**Fire Weather Services**

**for**

**Virginia**

**Operating Plan**

**NWS Blacksburg, VA**

**NWS Charleston, WV**

**NWS Morristown, TN**

**NWS Sterling, VA**

**NWS Wakefield, VA**

**2008**

This operating plan will be a semi-permanent document, specifying Fire
Weather services provided by National Weather Service in Virginia. The
plan incorporates procedures detailed in the Interagency Agreement for
Meteorological Services.

# Table of Contents

[Introduction 4](#introduction)

[Purpose of the AOP. 4](#purpose-of-the-aop.)

[Explanation of relationship between the AOP and MOU.
4](#explanation-of-relationship-between-the-aop-and-mou.)

[Service Area and Organizational Directory
5](#service-area-and-organizational-directory)

[Service Area 5](#service-area)

[National Weather Service Headquarters
8](#national-weather-service-headquarters)

[National Weather Service Regional Headquarters
8](#national-weather-service-regional-headquarters)

[Weather Forecast Offices (WFO) 8](#weather-forecast-offices-wfo)

[Meteorologists-in-Charge (MIC) 9](#meteorologists-in-charge-mic)

[Program Leaders (or Focal Points) 10](#program-leaders-or-focal-points)

[Participating Agencies 10](#participating-agencies)

[Services Provided by the National Weather Service
11](#services-provided-by-the-national-weather-service)

[Basic Services 11](#basic-services)

[Fire Weather Seasons 11](#fire-weather-seasons)

[Fire Weather Planning Forecast (FWF)
11](#fire-weather-planning-forecast-fwf)

[Site Specific Forecasts (Spot Forecasts)
15](#site-specific-forecasts-spot-forecasts)

[National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) Forecasts
17](#national-fire-danger-rating-system-nfdrs-forecasts)

[Issuance 17](#issuance)

[Contents 18](#contents-1)

[Fire Weather Watch and Red Flag Programs
20](#fire-weather-watch-and-red-flag-programs)

[Definition of a Red Flag Event 20](#definition-of-a-red-flag-event)

[Red Flag Warning 21](#red-flag-warning)

[Fire Weather Watch 22](#fire-weather-watch)

[Fire Danger Statements and Blow-Up Alerts
22](#fire-danger-statements-and-blow-up-alerts)

[Participation in Interagency Groups
22](#participation-in-interagency-groups)

[Special Services 22](#special-services)

[Incident Support 23](#incident-support)

[Other Special Services 25](#other-special-services)

[Fire Weather Training 25](#fire-weather-training)

[Natural Resource Agency Responsibilities
26](#__RefHeading___Toc125443414)

[Operational Support and Predictive Services
26](#operational-support-and-predictive-services)

[Program Management 26](#program-management)

[Monitoring, Feedback and Improvement
26](#monitoring-feedback-and-improvement)

[Technology Transfer 26](#technology-transfer)

[Agency Computer Resources 26](#agency-computer-resources)

[Fire Weather Observations 26](#fire-weather-observations)

[On - Site Support 28](#on---site-support)

[Training 28](#training)

[Joint Responsibilities 28](#joint-responsibilities)

[Meetings between the NWS offices and the natural resource agencies.
28](#meetings-between-the-nws-offices-and-the-natural-resource-agencies.)

[Conference Calls. 28](#conference-calls.)

[Maintenance and Revision of the Annual Operating Plan.
29](#maintenance-and-revision-of-the-annual-operating-plan.)

[Notification of NWS Changes in Operating Procedures.
29](#notification-of-nws-changes-in-operating-procedures.)

[Agreements on Services Provided. 29](#agreements-on-services-provided.)

[Workplace Visits. 29](#workplace-visits.)

[Service Evaluation. 29](#service-evaluation.)

[Numbering and archiving of observation stations.
29](#numbering-and-archiving-of-observation-stations.)

[Effective Dates on the AOP 30](#effective-dates-on-the-aop)

[Signatory Page 30](#signatory-page)

[Appendices 32](#appendices)

[Interagency Agreement for the Meteorological Services .
32](#interagency-agreement-for-the-meteorological-services-in-support-of-agencies-with-land-and-fire-management-responsibilities-can-be-found-at-httpwww.nws.noaa.govdirectives010pd01004006a.pdf-.)

