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National Weather Service |
Apply hydrologic knowledge and familiarity with RFC forecast operations to the effective coordination of forecast values with appropriate RFC staff.
Coordination with the RFC is needed when guidance values are in question and may need revision. Various reasons for this situation include, but are not limited to:
This coordination will occur most efficiently when the WFO staff has a complete understanding of the river forecast product generation procedures in the RFC.
1. Know the steps followed in the RFC hydrologic forecast process.
2. Understand the requirements of other RFC customers, especially those exchanging data and forecasts directly with the RFC.
3. Know how RFC forecasts are impacted by the timeliness and quality of observed hydromet data (e.g., radar and cooperative network), QPF, and temperature forecasts (when snowmelt is involved).
4. Apply knowledge of the hydrologic service area when coordinating concerns regarding RFC forecasts.
Instructional Component 3.1: - On-Station Training: Coordinating With RFCs. The service hydrologist or hydrology focal point will train forecasters on strategies for coordinating with supporting RFCs.
Instructional Component 3.2 - Web Module (Proposed): River Forecast Centers - What They Are and What They Do. A generic version of the browser-based CD-ROM module entitled "Who We Are...and...What We Do; North Central River Forecast Center Operations" will be produced for wider use in the NWS. This module will describe the functions and operations of an RFC.
Instructional Component 3.3 - Station-Led Training: RFC Visitation. Service hydrologists and operational forecasters from each WFO should visit each of their supporting RFCs for one to two days to become familiar with the RFC hydrologic forecast process.
Instructional Component 3.4 - Web module (Proposed, upgraded from Lesson 1 in the Correspondence Course): Introduction to the National Weather Service Hydrologic Services Program. This module describes the history of the Hydrologic Services Program, an understanding of which is required when coordinating with RFCs. The section on "Hydrologic Responsibilities of NWS Offices" will be transferred to the module below.
Instructional Component 3.5 - Web module (Proposed, upgraded from Lesson 2 in the Correspondence Course): Hydrologic Services Program At National Weather Service Field Offices. This module will be upgraded to describe current the roles, operations, and priorities of WFOs, RFCs, and NCEP as they relate to the Hydrologic Services Program, an understanding of which is required when coordinating with RFCs. Instruction will also be provided on the hydrologic support requirements of these NWS offices and their customers.
Instructional Component 3.6 - Web module (Proposed, converted from Lesson 6 in the Correspondence Course): Basic Hydrology - An Introduction to Hydrologic Modeling. This module introduces some basic concepts of hydrologic science and modeling used in NWS operations. Forecasters must be familiar with these concepts to have a basic understanding of hydrologic processes in the HSA and how RFCs prepare forecasts and guidance.
Instructional Component 3.7 - Web module (Proposed, converted from Lesson 7 in the Correspondence Course): Basic Hydrology - An Overview of the NWS River Forecast System. This module provides a moderately detailed description of the hydrologic modeling conducted under the umbrella of the NWS River Forecast System (NWSRFS). Forecasters must be familiar with the basic strengths and weaknesses of NWSRFS to have a basic understanding of how RFCs prepare forecasts and guidance.
Instructional Component 3.8 - Web Module (Under Construction): Assessing Hydrometeorological Inputs to A Hydrologic Modeling System. This module, which is primarily oriented towards RFC forecasters, qualitatively describes the most frequently used approaches for assessing hydrometeorological inputs to an operational hydrologic forecasting system. The module will cover: (1) how input data is aggregated by NWSRFS preprocessors prior to its use in the hydrologic modeling process, (2) inherent strengths and weaknesses in various types of point and areal data (both observed and forecast) data being aggregated, and (3) approaches for intuitively assessing the likely effect of aggregated data inputs on the hydrologic modeling system before it is executed. Completing this module will give WFO forecasters an understanding of the sources of error in a hydrologic forecast and the importance of observed and forecast data inputs in terms of both quality and timeliness.
Instructional Component 3.9 - Documentation: WFO Hydrologic Services Manual. A section of the hydrologic services manual for each WFO contains a description of the products and services provided by supporting RFCs.
Instructional Component 3.10 - Documentation: Weather Service Operations Manual, Chapter E-21: WFO Hydrologic Operations. A section of this chapter contains policies on revision of RFC forecast values.
Instructional Component 3.11 - Documentation: Regional Operational Policies. Each region maintains policies on WFO-RFC coordination activities.
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