National Centers for Environmental Prediction

CDR Sean R. White, NOAAChief Science Officer

BOTC-106August 20, 2004

Silver Spring, MD

Overview

• NOAA Organization• NWS Offices• NCEP Center Locations• NCEP Centers• NOAA Corps Billets

NCEP Center Locations

Space Environment Center

Storm Prediction Center

Aviation Weather CenterNCEP Central Operations Climate Prediction Center Environmental Modeling Center Hydrometeorological Prediction Center Ocean Prediction Center

Tropical Prediction Center

Environmental Modeling CenterDevelops and improves numerical weather, climate, hydrological and ocean prediction through a broad program of applied research in data analysis, modeling and product development

– Global, regional domains– Weather, climate, hurricane, ocean, ozone models– Forecasts out to 16 days

Hydrometeorological Prediction Center• Provides forecast, guidance, and analysis products and services in

support of the National Weather Service and its customers – Quantitative precipitation forecasts, excessive rainfall, river flood outlook,

and heavy ice & snow guidance– medium-range guidance (Days 3-7)– model diagnostic discussions and associated graphics tools– surface analyses & basic weather forecasts– International Training Desks– Winter Weather products

• Provides tailored weather support to other government agencies in emergency and special situations.

Ocean Prediction Center• Provides atmospheric and oceanographic warning,

forecast, and analysis products and services for thenorth Atlantic and north Pacific

• Atlantic and Pacific high seas– narrative warnings & forecasts to 48 h– graphic analyses and forecasts to 96 h– Offshore warnings– Sea-state analysis and forecast graphics– Weather analysis and forecast narratives– Global quality control of marine observations

Climate Prediction Center• Assesses and predicts the impacts of short-term climate variability,

emphasizing enhanced risks of weather related extreme events, for use in mitigating losses and maximizing economic gains.

• Climate Outlooks– Tropical Pacific SSTs– Seasonal and Monthly Temperature and

Precipitation Anomalies– Seasonal Drought Outlooks– Seasonal Hurricane Outlooks– Day 6-10 and 8-14 Outlooks– Hazard Assessments – Day 3-14 – Weather/Climate Connection– UV Index

• Climate monitoring– Oceans, drought, temperature, precipitation, atmospheric circulation, ozone

Aviation Weather Center• Provides aviation warnings and forecasts of hazardous flight

conditions at all levels within domestic and international airspace• Domestic programs

– Area Forecast (FA)– AIRMETs/SIGMETs icing, turbulence, IFR, volcanic ash – Convective SIGMETs thunderstorms, valid 2 hrs, outlook valid 2- 6 hrs– Significant thunderstorm outlook (2/4/6 hrs) – Low Level SIGWX progs

• International Products– Gulf of Mexico Area Forecast for Helicopters– Caribbean Area Forecast for General Aviation– International SIGMETs for 7 Oceanic Areas– Upper Level Significant Weather Charts for 7 ICAO areas– International Flight Folder Documentation Program

Storm Prediction Center

• Provides timely and accurate forecasts and watches for thunderstorms and tornadoes over the contiguous United States. The SPC also monitors heavy rain, snow, and fire weather events across the U.S. and issues specific products for those hazards.– Severe Weather Watches– Day 1, 2 and 3 Convective Outlooks– Day 1 and 2 Fire Weather Outlooks– Mesoscale Discussions

Tropical Prediction Center• Provides official forecasts of the movement and

strength of tropical weather systems and issues the appropriate watches and warnings for the US and surrounding area. – Tropical cyclone products include tropical cyclone

forecast/advisories, discussions, strike probabilities, and position estimates

– Tropical marine products include high seas forecasts for the tropical Atlantic, eastern Pacific, and south Pacific Oceansand offshore forecasts for the Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico.

Space Environment Center

• Provides space weather alerts and warnings for disturbances that affect people and equipment working in space and on Earth– Monitors solar and geomagnetic activity 24 hours a day, alerts

users when possibly disruptive or dangerous changes occur in the space environment and issues daily forecasts of space environment conditions

– acts as the World Warning Agency for the space environment. – Synthesizes and disseminates information about

past, present, and future conditions in the space environment for space weather users

NCEPhttp://www.ncep.noaa.gov

Climate Prediction Centerhttp://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/

Hydrometeorological Prediction Centerhttp://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/

Storm Prediction Centerhttp://www.spc.noaa.gov/

Tropical Prediction Centerhttp://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Ocean Prediction Centerhttp://www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/

Aviation Weather Centerhttp://aviationweather.gov/

Space Environment Centerhttp://www.sec.noaa.gov/ncep/