Storm Prediction Center

Goes-R Proving Ground Activities Begin at SPC

May 20th, 2009 | By Keli Tarp

A new program to extend the use of geostationary satellite data in the operational environment has kicked off this spring in the NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed at the National Weather Center in Norman, Okla. The GOES-R PG will involve the operational forecast community in the assessment and development of techniques for the next [...]

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NOAA Hosts National Severe Weather Workshop March 5-7

Feb 12th, 2009 | By Keli Tarp

Emergency managers and media will exchange ideas with academia and federal government experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at the ninth annual National Severe Weather Workshop March 5-7 at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center, 2501 Conference Drive, Norman, Okla. Registration is underway for the three-day workshop, designed to enhance partnerships between severe weather forecasters and researchers, emergency managers, broadcast meteorologists, businesses, storm spotters and other weather enthusiasts. Participants will identify communities at risk, evaluate current and future tools for hazardous weather assessment, and discuss communication technologies and meteorological careers.

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NOAA Hosts Summer Research Students

Jun 1st, 2008 | By Keli Tarp

Eight undergraduate students from around the U.S. are in Norman this summer working on research projects as part of the NOAA Hollings Scholars program. The prestigious program is designed to help encourage students to pursue a future career in atmospheric science research.

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2008 Hazardous Weather Testbed Spring Forecast-Scale Activities

May 5th, 2008 | By Susan Cobb

This is the second week of the 2008 Hazardous Weather Testbed (HWT) EFP (Experimental Forecast Program) Spring Experiment held in the NOAA HWT at the National Weather Center in Norman, Okla. Each spring during the climatologically most active severe weather periods, multi-agency collaborative forecasting experiments known as the HWT EFP Spring Experiment have occurred since 2000. A strength of the program is the involvement of scientists and forecasters throughout the meteorological community. Participating in the EFP this week will include visiting forecasters from NOAA/NWS Pendleton OR, NOAA/NWS Amarillo TX, and researchers from NCAR, Boulder CO, Colorado State Univ., North Carolina State Univ., Mitre Corp./FAA, and Environment Canada.

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NOAA’s National Weather Service to present Isaac M. Cline award to Storm Prediction Center forecaster

May 17th, 2006 | By Keli Tarp

NOAA’s National Weather Service will present its prestigious Isaac M. Cline Award in meteorology to Richard L. Thompson, a lead forecaster at the NOAA Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., for work in developing severe weather probability forecasts and tools to identify areas with tornado potential.

The Isaac M. Cline Award honors individual and team employees for operational excellence in the delivery of products and services in support of the National Weather Service mission.

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NOAA Storm Prediction Center receives grant to improve severe storm data for forecasters

Apr 7th, 2005 | By Keli Tarp

A project to improve the information used by forecasters at the NOAA Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., has been awarded a 2005 Pioneer Fund Grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce. NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The $42,000 project will test the use of the Warning Decision Support System-Integrated Information (WDSS-II), a state-of-the-art radar analysis software tool, to stitch together real-time, high-resolution weather radar data from across the country into a digital mosaic. This new mosaic and software display system will add significant value to the data severe weather forecasters use on a daily basis to develop accurate storm predictions for the United States.

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NOAA reports record number of tornadoes in 2004

Dec 27th, 2004 | By Keli Tarp

The total number of tornadoes reported in the United States reached a record high during the year 2004, surpassing the previous record by almost 300, according to officials at NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla. The findings are based on a preliminary review of reports filed by NOAA’s National Weather Service forecast offices, and compared to historical records dating back to 1950. NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

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NOAA’s Joseph Schaefer Receives 2003 Presidential Rank Award

Jan 7th, 2004 | By Keli Tarp

Joseph Schaefer, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, Okla., has received the 2003 Presidential Rank Award for exceptional long-term accomplishments. He was among a group of federal senior executives recently honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The Presidential Rank Award is a prestigious award given to a select group of senior federal executives who have provided exceptional service to the American people over an extended period of time.

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Employees Association Donates Weather Radios to Local Schools

Mar 6th, 2003 | By Keli Tarp

When severe weather threatens this spring, nine Norman schools and the Washington (Okla.) School District will be better prepared as a result of donations made by local employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Today (March 6) and tomorrow, representatives of the National Severe Storms Laboratory/Storm Prediction Center Employees Association (NSEA) will present NOAA weather radios to the schools, to coincide with Severe Weather Awareness Week in Oklahoma.

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National tornado count remains lowest since 1988

Jul 25th, 2002 | By Keli Tarp

As the traditional tornado season comes to an end this month, tornado activity in the United States has remained low, according to NOAA’s National Weather Service. The unofficial count of 451 tornadoes reported by July 24 is half of the 10-year average of 914 tornadoes and the lowest mid-year count since 1988, said officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an agency of the Commerce Department.

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