Service Change Notice
NOUS41 KWBC 171810
PNSWSH
SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE 08-20
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
210 PM EDT MON MAR 17 2008
TO: SUBSCRIBERS:
-FAMILY OF SERVICES
-NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE
-EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK
OTHER NWS PARTNERS...AND NWS EMPLOYEES
FROM: THERESE Z. PIERCE
CHIEF...MARINE AND COASTAL SERVICES BRANCH
SUBJECT: CHANGES TO TROPICAL CYCLONE PROBABILISTIC WIND
SPEED TEXT PRODUCTS: EFFECTIVE MAY 15 2008
REFER TO: SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE /SCN/ 08-19: TRANSMITTED
MAR 17 2008
BASED ON USER FEEDBACK...SEVERAL ENHANCEMENTS TO THE TROPICAL
CYCLONE PROBABILISTIC WIND SPEED TEXT /PWS/ PRODUCTS BECOME
EFFECTIVE MAY 15 2008. THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING SUITE OF
PRODUCTS:
BASIN WMO HEADING AWIPS ID
ATLANTIC FONT/11-15/ KNHC PWSAT/1-5/
EASTERN PACIFIC FOPZ/11-15/ KNHC PWSEP/1-5/
CENTRAL PACIFIC FOPA/11-15/ PHFO PWSCP/1-5/
1. A MAXIMUM WIND SPEED /INTENSITY/ PROBABILITY TABLE...DENOTED
AS SECTION I...WILL BE ADDED. THE TABLE WILL PROVIDE
PROBABILITIES THAT THE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WIND SPEED OF THE
TROPICAL CYCLONE WILL BE WITHIN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES
AT EACH OFFICIAL FORECAST TIME IN THE NEXT 5 DAYS:
-DISSIPATED
-TROPICAL DEPRESSION
-TROPICAL STORM
-HURRICANE
-EACH SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE CATEGORIES 1 THROUGH 5.
2. THE EXISTING TABLE IN THE CURRENT PWS PRODUCTS WILL BE
DENOTED AS SECTION II AND IDENTIFIED AS THE WIND SPEED
PROBABILITY TABLE FOR SPECIFIC LOCATIONS. ADDITIONALLY THE
CURRENT LOCATION-SPECIFIC PROBABILITIES DO NOT INCLUDE LOCATIONS
HAVING A CUMULATIVE 5-DAY PROBABILITY LESS THAN 2.5 PERCENT.
THIS THRESHOLD WILL BE LOWERED TO 1.0 PERCENT FOR THE 64-KNOT
PROBABILITIES ONLY.
3. THE PORTION OF THE EXISTING PRODUCT...NOW DENOTED AS WIND
SPEED PROBABILITIES FOR FORECAST POSITIONS...PROVIDING WIND SPEED
PROBABILITIES AT THE OFFICIAL FORECAST POINTS THROUGH 120
HOURS...WILL BE ELIMINATED. THIS INFORMATION IS REPLACED BY THE
NEW TABLE IN SECTION I...PROVIDING MAXIMUM WIND SPEED
PROBABILITIES FOR THE FULL AREAL EXTENT OF THE STORM THROUGH
120 HOURS.
AN EXAMPLE OF THE ENHANCED PWS TEXT PRODUCTS IS PROVIDED ONLINE
AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/HURRICANE/PDFS/WIND-PROB.PDF
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS...PLEASE CONTACT
SCOTT KISER
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
MARINE AND COASTAL SERVICES BRANCH
1325 EAST WEST HWY ROOM 13126
SILVER SPRING MARYLAND 20910
PHONE: 301-713-1677 EXTENSION 121
NWS SERVICE CHANGE NOTICES ARE ONLINE AT /USE LOWER CASE/:
HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIF.HTM
$$
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