Section 12. Severe Weather Management

17-12-1. GENERAL

a. The AT system is most susceptible to thunderstorm activity between April and October on a national basis. Thunderstorms create a major disruption to the normal and organized movement of air traffic and significantly increase the workload in an impacted facility. To meet this challenge, System Operations has charged the ATCSCC to set aside a cadre of National Traffic Management Officers (NTMO) to deal directly and independently with severe weather problem areas. To accomplish this task, the ATCSCC established the National System Strategy Team (NSST).

b. When the potential for severe weather exists which will cause a disruption to normal traffic movements, the ATCSCC NSST will implement procedures designed to optimize the use of the available airspace. Strategic planning is an integral part of severe weather management and the responsibility of all involved.

c. Facilities will be called upon to favor and accept traffic that is not normally routed through their area. In the interest of a balanced flow and to minimize delays, we expect air traffic facilities to accept this alternate flow. All facilities are expected to participate and cooperate when called upon. A properly developed, coordinated, and implemented plan will result in the better use of available airspace.

17-12-2. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The ATCSCC must be the final approving authority for alternate routes and initiatives that transcend center or terminal boundaries.

a. The ATCSCC NSST must:

1. Be responsible for severe weather management operations.

2. Ensure coordination is completed to implement TM initiatives in support of severe weather management.

3. Conduct a daily NSST operations critique with affected facilities and system customers, as appropriate.

4. Receive and evaluate facility requests for alternate routes and initiatives to avoid severe weather.

5. Coordinate with appropriate facilities and customers to determine the need for developing alternate routes and initiatives to avoid severe weather.

6. Coordinate alternate routes with all affected facilities.

7. Transmit advisories defining severe weather areas and alternate routes.

8. Conference all affected facilities and system users to apprise them of weather conditions that will impact the NAS.

b. Facility TMUs must coordinate directly with the ATCSCC NSST for matters pertaining to severe weather.