WFO Reno, as part of the National
Weather Service and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pledges to uphold
the NWS
Mission in western Nevada and northeast California. We
maintain and operate all NWS programs that allow us to accomplish
this mission. Following are are descriptions of some
of these programs:
• Public
Forecast
• Warning
and Hazards
• Aviation
• Hydrology
• Fire
Weather
• Research
• Climate
• EEO/Diversity
•
Spotter Program
Public Forecast Program
- Weather Forecast Office (WFO) Reno's County Warning and
Forecast Area (CWFA) includes western Nevada and much of
northeast California. In California, it includes all of
Mono and Lassen counties and that portion of the following
counties that are east of the Sierra Nevada crest:
Alpine, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sierra and Plumas.
Surprise Valley in eastern Modoc County is also in our CWFA.
The shift Forecaster-In-Charge (FIC) at WFO Reno has overall
responsibility for quality control and consistency of all
products issued by this office.
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Warning and Hazards
Program
- Some of the duties of the Warning Coordination Meteorologist
(WCM) within this program are:
- A. Within the State Of Nevada
maintain NWS liaison with:
• Nevada Office of Emergency Management
• Nevada Highway Patrol
• Nevada Department of Transportation
• All counties in the WFO Reno CWA
• ensure successful watch/warning/advisory
dissemination and response at State and County level via
the NWWS/NCJIS interface (Nevada Criminal Justice Information
System) and NAWAS.
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- B. Within the State of California
maintain NWS liaison with:
• California Office of Emergency Services
• California Highway Patrol
• California Department of Transportation
• All California counties in WFO Reno's CWA
• ensure successful watch/warning/advisory
dissemination and response at State and County level via
the NWWS/CLETS interface (California Law Enforcement Telecommunications
System) and NAWAS.
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- C. Within NWS
• coordinate with other NWS offices
• exchange information and suggestions with
other NWS offices, especially those in Nevada
• help define and implement policy within the
WFO
• principle assistant to Meteorologist in Charge
to maintain/improve the warning program throughout the CWA
• maintain and grow the WFO Reno spotter
network
• maintain/improve liaison with local
emergency management/public safety officials.
• improve
warning response by local emergency response/public
safety agencies
• maintain/improve relationship with local
media
• maintain/improve watch/warning/advisory dissemination
procedures
• expand NOAA
Weather Radio network in County Warning Area
• encourage NOAA Weather Radio use by the public
• encourage use of NOAA Weather Radio by local
emergency response/public safety/public service agencies
as an "all hazards" information source
• work with Science and Operations Officer
in conducting station drills
• work with local and state emergency management
officials in conducting table top exercises and system-wide
drills
• maintain/improve local EAS operational plan
• maintain/improve NWS involvement in local
emergency management groups such as LEPC'S.
• in conjunction with others, conduct quality
control programs on all WFO Reno products and services
• responsible for issuance of monthly Storm
Data report for Nevada and eastern California, including
warning verification
• maintain Station Duty Manual and other local
instructions
• ensure that all warning software is operational
and staff is proficient in it's use
• maintain public awareness/education program;
maintain NWS visibility in County Warning Area
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Aviation Program
- This program is administered by the Aviation Program Leader
and Aviation Liaison Officer. They work closely together
to provide the necessary leadership required to produce
quality and timely aviation products for western Nevada
and eastern California and portions of southeast Oregon
and southwest Idaho.
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Primary Duties include:
- • In coordination with the
Weather Service Evaluations Officer identify, and present
solutions to potential problems concerning the aviation
program at WFO Reno.
- • Oversee that all routine
aviation duties are accomplished in a professional and
timely manner. And that all products are prepared in
accordance with NWS regulations.
- • To quality control all aviation
products for correct format and content in accordance
with NWS guidelines, ensuring consistency between Public
and Aviation products.
- • Acts as an intermediary between
local management and the operational staff concerning
aviation program changes.
- • Assists the Aviation Liaison
Officer in providing public service and training to
local groups, primarily aviation oriented, through talks
and seminars.
- • Provides input to local management,
Regional and National Headquarters on potential changes
to the program.
- • Maintains all operations
manuals and pertinent portions of the Station Duty Manual
dealing with aviation.
- • Maintains the current aviation
shift duties list.
- • Responsible for keeping 30
days of Terminal Forecasts and Transcribed Weather Broadcasts
on file and aircraft accident reports for one year.
- • Maintains a Aviation Emergency
Operation binder to be used as a quick reference in
emergency situations.
- • Responsible for the overall
training and certification of new arrived forecasters
and interns.
- • Provides aviation related
items to the Science and Operations Officer for use
in station drills.
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Hydrology Program
- PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
WFO Reno is responsible for carrying out the duties of
the NWS Hydrologic Services Program (HSP) within its Hydrologic
Services Area (HSA). The HSA includes all rivers in the
WFO Reno CWFA. The rivers in this area include the
Truckee, Carson, Walker, Susan and lower Humboldt, as
well as their many tributaries. Small streams not part
of these basins are also included. This entire area is
under the California-Nevada River Forecast Center's area
of responsibility. The Service Hydrologist
(SH) at WFO Reno is responsible for ensuring that operations
of the HSP are successfully met.