[Fire Weather Zone Maps 32](#fire-weather-zone-maps)

[Catalog of Fire Weather Observation Sites within the State of Virginia
32](#catalog-of-fire-weather-observation-sites-within-the-state-of-virginia)

[ASOS Observation Sites 33](#asos-observation-sites)

[AWOS Observation Sites 33](#awos-observation-sites)

[NOAA Weather Radio Transmitters Serving The State of Virginia
35](#all-hazards-noaa-weather-radio-transmitters-serving-the-state-of-virginia)

[Red Flag Criteria 37](#red-flag-criteria)

[Fire Weather Product Examples 37](#fire-weather-product-examples)

[Burn Category Table 38](#burn-category-table)

[Ventilation Rate (ft mph) and Associated Burn Category
38](#ventilation-rate-ft-mph-and-associated-burn-category)

[Dispersion Tables 38](#dispersion-tables)

[Surface Wind (MPH) and Associated Dispersion Category
38](#surface-wind-mph-and-associated-dispersion-category)

Lavdas Dispersion
Index..................................................................38

[Lightning Activity Level 39](#lightning-activity-level)

[LAL Categories 39](#lal-categories)

[Lightning Strokes 39](#lightning-strokes)

[FWF Update Criteria 40](#fwf-update-criteria)

[Record of Changes to the AOP 40](#record-of-changes-to-the-aop)

#  

# Introduction

### Purpose of the AOP. 

This Operating Plan serves as the official document governing the
interaction and relationships between the National Weather Service, and
the federal, state and local natural resource and land management
agencies or cooperators in Virginia.

### Explanation of relationship between the AOP and MOU.

This Operating Plan is issued in lieu of a formal Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) between the National Weather Service, federal,
state, and other agencies that rely on fire weather support. The plan
will outline forecast operations and services available to users. This
includes products and formats, dissemination and coordination, and the
responsibilities of the partners.

This Operating Plan will be the governing document for fire weather
procedures and cooperation among the following agencies:

-   NOAA National Weather Service

-   USDA Forest Service

-   USDI National Park Service

-   USDI Fish and Wildlife Service

-   VA Division of Forestry

The Southern Area Mobilization Guide and the National Mobilization Guide
further define the relationship between the natural resource agencies
and the NWS Incident Meteorologist.

This Operating Plan for Fire Weather Services conforms with the
[**Interagency Agreement for Meteorological
Services**](http://www.nws.noaa.gov/directives/010/pd01004006a.pdf).

# Service Area and Organizational Directory

### Service Area

The service area covered by this AOP is the state of Virginia, which is
served by the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices at
Blacksburg, VA (RNK), Charleston, WV (RLX), Morristown, TN (MRX),
Sterling, VA (LWX), and Wakefield, VA (AKQ).

The forecast area is tied to the \"radar umbrella\" of the WSR-88D
Doppler Radar. The umbrella is the area which is covered by the radar
volume scan. This means that forecasts are not bound by state political
borders, although county borders are generally observed. As a result of
this configuration, the Jefferson and George Washington National
Forests, and the Blue Ridge Parkway, are covered by multiple National
Weather Service offices. For a map of the fire weather zones in VA, see
the appendix.

The **AKQ forecast area** covers portions of eastern Virginia.

The Virginia counties covered by WFO AKQ (Wakefield, VA) include:

  -------------------------- ------------------- -------------------------- -------------------
  **[County]{.underline}**   **[Zone             **[County]{.underline}**   **[Zone
                             \#]{.underline}**                              \#]{.underline}**

  Accomack                   VAZ099              Lancaster                  VAZ078

  Amelia                     VAZ068              Louisa                     VAZ049

  Brunswick                  VAZ079              Lunenburg                  VAZ066

  Caroline                   VAZ064              Mathews                    VAZ086

  Charles City               VAZ082              Mecklenburg                VAZ065

  Chesterfield               VAZ070              Middlesex                  VAZ085

  Cumberland                 VAZ061              New Kent                   VAZ083

  Dinwiddie                  VAZ080              Northampton                VAZ100

  Essex                      VAZ074              Northumberland             VAZ077

  Fluvanna                   VAZ048              Nottoway                   VAZ067

  Gloucester                 VAZ084              Powhatan                   VAZ069

  Goochland                  VAZ062              Prince Edward              VAZ060

  Greenville                 VAZ087              Prince George              VAZ081

  Hanover                    VAZ063              Richmond                   VAZ076

  Henrico                    VAZ071              Southampton                VAZ092

  Isle of Wight              VAZ093              Surry                      VAZ089

  James City                 VAZ090              Sussex                     VAZ088

  King and Queen             VAZ073              Westmoreland               VAZ075

  King William               VAZ072              York                       VAZ091
  -------------------------- ------------------- -------------------------- -------------------

The Virginia independent cities covered by WFO AKQ (Wakefield, VA)
include:

  ------------------------ ------------------- ------------------------ -------------------
  **[City]{.underline}**   **[Zone             **[City]{.underline}**   **[Zone
                           \#]{.underline}**                            \#]{.underline}**

  Chesapeake               VAZ097              Petersburg               VAZ081

  Colonial Heights         VAZ070              Poquoson                 VAZ091

  Emporia                  VAZ087              Portsmouth               VAZ095

  Franklin                 VAZ092              Richmond                 VAZ070

  Hampton                  VAZ094              Suffolk                  VAZ096

  Hopewell                 VAZ081              Virginia Beach           VAZ098

  Newport News             VAZ094              Williamsburg             VAZ090

  Norfolk                  VAZ095                                       
  ------------------------ ------------------- ------------------------ -------------------

The **LWX forecast area** covers portions of northern Virginia.

