-------- Original Message --------
668
NOUS41 KWBC 231839
PNSWSH
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...COMMENT REQUEST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
240 PM EDT WED SEP 23 2009
TO: SUBSCRIBERS:
-FAMILY OF SERVICES
-NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE
-EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK
-NOAAPORT
OTHER NWS PARTNERS...USERS AND EMPLOYEES
FROM: ELI JACKS
CHIEF...FIRE AND PUBLIC WEATHER SERVICES BRANCH
SUBJECT: CURRENTLY SOLICITING COMMENTS BY NOVEMBER 30 2009
REGARDING CHANGING THE MINIMUM HAIL SIZE CRITERION FOR
ISSUING SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS AND SEVERE
WEATHER STATEMENTS
THE NWS IS CONSIDERING CHANGING THE MINIMUM HAIL SIZE CRITERION
IT USES FOR ISSUING SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING /SVR/ AND SEVERE
WEATHER STATEMENT /SVS/ PRODUCTS FROM 3/4 INCH /PENNY/ DIAMETER
OR LARGER TO 1 INCH /QUARTER/ DIAMETER OR LARGER. NO CHANGE IS
BEING PROPOSED TO THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WIND CRITERION: WIND
GUSTS EQUAL TO OR IN EXCESS OF 50 KNOTS /58 MPH/.
COMMENTS REGARDING THIS PROPOSED CHANGE SHOULD BE BY NOVEMBER 30
2009 TO:
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SURVEY/NWS-SURVEY.PHP?CODE=1INCHA-WR
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN REGION WEATHER
FORECAST OFFICES /WFO/... THE NWS CURRENTLY ISSUES SVR AND SVS
PRODUCTS WHENEVER A THUNDERSTORM IS FORECAST TO CONTAIN HAIL
SIZE 3/4 INCH /PENNY/ DIAMETER OR LARGER.
ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS...CENTRAL AND WESTERN REGION WFOS ARE
USING THE PROPOSED 1 INCH /QUARTER/ DIAMETER OR LARGER MINIMUM
HAIL SIZE CRITERION TO ISSUE SVR AND SVS PRODUCTS UNTIL OCTOBER
31 2009 AND NOVEMBER 30 2009... RESPECTIVELY.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION DOCUMENTS /PDD/ FOR THESE EXPERIMENTAL
PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE AT /USE LOWERCASE/:
HTTP://PRODUCTS.WEATHER.GOV/VIEWLISTE.PHP
SERVICE CHANGE NOTICES /SCN/ ANNOUNCING THE CR AND WR
EXPERIMENTAL PRODUCTS ARE ALSO ONLINE AT /USE LOWERCASE/:
HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIFICATION/SCN09-36WR_HAIL_EXP.TXT
AND
HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIFICATION/SCN09-19HAIL_CHANGE.TXT
UPON THE COMPLETION OF THESE EXPERIMENTAL PERIODS AND THE CLOSE
OF THIS PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT /PNS/ COMMENT PERIOD...THE
NWS WILL EVALUATE ALL RECEIVED COMMENTS TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR
NOT TO PROCEED WITH THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM MINIMUM HAIL SIZE
CRITERION CHANGE.
IF THE PROPOSED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM MINIMUM HAIL SIZE CRITERION
CHANGE IS APPROVED...ALL NWS WFOS IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED
STATES /CONUS/ AND OUTSIDE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES /OCONUS/
WILL BEGIN ISSUING SVR AND SVS PRODUCTS FOR THUNDERSTORMS
FORECAST TO CONTAIN MINIMUM HAIL SIZE 1 INCH /QUARTER/ DIAMETER
OR LARGER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER TUESDAY JANUARY 5 2010.
A SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE WILL BE ISSUED WITH A MINIMUM 30 DAY
ADVANCE LEAD TIME ANNOUNCING THIS CHANGE.
IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PUBLIC
INFORMATION STATEMENT...PLEASE CONTACT:
JOHN FERREE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FIRE AND PUBLIC WEATHER BRANCH
120 DAVID L. BOREN BLVD, SUITE 2312
NORMAN OK 73072
405-325-2209
JOHN.FERREE@xxxxxxxx
NATIONAL PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS ARE ONLINE AT
/USE LOWERCASE/:
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/NOTIF.HTM
$$
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