Function: The Meteorological Services Division oversees
NWS warning and forecast operation plans, policies, and procedures. It
is the primary link to the public and to those segments of the public
in weather sensitive industries. Staff identify and validate service needs,
mitigate weather-related disasters, and establish operational requirements
for meteorological observations. The division designs, validates, and
implements new products and services; establishes and maintains customer
partnerships, and devises the strategic vision for meteorological services.
The division defines and validates service and mission needs, solicits
user feedback in evaluating new products and services, and approves final
product design. Division staff also helps prioritize requirements-driven
science and technology development to improve products and services. Staff
oversee NWS meteorological warning and forecast training. The Division
represents the NWS at interagency, national, and international groups
and forums on matters concerning meteorological policy, plans, products,
and services. Branches include:
Marine And Coastal Weather Services Branch:
W/OS21 (WB0210)
The Marine And Coastal
Services Branch is the meteorological lead for the nation's marine
and coastal weather services. Programs include warnings, forecasts, and
advisories for coastal waters, offshore, high seas, and near-shore and
open waters of the Great Lakes. It leads programs for tropical cyclone,
coastal flood, severe convective coastal weather, and coastal hazards
such as heavy surf and rip tides. The branch supports the Tsunami Warning
Program. In addition, staff provides a range of weather services focused
on the expanding and weather-sensitive U.S. coastal population and those
responsible for its safety.
Branch staff oversees the delivery of marine and coastal weather products
and services from the coastal WFOs the Ocean Prediction Center, and the
Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch of the Tropical Prediction Center.
The branch identifies and ensures marine and coastal forecast training
needs are met, works with the Office of Science and Technology to prioritize
marine and coastal science and technology development and approve new
or improved product designs, and with the Office of Operational Systems
to ensure the collection of marine and coastal observations and the delivery
of marine and coastal products to users. The branch creates internal and
external partnerships, collects and validates marine and coastal service
and mission needs, solicits feedback on products and services and validates
whether these meet the needs.
The Branch works with NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS), the U.S. Navy
and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to provide ice warning and advisory services;
With the U.S. Navy, the USCG, the Maritime Administration, and the Corps
of Engineers to operate the nations' Marine Transportation System safely;
With the Department of Defense, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S.
Geological Survey, and the American Red Cross to provide tropical cyclone
services; with the USCG, Navy, Air Force, and private entities to disseminate
weather to mariners; With NOS on the PORTS and TIDES programs; and with
the World Meteorological Organization to provide services to the international
community.
Fire and Public Weather Services Branch: W/OS22
(WB0220)
The Fire and Public Services Branch provides forecast, warning, and response
services to the nation for wildland fires, environmental hazard events,
and land management activities. The branch provides public weather services
to the nation. Staff provide products and services to the public and those
responsible for public safety; to Federal, state and local land management
agencies during wildfires; to Federal land management agencies for smoke
management, and for fire and non-fire land management activities; and
to the lead Federal agencies for nuclear hazard events. This Branch also
leads on-site services provided for hazardous spill events.
The Branch works with the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Department of
Interior management to provide fire services; with the lead Federal agencies
to provide nuclear weather support services, and with the World Meteorological
Organization on fire weather services for the international community.
This Branch serves as the lead for the severe weather (convective and
non-convective), zone, state, Nowcast, and recreational (including inland
lakes and waterways) programs. The Branch serves as the primary focal
point for collaboration with federal transportation agencies on weather
issues related to surface transportation; with federal and private entities
on the Ultra-Violet Index program; and with the World Meteorological Organization
on the provision of public weather services to the international community.
The Branch oversees the delivery of fire weather, public, and environmental
hazards weather products and services from the WFOs and NCEP service centers.
Staff work with the Training Division to identify and meet public and
fire weather and related micro-scale forecast training needs. The branch
works with the Office of Science and Technology to prioritize fire and
public weather-related science and technology development and to approve
new or improved product designs. Staff works with the Observing Services
Division and the Office of Operational Systems to collect fire weather
observations and the delivery of public, fire weather, and environmental
hazard event products to users. The Branch creates internal and external
partnerships to collect and validate fire weather, public, and environmental
hazard event service and mission needs, solicits feedback on its products
and services, and evaluates whether these meet the needs.
Aviation Weather Services Branch: W/OS23
(WB0230)
The Aviation Service Branch provides aviation weather services to the
nation. Its programs include products and services for domestic and international
aviation communities in the terminal, en route, and for oceanic airspace
systems. This Branch oversee airport warnings and forecasts, route forecasts,
aviation area forecasts, In-flight Advisories, and the Central Weather
Service Units (CWSU). The Branch serves as the primary focal point for
collaboration with FAA, the International Civil Aviation Organization,
and the World Meteorological Organization to provide and disseminate of
aviation weather services.
The Branch oversees the delivery of aviation products and services from
WFOs, CWSUs, the Aviation Weather Center, and the Alaska Aviation Weather
Unit. It develops, coordinates and issues the policy and procedure documents
for aviation weather operations. It works with the Training Division to
identify and ensure aviation forecast training needs are met; with the
Office of Science and Technology to prioritize related science and technology
development and approve new or improved product designs; and with the
Office of Operational Systems to collect aviation observations and deliver
aviation products to users. The Branch creates internal and external partnerships
to collect and validate aviation service and mission needs, solicit feedback
on products and services, and evaluate whether these meet the needs.
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