The Virginia counties covered by WFO LWX (Sterling, VA) include:

  -------------------------- ------------------- -------------------------- -------------------
  **[County]{.underline}**   **[Zone             **[County]{.underline}**   **[Zone
                             \#]{.underline}**                              \#]{.underline}**

  Albemarle                  VAZ037              Madison                    VAZ039

  Arlington                  VAZ054              Nelson                     VAZ036

  Augusta                    VAZ025              Orange                     VAZ050

  Clarke                     VAZ031              Page                       VAZ029

  Culpeper                   VAZ051              Prince William             VAZ052

  Fairfax                    VAZ053              Rappahannock               VAZ040

  Fauquier                   VAZ041              Rockingham                 VAZ026

  Fredrick                   VAZ028              Shenandoah                 VAZ027

  Greene                     VAZ038              Spotsylvania               VAZ056

  Highland                   VAZ021              Stafford                   VAZ055

  King George                VAZ057              Warren                     VAZ030

  Loudoun                    VAZ042                                          
  -------------------------- ------------------- -------------------------- -------------------

The Virginia independent cities covered by WFO LWX (Sterling, VA)
include:

  ------------------------ ------------------- ------------------------ -------------------
  **[City]{.underline}**   **[Zone             **[City]{.underline}**   **[Zone
                           \#]{.underline}**                            \#]{.underline}**

  Alexandria               VAZ054              Manassas                 VAZ052

  Charlottesville          VAZ037              Manassas Park            VAZ052

  Fairfax                  VAZ053              Staunton                 VAZ025

  Falls Church             VAZ054              Waynesboro               VAZ025

  Fredricksburg            VAZ056              Winchester               VAZ028

  Harrisonburg             VAZ026                                        
  ------------------------ ------------------- ------------------------ -------------------

The **MRX forecast area** covers portions of southwest Virginia.

The Virginia counties covered by WFO MRX (Morristown, TN) include:

  -------------------------- ------------------- -------------------------- -------------------
  **[County]{.underline}**   **[Zone             **[County]{.underline}**   **[Zone
                             \#]{.underline}**                              \#]{.underline}**

  Lee                        VAZ001              Washington                 VAZ008

  Russell                    VAZ006              Wise                       VAZ002

  Scott                      VAZ005                                          
  -------------------------- ------------------- -------------------------- -------------------

The Virginia independent cities covered by WFO MRX (Morristown, TN)
include:

  ------------------------ ------------------- ------------------------ -------------------
  **[City]{.underline}**   **[Zone             **[City]{.underline}**   **[Zone
                           \#]{.underline}**                            \#]{.underline}**

  Bristol                  VAZ008              Norton                   VAZ002
  ------------------------ ------------------- ------------------------ -------------------

The **RLX forecast area** covers portions of southwest Virginia.

The Virginia counties covered by WFO RLX (Charleston, WV) include:

  -------------------------- ------------------- -------------------------- -------------------
  **[County]{.underline}**   **[Zone             **[County]{.underline}**   **[Zone
                             \#]{.underline}**                              \#]{.underline}**

  Buchanan                   VAZ004              Dickenson                  VAZ003
  -------------------------- ------------------- -------------------------- -------------------

The **RNK forecast area** covers portions of southwest Virginia.

The Virginia counties covered by WFO RNK (Blacksburg, VA) include:

  -------------------------- ------------------- -------------------------- -------------------
  **[County]{.underline}**   **[Zone             **[County]{.underline}**   **[Zone
                             \#]{.underline}**                              \#]{.underline}**

