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Options for Future Event-Based Hydrologic Products Tim Helble Hydrologic Services Division Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services. Topics. Current suite of event-based hydrologic products Three of many possible options for the future. Current Product Configuration.
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Options for Future Event-Based Hydrologic Products Tim Helble Hydrologic Services Division Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services
Topics • Current suite of event-based hydrologic products • Three of many possible options for the future NWS Partners Meeting June 18, 2008
Current Product Configuration • FFW for Flash Flood Warnings, FFS for follow-ups (flash flood statement) • FF.W indicates flash flood warning for an area • No VTEC phenomena/significance code for flash flood warning for a point • FFA for Flood/Flash Flood Watches • FF.A indicates flash flood watch for an area • FA.A indicates flood watch for an area • FL.A indicates flood watch for a point NWS Partners Meeting June 18, 2008
Current Product Configuration • FLW for Flood Warnings, FLS for follow-ups (flood statement) • FL.W indicates point-based warning • FA.W indicates areal warning • FLS for Flood Advisories – both initial and follow-ups • FL.Y indicates point-based advisory • FA.Y indicates areal advisory NWS Partners Meeting June 18, 2008
Current Product Configuration • Each product has a unique MND Product Type Line – e.g.: • FLASH FLOOD WARNING • FLOOD WARNING • FLOOD WATCH NWS Partners Meeting June 18, 2008
An Opportunity… • Next Generation Warning Tool (NGWT) provides an opportunity to: • Eliminate current difficulties in hydro products arising from use of three different applications • Start from scratch and build a product suite that meets the needs of partners and other users. • Implement better product quality control • Timeframe: 3+ years NWS Partners Meeting June 18, 2008
Future Option #1 • Keep current configuration of product identifiers. • Keep unique MND Product Type Lines – e.g., FLASH FLOOD WARNING, FLOOD WATCH. • Partially rely on VTEC to parse products • Action codes – e.g., NEW, CON • Phenomena codes – e.g., FL, FA • Significance codes – e.g., W, A, Y NWS Partners Meeting June 18, 2008
Future Option #1 • Pros: • Already understood by partners and other users. • Cons: • Too many product identifiers -- can be confusing. • Doesn’t allow for an upgrade/downgrade capability (e.g., watch to warning). • Doesn’t allow for a transition capability (e.g., flash flood warning to flood warning). • Very limited ability to issue products combining different types of segments (all segments must be under the same identifier). NWS Partners Meeting June 18, 2008
Future Option #2 • One product identifier for all hydrologic watches, one for all flood warnings, and one for all advisories • Keep unique MND Product Type Lines – e.g., FLASH FLOOD WARNING, FLOOD WATCH • Partially rely on VTEC to parse products NWS Partners Meeting June 18, 2008
Future Option #2 • Pros: • More logical structure – one unique identifier for each major type of product. • Allows for a transition capability (e.g., flash flood warning to flood warning). • Some ability to issue products combining different types of segments (so long as they use the same product identifier). • Cons: • Doesn’t allow for an upgrade/downgrade capability (e.g., watch to warning). • Only eliminates two identifiers. • Somewhat limited ability to issue products combining different types of segments (all segments must be under the same identifier). NWS Partners Meeting June 18, 2008
Future Option #3 • One product identifier for all event-based products (watch/warning/advisories) – FLW • Keep unique MND Product Type Lines – e.g., FLASH FLOOD WARNING, FLOOD WATCH • Entirely rely on VTEC to parse products. Users can also parse on the MND Product Type Lines if necessary NWS Partners Meeting June 18, 2008
Future Option #3 • Pros: • Very simple – one identifier covers all (like WSW). • Allows for both a transition capability (e.g., flash flood warning to flood warning) and an upgrade capability (e.g., flood watch to flood warning). • Provides maximum ability to issue products combining different types of segments – e.g., a single product containing two points in flood, two at flood advisory level, two under a flood watch, and the entire upper portion of the basin covered by an areal flood warning. • Places emphasis on versatile VTEC information rather than product identifiers. • Cons: • Would likely require users who automatically parse NWS products to make changes to their software. NWS Partners Meeting June 18, 2008
Feedback • Option preference, other ideas? Please contact: Tim Helble timothy.helble@noaa.gov (301) 713-0006 x152 NWS Partners Meeting June 18, 2008