion/transfer • Final schedule posted on NAME website in mid May • Two forecasters and one assistant forecaster each day from July 1-August 19.
Timeline • May 24-28: Bennett/Bodner visit SMN Mexico City • June 1: WFO Tucson library converted to an FOC • June 6: Preliminary forecasts begin • June 7-10: M. Cortez/J. Carachure visit WFO Tucson • June 21: Science Director rotation begins • June 21-24: Murphy/Haro visit SMN Mexico City • July 1: Full FOC staffing begins at WFO Tucson • July 1: JOSS Operations Director on-site at Tucson • Aug 9-13: I. Lopez/A. Nacazona visit WFO Tucson • Aug 19: Last day of full FOC staffing at Tucson • Aug 20-31: Spin-down forecasts as needed
Issues to be resolved… • Forecast coordination • Methods (e-mail/coordination call) • Coordination times (1500-1800 UTC window) • Shift times • 7:00-15:30pm MST? • One 7:00-15:30 MST, the other 9:30-18:00 MST? • Assistant Forecaster hours? • Will avoid OT and odd-hours as much as possible • Who will lead the Science/Operations Director briefings each day?