  Alleghany                  VAZ019              Giles                      VAZ011

  Amherst                    VAZ035              Grayson                    VAZ015

  Appomattox                 VAZ046              Halifax                    VAZ058

  Bath                       VAZ020              Henry                      VAZ043

  Bedford                    VAZ034              Montgomery                 VAZ014

  Bland                      VAZ010              Patrick                    VAZ032

  Botetourt                  VAZ023              Pittsylvania               VAZ044

  Buckingham                 VAZ047              Pulaski                    VAZ013

  Campbell                   VAZ045              Roanoke                    VAZ022

  Carroll                    VAZ016              Rockbridge                 VAZ024

  Charlotte                  VAZ059              Smyth                      VAZ009

  Craig                      VAZ018              Tazewell                   VAZ007

  Floyd                      VAZ017              Wythe                      VAZ012

  Franklin                   VAZ033                                          
  -------------------------- ------------------- -------------------------- -------------------

The Virginia independent cities covered by WFO RNK (Blacksburg, VA)
include:

  ------------------------ ------------------- ------------------------ -------------------
  **[City]{.underline}**   **[Zone             **[City]{.underline}**   **[Zone
                           \#]{.underline}**                            \#]{.underline}**

  Bedford                  VAZ034              Lynchburg                VAZ045

  Buena Vista              VAZ024              Martinsville             VAZ043

  Covington                VAZ019              Radford                  VAZ014

  Danville                 VAZ044              Roanoke                  VAZ022

  Galax                    VAZ015              Salem                    VAZ022

  Lexington                VAZ024                                        
  ------------------------ ------------------- ------------------------ -------------------

 

### National Weather Service Headquarters

NWS Headquarters, located in Silver Spring, Maryland, establishes
policies and coordinates the national fire weather program. The national
program manager coordinates the program with the regional program
managers. The national program manager also works with the national
headquarters of the Federal forestry and other natural resource
management agencies and the Association of State Foresters in
determining overall requirements for meteorological support. The
national program manager coordinates national training in forestry and
fire weather for NWS forecasters.

### National Weather Service Regional Headquarters

Regional Headquarters manage the technical operational aspects of the
fire weather program within each region. They also provide guidance and
assistance to meteorologists-in-charge (MIC) on program operations and
developing issues through Supplements to the National Directives System
(NDS) and conferences. Regional Headquarters advise National
Headquarters on matters pertaining to technical planning and operations.
The regional program managers coordinate the regions\' fire weather
programs and advise the Regional Directors on the operational and
administrative aspects of the regions\' programs.

### Weather Forecast Offices (WFO)

Weather Forecast Offices prepare and disseminate forecast products for
all sectors of the population, including those for the Fire Weather
program. These offices are responsible for providing forecasts for user
agencies within their County Warning Area (CWA). Most offices have a
designated fire weather focal point or fire weather program leader.

The National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices will provide
24-hour, 365 days a year service. The NWS WFO\'s can be reached at:

**[National Weather Service](http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/rnk/)\
VA Tech Corporate Research Center\
1750 Forecast Drive\
Blacksburg, Virginia 24060**

**[National Weather Service](http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/rlx/)\
400 Parkway Road\
Charleston, West Virginia 25309**

**[National Weather Service](http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mrx/)\
5974 Commerce Blvd.\
Morristown, Tennessee 37814**

**[National Weather Service](http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/lwx/)\
44087 Weather Service Road\
Sterling, Virginia 20166-2001**

**[National Weather Service](http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/akq/)\
10009 General Mahone Highway\
Wakefield, Virginia 23888**

NOTE: Unlisted telephone numbers used for coordination cannot be listed
here. All user agencies have been or will be provided voice and fax
numbers to be used for official purposes only.

###  Meteorologists-in-Charge (MIC)

The Meteorologists-in-Charge is responsible for the provision of
adequate weather services for the offices\' assigned areas of program
responsibility. The MIC will ensure that the focal points or program
leaders are provided adequate time for user liaison and assistance
activities. MICs can be reached via email or through contact with their
respective office:

**Dave Wert, Blacksburg, VA\
\
Alan Rezek, Charleston, WV**

**George Mathews, Morristown, TN**

**James Lee, Sterling, VA**

**Tony Siebers, Wakefield, VA**

### Program Leaders (or Focal Points)

Fire weather focal points and program leaders are the \"customer service
representatives\" for the program. The focal points or program leaders,
as representatives of the MIC\'s, are in regular contact with the
partner agencies, helping them assess their meteorological needs,
informing them of NWS products and services available to meet these
needs, and educating them in the most effective use of the various NWS
products and resources, including NOAA Weather Radio (NWR). Focal points
and program leaders will work with users to utilize existing NWS
products and services produced for other programs that could meet the
requirements of natural resource management. The focal points and
program leaders are also tasked with ensuring staff meteorologists are
trained and remain proficient in preparing forecast products for support
of the fire weather program. Fire Weather Program Leaders can be reached
via e-mail or through contact with their respective office:

