Oct 27-29: GSL to host Hazard Services Functional Forecaster Assessment Test (FAT) to evaluate marine and non-precipitation weather products

Oct 27-29: GSL researchers will virtually host more than a dozen participants for a Functional Forecaster Assessment Test (FFAT) of new Hazard Services capabilities. FAT will be Oct. 27-29, all virtual using the Amazon Web Services cloud platform and will evaluate marine and non-precipitation weather products. Because the software already includes all of the Hydrology and Winter Weather functionality, that will inherently be tested as well.

A “Functional Forecaster Assessment Test” (FFAT), exposes forecasters to a new hazard workflow in an isolated system so they can focus on evaluating how Hazard Services creates watches/warnings/advisories and how the public would see these hazardous weather products. This FFAT will evaluate marine and non-precipitating weather products. Watches and warnings for marine hazards include gales, heavy freezing spray, small craft advisories, dense fog, hazardous seas, and hurricane force winds. Watches and warnings for non-precipitation hazards cover extreme cold, excessive heat, dense fog and smoke, high winds, and even air stagnation

GSL is developing Hazard Services to modernize how the National Weather Service (NWS) and National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) create forecasts, watches, and warnings. The system provides a pathway to operations and enables promising science and technology to be more rapidly incorporated into the warning decision-making process. It is also the vehicle for bringing clear, direct language improvements into the watch/warning/advisory process to ensure more effective information is disseminated to the public.