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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
300 PM EST MON OCT 31 1994
TO: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS) OFFICES, FAMILY OF
SERVICES (FOS) SUBSCRIBERS, NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE
(NWWS) SUBSCRIBERS, OTHER NWS PRODUCT USERS
FROM: ELBERT W. FRIDAY, JR,
ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR WEATHER SERVICES, NWS
SUBJECTS: CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY AT A
REDUCED LEVEL OF ONE DAILY ISSUANCE (9 P.M. CENTRAL
TIME)... EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1, 1994 TO SEPTEMBER 30,
1995.
DISCONTINUATION OF SATELLITE INTERPRETATION MESSAGE AS
PLANNED...EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1, 1994
Due to the strong response from users indicating the value of the
National Weather Summary, we have agreed to continue this
summary, but at a reduced level of one daily issuance (at 9 p.m.
central time) until the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 1995 (September
30, 1995). The Satellite Interpretation Message, however, will
be discontinued as planned on November 1, 1994.
The National Weather Summary, issued by the National Severe
Storms Forecast Center (NSSFC), has an AFOS/NOAA Weather Wire
Service (NWWS) header of MKCNWX1 and a World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) header (used by the Family of Services) of
ABUS1 KWBC. The Satellite Interpretation Message from NSSFC has
an AFOS/NWWS header of MKCSIMMKC and a WMO header of TBXX6 KMKC.
We will take this action to continue the National Weather Summary
despite the difficulties and hardships on the staff of NSSFC
created by the shortfall in the budget for the National
Meteorological Center (NMC), of which NSSFC is part. NMC was
appropriated $2 million less than the President's FY 1995 budget
request for the line item dedicated to central forecast products,
including the National Weather Summary and the Satellite
Interpretation Message. Given current budget projections, we
will have to discontinue the National Weather Summary after
September 30, 1995. We cannot continue to deliver all services
when financial and personnel resources are declining.
Several other alternative reductions were considered, but these
would have resulted in halting other NMC operations directly
related to our public safety mission. Such unacceptable
alternatives were reductions in NSSFC's severe weather watch and
aviation hazard alert programs, heavy precipitation forecasting
at NMC's Meteorological Operations Division near Washington, D.C,
and hurricane forecasting at NMC's National Hurricane Center in
Miami. These alternative reductions would seriously impede our
ability to provide critical information related to protection of
life and property to NWS field offices and the public. Although
highly beneficial, the National Weather Summary and Satellite
Interpretation Message are not essential to protection of life
and property.
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