[**Phil Manuel (phillip.manuel@noaa.gov), Blacksburg,
VA**](mailto:phillip.manuel@noaa.gov) **\
\
**[**Mark Pellerito (mark.pellerito@noaa.gov), Charleston,
WV**](mailto:mark.pellerito@noaa.gov) **\
\
**[**David Gaffin (david.gaffin@noaa.gov), Morristown,
TN**](mailto:david.gaffin@noaa.gov) **\
\
**[**Rick Winther (richard.winther@noaa.gov), Sterling,
VA**](mailto:richard.winther@noaa.gov) **\
\
**[**[Larry Brown (larry.brown@noaa.gov), Wakefield,
VA]{.underline}**](mailto:larry.brown@noaa.gov)

### 

### Participating Agencies

The following agencies are participants of this operating plan:

**NOAA National Weather Service**

**USDA Forest Service\
\
USDI National Park Service**

**USDI Fish and Wildlife Service**

**VA Division of Forestry**

# Services Provided by the National Weather Service

###  Basic Services

#### Fire Weather Seasons

Wildfires can occur in the state of Virginia at any time. As a result,
the fire weather forecast will be issued year-round. However, the peaks
of the fire weather season are as follows:

February 15 - May 15     and    October 15 - December 15

The annual hunting season also starts in mid-September, which leads to
an increased risk of fire starts.\
\
Note: NWS Sterling does not issue a routine fire weather forecast for
northern Virginia from Dec 15 to Feb 15. NWS Morristown issues a morning
forecast year round, but the afternoon issuance is only from February 15
to May 15 or upon request during periods of prolonged drought.

#### Fire Weather Planning Forecast (FWF)

The Fire Weather Planning Forecast (FWF) is a zone-type product used by
natural resource management personnel primarily for input in
decision-making related to pre-suppression and other planning or
resource management activities, as well as for determining general
weather trends that might impact burning condition and thereby fire
behavior of wildfires and prescribed fires. The decisions impact
firefighter safety, protection of the public, property, and the natural
resource, and resource allocation.

##### Product Overview and Issuance Criteria

The FWF provides a detailed prediction of elements for three specific
12-hour periods (four 12-hour periods with the afternoon forecast), a
general 3 to 7 day forecast, and an 8 to 14 day extended outlook. The
FWF is issued twice daily, once during the morning (between 3:00 and
6:00 AM), and the other during the afternoon (between 2:00 and 4:00 PM).
The morning forecast, to be disseminated no later than 8:30 AM, consists
of three periods: \"Today\" (valid from issuance through 6 PM local
time), \"Tonight\" (6 PM to 6 AM), and \"Tomorrow\" (6 AM to 6 PM). The
afternoon version, to be disseminated no later than 4:00 PM, consists of
four periods: \"Tonight\" (6 PM to 6 AM), \"Tomorrow\" (6 AM to 6 PM),
\"Tomorrow Night\" (6 PM to 6 AM), and the \"Following Day\" (6 AM to 6
PM).

##### 

##### Format/Content of the FWF

 [Format]{.underline} - The format of the Fire Weather Forecast is
specified in National Weather Service Directive 10-401. Some elements
are optional and are not included by all National Weather Service
offices.

 [Headlines]{.underline} - A headline is **required** when Red Flag
Warnings and/or Fire Weather Watches are in effect. The headline will
include the warning type, location, reason for issuance (e.g., high
winds and low humidity), and effective time period(s). The headline is
also included in the body of the FWF, in each appropriate zone grouping.
Other headlines may be requested since the natural resource agencies are
also considered \"all risk agencies.\" When significant weather trends
of locally-defined critical weather elements are forecast or observed
during non-watch/warning periods, they will be identified in the
headline.

 [Discussion]{.underline} - The discussion should be a brief, clear,
non-technical description of the weather patterns that influence the
weather in the forecast area.

 [Cloud Cover (\"CLOUD COVER\")]{.underline} - This is and indication
of the expected sky condition. \"Clear\" or \"Sunny\" descriptors are
designated when the forecast cloud cover is \< 10%; \"Mostly Clear\" or
\"Mostly Sunny\" are used when cloud cover is forecast to be \>= 10% and
\< 30%; \"Partly Cloudy\" or \"Partly Sunny\" are used when cloud cover
is forecast to be \>= 30% and \< 60%; \"Mostly Cloudy\" is used when
cloud cover is \>= 60% and \< 80%; \"Cloudy\" is used when cloud cover
is forecast to be \>= 80%.

 [Precipitation Type (\"PRECIP TYPE\")]{.underline} - This refers to
the predominant precipitation type during the forecast period, with an
exception. When both \"showers\" and \"thunderstorms\" are included in
the public forecast, \"thunderstorms\" will be designated as the
precipitation type in the FWF.

