 |
National Weather Service
Professional Development Series
Professional Competency Unit |
Quantitative Precipitation
Forecasting
PCU 6: Prepare
QPF
Producer: TBD
Description of Job Duty Competency
to be Achieved
Integrate local analysis of observational data, guidance,
verification feedback, user needs, and knowledge of climatology to specify
a precipitation forecast.
Description of Need
Forecasters must be able to integrate all available information
to produce a final QPF. The product must be packaged in a format
that customers can use. The forecast should be consistent
with other forecast products.
Specific Job Task Skills and
Knowledge
1.� Knowledge
of various user needs, significant precipitation thresholds and desired
forecast format: (e.g., probabilistic/deterministic, spatially averaged/point,
etc.)
2.� Use
computer-aided operational forecasting procedures to produce QPF
3.� Apply
knowledge of climatology to quality assure QPF amounts.
4.� Ability
to incorporate verification information and service validation to improve the
precipitation forecast process.
5.� Ability
to monitor QPE and update QPF as needed.
Instructional
Components
Instructional Component 6.1:
QPF Residence Courses: Importance of Understanding Customer
Needs.� Various COMET QPF residence
courses and related Webcasts will address the issue of the need for local
forecasters to develop an awareness of various customers= needs and how they drive the final QPF
format.
Instructional Component 6.2:
Station-led Training: Local offices could provide examples of cases
illustrating various internal and external customer QPF requirements.
Instructional Component 6.3:
Station-led Training: Regional/Local QPF Issues.�� Geographically/topographically-similar
groups of field offices could hold teletraining sessions highlighting customer
needs and forecasting methods unique to their region.
Instructional Component 6.4:
Mechanism TBD: QPF Forecast Methodology. Training on the use of
computer-aided operational forecasting procedures to produce QPF.
Instructional Component 6.5:
Residence Course: RFC/HPC Hydrometeorology Course.� This course will include training in the
judgmental processes of PQPF.
Instructional Component 6.6:
Mechanism TBD: Verification and Service Validation.� Training will be developed on how to
interpret and use verification information and user feedback to improve skill.
Instructional Component 6.7:
Precipitation Climatology Database: Local Climatological Guidance.� The local climatological database (see IC
1.1) can be used to quality assure precipitation forecasts.
Instructional Component 6.8:
Residence Courses: COMAP Symposia on Heavy
Precipitation and Flash Flooding and RFC/HPC Hydrometeorology Course.� Lectures and labs in these courses will
address the complete forecast process, which includes preparing the forecast,
packaging it for users, and forecasting QPF.
Instructional Component 6.9:
Bibliography: An on-line
bibliography/glossary of various precipitation-related reports could be
provided.
Return to Quantitative Precipitation
Forecasting PDS page
Last Reviewed or Updated on 09/26/01