On June 10, 2008, the NWS Weather Forecast
Office (WFO) in Huntsville will begin issuing, on an as needed
basis, Drought Information Statements (DGT)
for their area of responsibility.
DGT products will provide a unified summary of current drought
severity, indices, data, impacts, forecasts and products
and other pertinent information to enhance the ability of
the users to focus drought mitigation efforts on areas of
the greatest need.
Currently, the drought information statement is issued as
a Hydrologic Outlook (AWIPS ID ESFHUN). However, it was found
that sometimes this can be confusing since flood outlooks
are also issued using this product identifier. In fact, despite
droughts implying a lack of rainfall, there are cases, especially
in the spring, where both a flood outlook and a drought outlook
were in effect at the same time under the same product identifier.
The new DGT product establishes a separate AWIPS identifier
to be used for the drought information statement. The WMO
header and AWIPS identifier for the new product at WFO Huntsville
are:
WMO Heading AXUS74 KHUN
AWIPS ID DGTHUN
Important note: users of NWS products must update their
communication system directories to receive the new DGT products.
To best serve our users, NWS Huntsville issuance criteria
for the drought statement will not change when the new product
is launched. Other offices may use different criteria
for issuance than NWS Huntsville. NWS Huntsville issuance
criteria is as follows:
- When the U.S.
Drought Monitor (USDM) shows any portion of
the NWS Huntsville Hydrologic Service Area (HSA) in D1
(Moderate Drought), an initial statement will be issued
and updated every two weeks.
- When the USDM shows any portion of the NWS Huntsville
HSA in D2 (Severe Drought) or D3 (Extreme Drought), a statement
will be issued each Thursday.
- When the USDM shows any portion of the NWS Huntsville
HSA in D4 (Exceptional Drought), a statement will be issued
each Monday and Thursday.
- No statement will be issued if the USDM shows only D0
(abnormally Dry) conditions or no drought at all.
As part of the NWS Huntsville drought program, a table of
observed rainfall and departure from and percentage of normal
rainfall will continue to be issued as well. This table is
typically issued on an occasional basis as a public information
statement (AWIPS ID PNSHUN) but will be included routinely
in the drought information statement when conditions are
widespread D3 (Extreme Drought) or worse.
The normal 120 day notification period associated with the
introduction of new NWS products was waived in the interest
of protecting life and property in drought stricken areas
with the provision of these new products.
For additional information on DGT policy, including product
format and examples, go to: http://www.weather.gov/directives/sym/pd01012001curr.pdf
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