 [Chance of Precipitation (\"CHANCE PRECIP\")]{.underline} - Refers to
the probability of measurable precipitation (0.01 inches or more) during
the forecast period. This will be rounded to the nearest 10%. Note:
Drizzle and snow flurries are not considered measurable precipitation
and thus will not be given a probability.

 [Temperature (\"TEMP\")]{.underline} - Refers to the forecasted
maximum and minimum temperature for the zone, in degrees F, as measured
at a standard 4.5 ft above the ground level.

 [Relative Humidity (\"MAX/MIN RH\")]{.underline} - Forecasted minimum
relative humidity is provided during the daytime periods, while maximum
RH is included at night. Relative humidity is highly variable from site
to site, but for the purpose of the zone forecast will be the maximum or
minimum relative humidity within the zone. In general, relative humidity
values below 25 percent should deter a prescribed burn and cause a call
to the National Weather Service to obtain a site specific forecast.

Note: The lowest average humidity typically occurs during the warmest
part of the day. However, if it is expected to occur at a different time
of the day, this will be noted in the \"Remarks\" portion of the
forecast.

 [Surface Winds (\"WND20FT2MIN/EARLY and
WND20FT2MIN/LATE\")]{.underline} - Surface wind speed and direction
represent a two-minute average at 20 feet above the vegetative ground
cover. Wind direction is the direction the wind blows from, to eight
points of the compass. The \"EARLY\" designation refers to morning hours
(before noon) during daytime periods, and also the evening hours (before
midnight) during nighttime periods. \"LATE\" refers to the afternoon
hours during the daytime periods, and also the pre-dawn hours (after
midnight) during the nighttime periods. Wind gusts, which are rapid
fluctuations in wind speed of usually less than 30 seconds in duration,
are indicated in the forecast if gustiness is expected. Forecasts for
highest probable gust will be preceded by \"G\".

 [Precipitation Amount (\"PRECIP AMOUNT\")]{.underline} - Refers to the
forecasted precipitation amount (in hundredths of an inch) whenever the
chance of precipitation is 20% or greater.

 [Precipitation Duration (\"PRECIP DURATION\")]{.underline} - Refers to
the duration of the measurable precipitation (in hours) when the
probability of measurable precipitation is greater than or equal to 20%.
A precipitation duration forecast of \"1\" is used for \"1 hour or
less\" duration.

 [Precipitation Begin/End (\"PRECIP BEGIN/END\")]{.underline} - Refers
to the time measurable precipitation begins or ends.

 [Mixing Height (\"MIXING HGT\")]{.underline} - Mixing height is
defined as the atmospheric limit above which vigorous vertical mixing
does not take place. It provides the potential for the atmosphere to
disperse smoke. Mixing height will vary from site to site, but for the
purpose of the zone forecast will be the maximum height mixing is
expected to occur within the zone. In general, a mixing height of 1650
feet or less should deter a prescribed burn and result in a call to the
National Weather Service to obtain a site specific forecast. Routine
upper air soundings are available after 0900 and may give a better
indication of mixing heights than those in the forecast. Mixing height
forecasts are given in either feet above the ground (\"FT-AGL\"), or
feet above mean sea level ("FT-MSL"). Note: If forecast units are
provided in FT-MSL, you must subtract your elevation height (terrain
height above mean sea level) in order to obtain forecast units in
FT-AGL.

 [Transport Wind (\"TRANSPORT WND\")]{.underline} - Defined as the
average wind direction and speed from the surface to the top of the
mixed layer. Direction of the transport wind (where the wind is blowing
from) and speed will be given. The speed will be in MPH.

 [Ventilation Rate (\"VENT RATE\")]{.underline} - Refers to a
multiplication of the mixing height and transport wind., With units in
ft MPH. Ventilation rates, forecasted during the daytime, are used to
calculate the Burn Category for each day. The ventilation rate gives the
potential for the atmosphere to disperse smoke. Refer to the appendix
for further details regarding the correlation of the Ventilation Rate
and Burn Category. Note: This element is not generated by NWS
Morristown.

 [Dispersion (\"DISPERSION\")]{.underline} - Refers to the forecasted
smoke dispersion category at night, based on the surface wind speed. The
dispersion category gives a general indication of the state of the
atmosphere with respect to its ability to disperse smoke. The dispersion
forecast (nighttime) is analogous to the daytime Ventilation Rate,
though only a forecast during the evening hours is provided as a large
majority of controlled/prescribed fire operations are completed before
midnight. A spot forecast is recommended for critical operations that
might involve smoke drift towards a populated area. Refer to the
appendix for further details on Dispersion categories.

