[nws-changes] 20071121: implementation of a Rec fcst

[Linda Miller]

NOUS41 KWBC 211240
PNSWSH

SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE 07-56
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
740 AM EST WED NOV 21 2007

TO:       FAMILY OF SERVICES /FOS/ SUBSCRIBERS...NOAA WEATHER
          WIRE SERVICE /NWWS/ SUBSCRIBERS...EMERGENCY MANAGERS
          WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK /EMWIN/ SUBSCRIBERS...
          NOAAPORT SUBSCRIBERS...OTHER NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
          /NWS/ PARTNERS AND USERS...AND NWS EMPLOYEES

FROM:     ELI JACKS
          CHIEF... FIRE AND PUBLIC WEATHER SERVICES BRANCH 

SUBJECT:  IMPLEMENTATION OF A RECREATIONAL FORECAST AT THE 
          WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE AT HANFORD CALIFORNIA: 
          EFFECTIVE WEDNESDAY JANUARY 2 2008 

EFFECTIVE WEDNESDAY JANUARY 2 AT 1200 COORDINATED UNIVERSAL TIME 
/UTC/ THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE /WFO/ AT 
HANFORD CALIFORNIA /HNX/ WILL BEGIN ISSUING A RECREATIONAL 
FORECAST /REC/ FOR THE NATIONAL PARKS WITHIN ITS AREA OF FORECAST 
RESPONSIBILITY. ON THE ABOVE DATE THE FOLLOWING FORECAST PRODUCT 
WILL BE ISSUED TWICE DAILY /MORE FREQUENTLY AS NEEDED/ BY WFO SAN 
JOAQUIN VALLEY.

PRODUCT NAME                    WMO HEADING    AWIPS IDENTIFIER

RECREATIONAL FORECAST           SXUS45 KHNX    RECHNX

PERTINENT PERSONNEL/OFFICES/AGENCIES WILL NEED TO ADD THESE 
COMMUNICATION IDENTIFIERS TO THEIR COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS TO 
RECEIVE THESE NWS PRODUCTS.

THE RECREATIONAL FORECAST /REC/ WILL PROVIDE A DETAILED WEATHER 
FORECAST IN TWO SEGMENTS: THE FIRST SEGMENT FOR YOSEMITE NATIONAL 
PARK AND THE SECOND SEGMENT FOR THE COMBINED MANAGEMENT AREA OF 
SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS.

EACH SEGMENT WILL CONTAIN DAY AND NIGHT PERIODS FOR THE 7 DAY 
FORECAST PERIOD. THE FOLLOWING WEATHER ELEMENTS WILL BE INCLUDED: 
TEMPERATURE...SKY COVER AND WEATHER...AND SIGNIFICANT WINDS. 
AFTER THE 7 DAY FORECAST THERE WILL BE POINT FORECASTS FOR 
YOSEMITE VALLEY IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK AND FOR SEQUOIA SOUTH 
ENTRANCE AND LODGEPOLE IN SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL 
PARKS. RELEVANT ZONE NUMBERS WILL BE USED AND EACH FORECAST WILL 
CONTAIN A PRODUCT EXPIRATION TIME. ADDITIONAL SEGMENTS AND POINT 
FORECASTS MAY BE ADDED IN THE FUTURE.

THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS CHANGE IS SOONER THAN SPECIFIED BY NWS 
POLICY /NWS INSTRUCTION 10-1805/. THE REDUCTION OF THE NORMAL 
ADVANCE LEAD TIME WAS APPROVED BECAUSE THIS CHANGE IS AN 
ADDITIONAL SERVICE FOR THE 2007-2008 WINTER SEASON THAT WILL NOT 
NEGATIVELY IMPACT NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CUSTOMERS NOR THE GENERAL 
PUBLIC. ONLY MINIMAL CHANGES TO SOFTWARE WILL BE NECESSARY.

FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS CHANGE...PLEASE CONTACT: 

     STEVE MENDENHALL
     METEOROLOGIST-IN-CHARGE 
     NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
     900 FOGGY BOTTOM ROAD
     HANFORD CA 93230-5236
     PHONE 559-584-3752
     EMAIL STEVEN.MENDENHALL at NOAA.GOV

THIS AND OTHER NWS SERVICE CHANGE NOTICES ARE AVAILABLE ON THE 
INTERNET AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/

     HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIF.HTM

$$