National Weather Service Professional Development Series Professional Competency Unit

Description of Job Duty Competency to be Achieved

Configure and utilize all resources to enable the issuance of timely and accurate convective warnings (warning coordinator duties).

Description of Need

To ensure appropriate resources are allocated to respond to the challenges of convective warning operations, the severe weather forecast "Team" must have an effective severe weather operations plan.

Specific Job Task Skills and Knowledge

1. Ensure that all operational equipment (generator, hardware components, software, components, communication systems) is functioning at optimum levels.

2. Review office severe weather checklist at least 24 hours before an expected event.

3. Review service backup plan to ensure minimal transition time is lost in case emergency backup operations are necessary.

4. Check staffing to ensure that an adequate number of experienced (and fully trained) Personnel is available to work the severe weather event.

5. During the event, the warning coordinator should maintain a high level of situational awareness with respect to the following:

1. office communication of information internally and externally (to users)
2. staffing (are all positions assigned and sufficiently alert staff available for the duration of the event?)
3. effects of the mesoscale environment on the nature of the severe weather and associated warnings (how is the severe weather event unfolding?)
4. operational systems (monitoring timely receipt of AWIPS products, and assuring products are being disseminated properly)

Instructional Components

Instructional Component 1.1 Review your office's Station Duty Manual section on severe weather operations.

Instructional Component 1.2 Review the document Staffing Strategies and Severe Weather Operations Plans .

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This page was last updated 02/2003