Jeff Kimpel, Director, NSSL: We exist to support the National Weather Service operations in issuing severe and hazardous weather forecasts. So that gets us into theory, gets us into observational tools, gets us into modeling tools that help the Weather Service do a better job.

Improving forecasts has been NSSL’s mission since 1964. Today’s forecast office reflects more than four decades of research and development.

Jeff Kimpel: The National Severe Storms Laboratory does research in three areas: The first is weather radar. The second is using information from the weather radar in hydrologic models, runoff models, flash flood type things. And the third one is using information from the radar and other things in numerical weather prediction to make forecasts better.

From the original WSR-57 research project to the development of NEXRAD to now mobile SMART Radars and phased array radar, NSSL continues to push the weather research community to the edge of technology. On the horizon is dual polarization, an additional capability that allows NEXRAD radar to send and receive both horizontal and vertical pulses. This new information will give meteorologists a better idea of the structure and type of precipitation, resulting in more accurate forecasts. Looking to the future, NSSL researchers are working on the next generation of weather radar.

Jeff Kimpel: So it’s time now we start thinking about what’s after NEXRAD. What we believe is the best candidate now is electronically steered radar – phased array radar – that is much better, much quicker than rotating systems like the NEXRAD.

Phased array radar’s unique flat antenna makes it capable of monitoring weather and aircraft simultaneously, with the promise of significant cost savings.

In winter and summer, precipitation presents unique forecasting issues. NSSL’s work in radar has led to new water forecasting and management applications.

Jeff Kimpel: Believe it or not, the radar is going to give us very accurate estimates of rainfall. Think of it as having a rain gauge every kilometer or two. It’s going to change the way we do hydrology.

The Lab’s third major focus, numerical weather prediction, improves the way forecasters use weather models, especially in severe weather applications. Much of this work is done in the Hazardous Weather Testbed through extensive collaboration with many individuals and organizations, including the Storm Prediction Center and the Norman office of the National Weather Service.

Jeff Kimpel: If you think about it, this is the only testbed in the country that focuses on improving severe storm watches and warnings in an operational environment. And of equal importance, it gives the researchers an idea of what the operational problems are that helps them focus their research more sharply on things that matter.

From early storm chasing, to VORTEX in the mid-1990s, to the upcoming VORTEX II in 2009, as well as ongoing lightning research, NSSL scientists are in the field, measuring the atmosphere and improving our understanding of nature’s most violent weather. The laboratory’s success can be measured in the number of lives saved. Its legacy through forty years remains the national network of NEXRAD radars.

Jeff Kimpel: We were deeply involved in testing that system, developing that system, proving it had value to severe weather warnings and forecasts.

NSSL’s greatest assets have always been a clear mission and the people who carry it out.

Jeff Kimpel: I think it’s important to have a cadre of people who are keeping up the research, doing the state-of-the art research that’s necessary to improve the warnings and forecasts, having them all in one place so they can cooperate and work together is why we should have a National Severe Storms Laboratory.

Within every NOAA National Weather forecaster, and behind every critical decision-making process, lies the preparation and education provided by the Warning Decision Training Branch. With an expert staff of meteorologists, research associates, graphic designers, and IT specialists, this NOAA Weather Partner’s mission is to improve warning performance within NOAA’s National Weather Service.

Ed Mahoney, Chief, WDTB: We do this by infusing three things into the training operation, and that’s science, there’s technology, and then there’s a critical human factors element, that we also address.

Forecasters rely on NEXRAD radar when warning the public of hazardous weather conditions. The training they receive emphasizes accuracy, timeliness, and composure in their forecasting performance.

Kenneth James, Meteorologist, NWS: This training is always changing, because the science is always changing, so I think, in a very subtle way, it exposes everyone to the concept of change. It also allows us to improve as scientists, and to, I think, communicate more effectively, because a lot of us will be using the same knowledge.

The Warning Decision Training Branch provides training through multiple delivery systems. While traditional, in-residence training is still utilized, about ninety percent of training is now done via distance learning, over the Internet. Forecasters also train on the Weather Events Simulator, which displays weather scenarios in real time.

Ed Mahoney: One of the things in training that’s important to do is to not just tell, but also to allow them to apply what they’ve learned. The application is the critical element in learning how to use these new tools. The Weather Event Simulator is that tool. It allows the forecaster to go through an operationally representative environment, allows them to make decisions. As you go through the practice, using the Simulator, over and over again, when the real event occurs, they’re not going to have a panic moment, they’re going to be well-experienced and prepared for that moment.

Each year the Warning Decision Training Branch trains over two thousand students throughout NOAA’s National Weather Service. Recently, an advanced course on winter weather contributed to better forecasts.

Brad Grant, Team Leader, WDTB: We saw some pretty dramatic increases in performance of warning lead times for winter storm warnings, and also, we saw, in terms of accuracy, the actual probability of detection up around ninety-three percent, which was a pretty big increase from what they’ve seen in past years, and part of this could be attributed to some of the training that was accomplished by all of the forecasters.

From the classroom to forecast operations, the Warning Decision Training Branch plays a crucial role in NOAA’s mission to protect life and property.

Kenneth James: The training, the theory, it all comes together, and the more training, the more practice, I think, the more effective one becomes in a real time environment.

Ed Mahoney: The key impact of our training is to prepare those decision makers to make effective and correct decisions, to provide the maximum warning performance support to the public. That’s our ultimate goal. Performance improvement, that’s our mission.