 [Lightning Activity Level (\"LAL\")]{.underline} - A numerical value,
which is used to describe the expected lightning activity for that day.
Refer to the appendix for further details on the LAL. Note: This element
is not generated by NWS Morristown.

 [Haines Index (\"HAINES INDEX or LASI")]{.underline}- The index infers
the stability of the atmosphere. In Virginia, for areas east of the Blue
Ridge, \"low elevation\" is assumed for the calculation of the Haines
Index. It utilizes the atmospheric temperature at 950 MB and 850 MB as
well as taking into account the moisture levels (dew point depression)
at 850 MB. For areas along and west of the Blue Ridge, the \"mid level\"
Haines Index is calculated using the temperatures at 850 MB and 700 MB,
and the dew point depression at 850 MB.

Haines Index values range from 2 through 6.

On western fires Haines Index values of 5 or 6 serve as an alert that
fires or prescribed burns can experience control challenges. Local
regional studies in North Carolina have shown that a Haines Index of 4
represents the initiating threshold whereby the atmosphere can support
large fire growth. In the absence of strong winds, fire growth will be
primarily \"plume dominated\", with crowning and spotting on all sides.
As wind speeds increase, coupled with a Haines Index of 4 or greater,
there is an increased threat for large wind-driven fires.

 [3 through 7 Day Forecast]{.underline} - The outlook period is an
extended forecast for the zone, or the entire forecast area, provided in
narrative form (non-digital, non-tabular), and appended at the bottom of
each zone grouping (for just that zone).

 [Outlook 8 to 14 Days]{.underline} - This section will only include
temperature and precipitation forecasts and will provide forecasts with
respect to seasonal normal values for the specific time of year.

**Update Criteria for the Fire Weather Planning Forecast**

The Fire Weather Forecaster will maintain a weather watch to ensure that
the forecast remains accurate. When unexpected changes occur, or are
forecast to occur, which significantly deviate from the previous
forecast, the forecast will be updated. The decision to update, to an
extent, is at forecaster discretion. The update criteria for various
elements are listed in the Appendix. It is a shared responsibility for
the WFO\'s and the natural resource agencies to monitor the need to
update a forecast. Respective agency personnel will also provide
feedback as to the updating of an FWF, NFDRS Point, or Spot Forecast.

###     Site Specific Forecasts (Spot Forecasts)

##### Criteria

Spot forecasts are special, non-routine forecasts prepared upon request
of any federal agency, or state agency when there is some aspect of
federal resources involved and/or interagency protection agreements
currently exist, that needs site specific weather forecasts for: 1)
controlling the spread of wildfire; 2) planning and managing prescribed
fires; or 3) other specialized forest management activities. In the
event of an emergency which threatens life and/or property, spot
forecasts can also be provided to any federal, state, or local agency.\
\
Spot forecast requests for wildfires and hazardous material emergencies
are considered high priority, and can be obtained at any time. Spot
forecasts may be obtained for prescribed burns; however, the response
may be delayed due to higher priority responsibilities of the forecaster
on duty.

##### Contents

Spot forecasts are highly detailed forecasts for a specific location
within the forecast area. The format of the spot forecast is specified
in National Weather Service Directive 10-401. The forecasts will be
**headlined** for a **Red Flag Warning** or **Fire Weather Watch**. The
forecasts will begin with a discussion, and may contain any or all of
the following weather elements: sky conditions; maximum and minimum
temperatures, minimum and maximum relative humidity values, wind speed
and direction; probability of precipitation; precipitation type,
duration and amount; mixing heights; transport wind; inversion height;
inversion onset and burnoff times or temperatures; ventilation and smoke
management levels; wind profiles; stability indices (IE., Haines Index),
and lightning activity levels (LAL). Since these are site specific and
can be initiated because of critical circumstances, tailored products
can be requested (e.g. temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed
forecasts on a two hour incremental time period).

##### Procedures for Requesting a Spot Forecast

Spot forecasts will be prepared when requested by a user agency.
Federal, state and local agencies may request spot forecasts in support
of wildfire suppression or other emergencies where lives and/or property
may be threatened. Due to the detailed and specific nature of this
forecast product, it is imperative that the user provide the forecaster
with necessary and sufficient information so that a reliable forecast
can be prepared.

Requests for spot forecasts should be made using the web based spot
forecast request form. This form, along with instructions on how to use
it, is available on the local NWS fire weather web pages. The web based
spot forecast request form should be filled out as completely as
possible (required parameters are listed in red) by the user agency
prior to submitting the request. Use Latitude/Longitude for your
location, and this should be entered in either decimal degrees, or
degrees/minutes/seconds. If you are using decimal degrees enter as
standard (e.g. 37.52). If degrees/minutes/seconds, use a second decimal
(e.g. 37.31.12), or leave a space between each number (e.g. 37 31 12).

