WARNING Research and Development

tornado

The Warning Research and Development Division (WRDD) performs research to gain understanding of severe and hazardous weather, to identify and diagnose severe weather signatures in observational data, and to develop new applications and techniques to enhance the provision of accurate warnings and nowcasts of hazardous weather.

 

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Mission...
To perform research to gain understanding of severe and hazardous weather (wind, hail, tornado and flash floods); to identify and diagnose severe weather signatures in observational data, and to develop and transfer new scientific understanding, applications, and techniques to the National Weather Service (NWS) and other partners to enhance their capability to provide accurate warnings and nowcasts of hazardous weather.

--Dave Jorgensen, Chief

Warning Applications Research

The Severe Weather Warning Applications and Technology Transfer (SWAT) Group works to develop severe weather warning applications and transfer them to users to enhance their capability to warn of severe weather.

Hydrometeorology Research

Accurate quantitative precipitation estimates (QPE) and very short-term quantitative precipitation forecasts (VSQPF) are critical to fresh water management in the United States and around the world. National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters have documented their need for better operational products. River Forecast Centers need more accurate QPE/VSQPF and better knowledge of QPE uncertainties and their impacts on river forecasts. Weather Forecast Offices require the same for improved flash flood warnings. NSSL’s Hydrometeorology Research Group (HMRG) addresses these issues by using their expertise to research and build on current operational tools.

Convective Weather Research

The Convective Weather Research Group (CWRG) conducts theoretical, modeling, and multi-sensor observational research on severe local storms and related phenomena. The goal of this research is to help the NWS improve prediction and warning of severe weather and tornadoes.