Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services: Enhancing Weather Forecasting Capabilities

1. Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services Severe Weather Forecasting Demonstration Project (SWFDP) Regional Subproject for RAIV (Eastern Caribbean) NHC, Miami May 22 – 26, 2017 Keithley Meade Director, Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services Phone: 1-268- 462-4606Cell: 1-268-764-2139Email: keithleym@yahoo.com

2. Vision Statement • A leading weather service provider, partnering with our customers to provide a quality service . Mission Statement • To continuously provide superior meteorological services and products, add value, and promote safety and quality throughout the aviation industry.

3. Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services • Started in the mid 1940's as a weather observation station by the British. • Antigua and Barbuda government in 1967 developed into a forecasting office. • Today it is a fully functional National Meteorological Center providing services and performing several functions on a daily basis.

4. Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services • Data collection and services • Hourly weather observations • Public weather forecasts (Antigua & Barbuda, the Leeward Islands and the British Virgin Islands) • Weather briefings, flight information and other aeronautical services • Severe weather warnings and other advisories

5. Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services Provides daily and aviation forecasts for:- • Antigua and Barbuda • (Saint Kitts), Nevis • Anguilla • Montserrat • British Virgin Islands

6. We provide services such as: • Weather Forecasts • Relaying Tsunami Warnings (TWFP) • Severe Weather Watches and Warnings • Aeronautical Meteorology • Agricultural Meteorology (limited) • Marine Meteorology (limited) • Climatology

7. Weather Forecasts Responsible to provide customized weather forecasts, with particular emphasis on public safety and welfare: • Twenty-four forecast (twice daily) • Four-day forecast (once daily) • Summary and Discussion (twice daily) • Eastern Caribbean Forecast (once daily) • Severe Weather Advisories (when necessary) • Coastal Advisories (when necessary) • Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts( four times daily)

8. Tsunami Warnings We receive Tsunami warning information from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center: • Alert the National Office of Disaster Services( NODS) and if necessary, the defense force, local police, the public etc…

9. Severe Weather Watches and Warnings • We issue severe weather watches and warnings for the Public, in coordination with NHC, to take appropriate actions: • Cyclone watches and Warnings • Flood Watches and Warnings • Other related severe events such as adverse sea conditions

10. Guidance Products • Meteo France Sherpa(radar images and products) • Other radar products • NWP products • CIMH products • SmartMet • PCDGridds • MESSIR • Internet Products • WindyTv • Satellite images • NHC/NOAA products • Puerto Rico products

11. Questionnaire on Planning Information for SWFDP – Eastern CaribbeanNational Meteorological Centre (NMC) of _ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

12. The questionnaire consists of the following three parts: A - Forecasting component. B - Public Weather Services (service delivery) component. C - Expectations from SWFDP-Eastern Caribbean

13. A - Forecasting component • The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service operates 24 hours each day of the year. • Current status of your NMC’s observing system (e.g. Synoptic, upper air, AWS, Radars etc.) • Synoptic surface • 6 functioning AWS • Radar feed from Guadeloupe

14. A - Forecasting component

15. A - Forecasting component • The current status of internet connection at ABMS • We currently have 10 mb/s. We could do with higher speeds • Do the forecasters consider the internet speed satisfactory in accessing to various products from global NWP centres? • NO

16. A - Forecasting component • Any weather work station/ software package as a tool for visualization and overlay of observations, satellite imagery and NWP products? • We use SmartMet (Donated by the Finnish Government), as well as the Corobor system, PCGRIDDS and other Internet streams. • Does your NMC perform verification of forecast/warnings? • To a small degree

17. A - Forecasting component • Please provide current status of human resources at your NMC (e.g. number of observers, forecasters, NWP experts and IT staff etc.) • Director • Deputy Director • Climate Officer • 14 / 7 Forecasters/Meteorologists • 24 / 13 Observers • 3 Technical Officers

18. B - Public Weather Services (service delivery) component B.1 – Warning criteria currently used at NMC

19. B - Public Weather Services (service delivery) component • Do the forecasters rely on the Internet as essential for severe weather forecasting at your NMC? Yes B.2 – Internet access capability at NMC

20. B - Public Weather Services (service delivery) component B.3 – Engagement of NMC with users

21. B - Public Weather Services (service delivery) component B.4 -Evaluation and monitoring of performance

22. B - Public Weather Services (service delivery) component B.5 – Channels of communication of forecasts and warnings at NMC

23. C- Expectations from SWFDP-Eastern Caribbean

24. C- Expectations from SWFDP-Eastern Caribbean

25. INFORMATION RADIO ABS/ZDK/CRL/ SUN/OBS HOTLINE 463-4MET ABS TELEVISION Website ww.antiguamet.com PUSH INFORMATION TO MET SERVICES

26. THE END THANK YOU