Frequently Asked Questions
about the
NWS Directives System (NDS)

About the NDS

1. What is the NDS?

The NDS is the National Weather Service (NWS) Directives System. It translates the ideas, goals, or principles contained in the NWS mission, vision, and strategic plan into action-related directives.

NWS Policy Directive (PD) 1-1 (or NWSPD 1-1) establishes the NDS system. NWS Instruction 1-101 (or NWSI 1-101) explains how to implement the system.

2. What is the WSOM? What is an OML? A ROML?

The Weather Service Operations Manual (WSOM) is the precursor to the NDS. An OML (Operations Manual Letter) transmits revisions to a WSOM Chapter. A ROML (Regional Operations Manual Letter) supplements a WSOM Chapter. Both OMLs and ROMLs are part of the WSOM system.

3. How is the NDS organized?

There are three types of directives in the NDS. Policy directives are statements of important, high-level direction that guides decisions and actions throughout the NWS. Procedural directives describe how to implement a particular policy. Policy and procedural directives are issued by Headquarters. Supplements which are issued by regional and field offices and National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) contain detailed information on implementation of procedural directives.

4. How is each directive identified?

The cover page of policy directives has a blue banner. Procedural directives have a yellow banner. Supplements have a green banner.

5. What is an OPR?

The Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) develops and coordinates a particular NDS directive and guides it through the approval process.

6. Who administers the NDS at the NWS?

The Management and Organization Division (CFO3) of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer administers and monitors the NDS.

7. Who can I contact for information or assistance on writing a directive?

Each OPR has a focal point or Cadre member for the implementation and organization of his/her office directives. These individuals are the first stop in obtaining assistance on drafting NDS documents. Staff of CFO3 are also available to provide guidance on the NDS.

8. What is the Cadre?

The Cadre is composed of individuals designated by OPRs to act as focal points for the implementation and organization of the office NDS system. They monitor the progress of the transition, provide expertise and advice to staff within their office, and evaluate the system.

Writing a Directive

1. The NWS Correspondence Handbook requires writers to use the "Courier New (preferred) or Courier font; 11 pitch.” Do NDS writers follow this?

No. The NDS has different requirements. NDS writers use “Times New Roman font; 12 pitch.” OPRs may diverge from this requirement and use fonts such as Courier New only when necessary for product specifications or similar documents.

2. What is the effective date of a directive?

The effective date is two weeks or later after the directive is signed by the approving authority.

3. How do I set up the banner pages?

Templates for preparing banner pages are available on the NDS home page in the Tool Kit.

4. Is the banner page intended to be a separate page before the text of policy directives, procedural directives, and supplements?

The banner page is separate for procedural directives and supplements. The narrative begins on the second page for procedural directives and supplements. The narrative begins on the first page (banner page) for policy directives.

5. What writing style should I use when writing a directive?

Writers should use the active voice. Use passive writing only when necessary.

6. If you define acronyms in the policy directive, do you have to define the same acronyms in the procedural directives and supplements?

Spell out the entire phrase the first time used with the acronyms in parenthesis for each directive. After that, use the acronym. This allows documents to stand alone.

7. References should include “policy-related” terms. What are "policy-related terms"?

References are a glossary of essential words you feel require interpretation and explanation for the reader. NWSPD 1-1 provides an example.

8. What is the difference between superseding and rescinding a document?

A document is superseded if it is used as the basis for, and referenced in, a new directive. A document is rescinded if it is no longer needed, and is not referenced in a new directive.

Numbering Directives

1. How do I number a policy directive?

A policy directive title begins with “NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POLICY DIRECTIVE.” It is followed by a space and the NDS number. The NDS number includes the series number, followed by a dash, and a directive number beginning with 1 and continuing up to 99. For example, the title for the first policy directive in the 1 series is “NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POLICY DIRECTIVE 1-1."

2. How do I number a procedural directive?

A procedural directive title begins with “NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INSTRUCTION” or “NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MANUAL.” It is followed by a space and the NDS number. The NDS number includes the policy number and an instruction or manual number beginning with 01 and continuing up to 99. For example, the title for the first instruction under the fourth policy directive in the 10 series would be “NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INSTRUCTION 10-401."

3. How do I number a supplement?

A supplement title begins with “NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE<Region Name/Field Office Name/NCEP Center Name>SUPPLEMENT<NUMBER>CALENDAR YEAR> (Use zero plus the supplement number where it is a single digit.) Below this, the following phrase will be used, “applicable to < INSTRUCTION or MANUAL NUMBER(s).” For example, the title for the third Central Region supplement during the year 2002 which supplements NWSI 10-912 would be: “NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CENTRAL REGION SUPPLEMENT 03-2002.” Following that will be the instruction(s) or manual(s) being supplemented written as, “applicable to NWSI 10-912.” More than one instruction or manual can be listed.

Coordination Procedures

1. Who signs policy directives? Procedural directives? Supplements?

The approving authority signs directives. The approving authority for policy directives is the Assistant Administrator for Weather Services. The approving authority for procedural directives is the director of the OPR. The approving authority for supplements is the regional director, NCEP director, or meteorologist/hydrologist in charge.

2. How can we track our coordination?

The NDS home page has a tracking system. Each Financial Management Center (FMC) has a Cadre member who can track their NDS documents. CFO3 is responsible for tracking parts of the coordination process.

3. What is the schedule for updating a policy directive?

Ninety calendar days prior to a directive’s anniversary date, CFO3 sends out a reminder notice to the OPR to complete the update process before the end of the annual cycle. The anniversary date is based on the effective date on the directive.

The OPR produces a final version of the directive by day 60 in the 90-day update cycle. Coordination with affected offices as well as dispute resolution are completed by this time.

The last 30 calendar days of the 90-day update cycle are reserved for General Counsel for Weather (GCW) and union coordination and signature by the AA.

4. What is the schedule for updating a procedural directive?

Ninety calendar days prior to a directive’s anniversary date, CFO3 sends out a reminder notice to the OPR to complete the update process before the end of the annual cycle. The anniversary date is based on the effective date on the directive.

The OPR produces a final version of the directive by day 60 in the 90-day update cycle. Coordination with affected offices as well as dispute resolution are completed by this time.

The last 30 calendar days of the 90-day update cycle are reserved for General Counsel for Weather (GCW) and union coordination and signature by the approving official.

5. What is the schedule for updating a supplement by a regional office or NCEP?

Each supplement must undergo an annual review process as specified by the OPR.

6. Must we provide a background summary for policy and procedural directives?

A background summary is required. The OPR must include a short explanation of the changes made to the policy or procedure from a WSOM Chapter, Operations Manual Letter (OML), or an earlier NDS policy. If the directive is new and does not supersede previous directives, the OPR must include a short summary highlighting the major points of the directive.

Posting and Record Keeping

1. Where will directives be posted?

All directives are posted on the NDS Web site.

2. Who will post the directives?

CFO3 will post all NDS directives.

3. When I submit my directive for posting, what format should be used?

After a directive is signed, FMCs give it to CFO3 as a .pdf file.

4. Who maintains original, signed copies of NDS directives?

Original, signed copies of policy and procedural directives are maintained by CFO3. Supplements are maintained by the OPR in the regional and field office, and NCEP.