The ability of WFO Reno staff to use necessary guidance
and data to issue timely, accurate, concise flood and flash
flood warnings and statements are the highest priority of
the SH. Maintenance of this ability involves other very
important responsibilities of the SH, some of which include:
- • Maintenance of hydrologic
instructions and procedures for use by staff;
- • Training of staff in specific
hydrologic operations of the office as well as general
hydrologic principles;
- • Quality control of all hydrologic
data and guidance;
- • Striving to ensure that hydrologic
data and guidance is in a format which gives a clear
understanding of the hydrologic situation so that quick,
accurate decisions can be made by operational staff,
- • Ensuring instrumentation,
hardware and software which are used to provide, transmit,
receive and display hydrometeorological data and guidance
is working properly.
- • Maintaining a close working
relationship with Federal, State and local agencies
and the media in the HSA is extremely important to ensure
NWS hydrologic products are received, understood, and
properly acted upon by emergency services agencies,
the media, and the general public.
Fire Weather Program
- Primary Responsibilities:
WFO Reno provides specialized meteorological support
to land management agencies engaged in wildland fire protection
and control activities for the state of Nevada and a portion
of eastern California. The fire season typically runs
from June through mid-October, but fire weather services
may be required as early as mid-April and extend through
mid-November in some years. Our customers include the
Toiyabe and Humboldt National Forests, Bureau of Land
Management, Nevada Division of Forestry, the Lake Tahoe
Basin Management Unit, California Department of Forestry,
National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and various
other state and local agencies. During the fire weather
season narrative fire weather forecasts are issued twice
daily, National Fire Danger Rating System trend forecasts
are issued each afternoon, and spot forecasts are issued
upon request. In addition to routine meteorological support,
WFO Reno also provides on-site meteorologists to large
wildfires. A fire Weather Operations Plan and Fire Weather
Summary are provided to customers annually. Other duties
include training and liaison activities during and after
the fire season. The program is directed by a fire weather
program leader under the supervision of the Meteorologist
in Charge and with assistance from the WFO Reno forecast
staff.
Research Program
- With the on-going new developments in research and technologies,
research has become a major focus at WFO Reno. The Science
and Operations Officer (SOO) is the program leader, who
oversees and tracks research activities in the office. Research
is also a factor in professional development, not only for
the forecast staff, but as an element in the training program
for meteorologist interns. All office staff is encouraged
to participate.
There are several data sources in the office, as well
as at the nearby Desert Research Institute (DRI), that
can provide the meteorologist with the necessary information
for research. These include data sets on CD ROMS on the
Professional Development Workstation, local archived data,
and the availability of archived data at the Western Region
Climate Center at DRI. Other unique data sets include
WSR-88D Archive Level II and IV, satellite, and hydrometeorological
data. Four areas of research activities are currently
part of the office research program. These are:
- • local studies, seminars;
- • technical attachments, technical
memorandum, and programming notes;
- • conference papers, journal
articles; and
- • COMET Cooperative and Partners
Projects.
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Any staff member who desires to participate in or undertake
a research project is encouraged to discuss their plans
with the Science and Operations Officer.
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Climatology Program
- The purpose of the Climatology program is to provide a
comprehensive climatological data base ensuring quality
services for NWS customers. Various types of climatic data
are stored at WFO Reno: Local Climatological Data (LCD)
for Elko, Ely, Las Vegas, Reno, and Winnemucca, Nevada and
California State Climatological Summaries, Nevada Hourly
Precipitation Data, Reno observations, cooperative observer
data, and compact disks are available with world Climatology.
Temperature and precipitation records are available for
Reno since the 1870's and have been rank ordered so office
staff may easily discern record events. Public announcements
are periodically disseminated when record events have occurred.
All climatic data is updated on a monthly basis.
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EEO/Diversity Program
- The EEO/Diversity program has taken an outreach approach
to both the public and the office. Diversity acknowledges
each individual's differences and needs without focusing
on race, gender, religion, age, or disabilities. On the
public level, outreach is performed from school age children
to senior citizens. Station tours, presentations, attendance
at special community functions, and curriculum enhancement
are only a few examples of WFO Reno's public outreach. WFO
Reno has taken great steps towards fostering a unified and
enhanced working environment where individual ideas are
implemented as frequently as possible.
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Spotter Program
- Our spotter program is a system of volunteers become the "eyes and ears" of the National Weather Service by alerting us to significant weather events in their areas, and help us determine when and where we need to issue warnings, or help to verify warnings that were already issued. Spotters attend a spotter class where they are taught what to look for, and when to call in with a spotter report. Pleasant weather usually dominates Nevada and eastern California, but even we are susceptible to severe weather. Thunderstorms can produce flash flooding, damaging winds, hail and even tornadoes. Winter storms can bring high winds, heavy snow and river flooding. To effectively warn for the protection of life and property, the National Weather Service must have a thorough handle on current weather conditions throughout Nevada and eastern California. Unfortunately, long distances separate National Weather Service offices. Although weather satellites and Doppler weather radar use the latest technology to provide a wealth of information to forecasters, no tool has yet been developed that can replace a human observation of the weather in a local area at a specific time.
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