[nws-changes] 20120330: standardized format free text portion of SPC Fwd: ADMIN NOTICE NOUS41 KWBC

• To: nws-changes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
• Subject: [nws-changes] 20120330: standardized format free text portion of SPC Fwd: ADMIN NOTICE NOUS41 KWBC
• From: Linda Miller <lmiller@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2012 06:45:37 -0600

-------- Original Message --------

018
NOUS41 KWBC 301240
PNSWSH

Service Change Notice 12-14
National Weather Service Headquarters Washington DC
840 AM EDT Fri Mar 30 2012

To:      Subscribers:
         -Family of Services
         -NOAA Weather Wire Service
         -Emergency Managers Weather Information Network
         -NOAAPORT
         Other NWS partners and NWS employees

From:    Russell Schneider
         Director, Storm Prediction Center

Subject: Standardized Format in Free Text Portion of Storm
         Prediction Center (SPC) Mesoscale Discussion (CONUS
         Only) Effective May 1, 2012

Effective Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at approximately 1500 Coordinated
Universal Time (UTC), the NWS will begin using a new standardized
format in the free text portion of the SPC Mesoscale Discussion
(MD), CONUS only. This will not involve changes to World
Meteorological Organization Headers or Advanced Weather
Interactive Processing System IDs.

The first three sections of the body of the SPC MD ("AREAS
AFFECTED...", "CONCERNING..." and "VALID") will remain the same.

For Severe Potential MDs, a new fourth section will begin with
"PROBABILITY OF WATCH ISSUANCE..." followed by a permitted value
of 5, 20, 40, 60, 80, or 95 and the word "PERCENT". A fifth
section will begin with "SUMMARY..." and contain a concise
headline concerning the ongoing/expected severe threat. The final
section will begin with "DISCUSSION..." and contain the main body
of text.

For all other MDs, the fourth section will begin with
"SUMMARY..." and contain a concise headline concerning the
ongoing/expected severe threat. The final section will begin with
"DISCUSSION..." and contain the main body of text.

A more detailed description and examples of the standardized
format of the SPC Mesoscale Discussion can be found at:

   http://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/md_changes_scn.html

If you have any questions about the technical content or
generation of these products, please contact:

   Steven Weiss
   NCEP Storm Prediction Center
   steven.j.weiss@xxxxxxxx

or

   John Ferree
   Office of Climate Water and Weather Services
   john.t.ferree@xxxxxxxx

National Service Change Notices are online at:

   http://www.weather.gov/os/notif.htm

$$