National Weather Service Professional Development Series

This Professional Development Series (PDS) covers the process of maintaining a hydrologic watch over the hydrologic service area (HSA), evaluating near-term forecast products from RFCs, coordinating forecasts with users and the issuing RFC, incorporating forecasts into public products, and reviewing and issuing the final product. The definition of "near-term" varies from area to area, so the forecast time period can range from six hours to seven days. During rare backup situations, this process must also be performed for other designated WFOs. This PDS applies to issuance of WFO products which are based on RFC forecasts provided in form of the RVF product and its successors. WFO products include hydrologic forecast products for the HSA and warnings and related products which incorporate RFC forecast values. Flash flood issues are covered in a separate PDS.

This Professional Development Series (PDS) includes the Professional Competency Units (PCU) listed below. Click on a unit to see details.