Direct links to the spot monitor page for each NWS office:

NWS Blacksburg -
<http://spot.nws.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/spot/spotmon?site=rnk>\
NWS Charleston -
<http://spot.nws.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/spot/spotmon?site=rlx>\
NWS Morristown -
<http://spot.nws.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/spot/spotmon?site=mrx>\
NWS Sterling - <http://spot.nws.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/spot/spotmon?site=lwx>\
NWS Wakefield - <http://spot.nws.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/spot/spotmon?site=akq>

In times when internet access is hindered or not possible, spot
forecasts may be requested and disseminated via fax or phone. If faxing
a request, users should use the Fire Weather Special Forecast Request
Form, [WS Form D-1](http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rnk/fire/VA08/D1-V2005.pdf).
Section I of WS Form D-1 should be filled out as completely as possible
by the user agency prior to submitting the request by the fax to the
forecast office. If the request is made by phone, all information in
Section I should be provided to the forecast office.

While there is no dedicated fire weather forecaster, the forecast office
will give a high priority to spot forecasts in the absence of weather
phenomena in the CWA that pose a threat to life and property. To ensure
that the request for a spot forecast is handled properly and
appropriately, users should adhere to the following guidelines:

1\) Allow adequate time for the forecaster to prepare the forecast. This
will normally be about 30 minutes. On particularly busy fire weather
days, spot forecasts will be handled on a first-come, first-serve basis,
with wildfires or other life threatening events taking the highest
priority.

2\) Provide as much on-site or near-site weather information as
possible. At a minimum, the user should provide at least one observation
within an hour of the request. This observation must contain the
following: location of the observation; elevation at the observation
site; time of the observation; wind direction, speed, and level (eye or
20 foot); dry and wet bulb temperatures; any remarks about the state of
the weather, particularly anything that may affect fire behavior. If
possible, include some observations from the previous day that might
give the forecaster an indication of daily trends.

3\) As much as possible, specify the time period for which the forecast
is needed.

4\) As much as possible, specify the weather elements of most importance
for which a forecast is needed, and/or critical values of these
elements.

5\) Provide a contact point name and phone number where the forecaster
can call back, if necessary. (Also include a fax number for returning
completed forecasts if the web based spot forecast form is not used).

6\) In order to receive prompt attention for a fax request, please phone
the office to let the forecaster know the request is on the way.

7\) Natural resource agency personnel should contact the NWS forecast
office for a spot update if the forecast conditions appear
unrepresentative of the actual weather conditions. Whenever possible,
users should provide feedback, positive or negative, to the NWS forecast
office concerning the performance of the spot forecast during or shortly
after an event. This will assist forecasters in subsequent forecasts for
the same or similar conditions.

###  National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) Forecasts

#### Issuance

NFDRS forecasts will be issued for any predetermined site from which an
NFDRS observation is received, provided the observation is received on
time, is complete, and is deemed accurate. The natural resource agencies
will determine which observation sites (normally RAWS sites) will be
NFDRS sites. Initiation of NFDRS forecasts for a new site will be
coordinated with the NWS, and the agency requesting new NFDRS service
will provide the NWS with information about the site location. Forecasts
will not be provided for sites with bad data. The NWS will notify the
owner agency when bad data is received from a RAWS station.\
\
In the state of Virginia there are 11 NFDRS RAWS.\
\
Four are in the Blacksburg service area:\
\
**[Station ID \| Name \| County \| Elevation \| Site Latitude \|
Longitude]{.underline}**

 441801 \| Lime Kiln \| Bath \| 2580 ft \| 37.99N \| 79.76W

 441903 \| Umholt (Pedlar) \| Rockbridge \| 1120 ft \| 37.74N \| 79.34W

 444002 \| Craig Valley \| Craig \| 1266 ft \| 37.52N \| 80.08W

 447502 \| Stony Fork \| Wythe \| 2540 ft \| 37.01N \| 81.18W

One is in the Morristown service area:\
\
**[Station ID \| Name \| County \| Elevation \| Site Latitude \|
Longitude]{.underline}**

 448502 \| Wise \| Wise \| 2530 ft \| 36.98N \| 82.56W

Two are in the Sterling service area:\
\
**[Station ID \| Name \| County \| Elevation \| Site Latitude \|
Longitude]{.underline}**

 440402 \| Fort Valley \| Shenandoah \| 800 ft \| 38.83N \| 78.40W

 440901 \| Headquarters \| Page \| 1200 ft \| 38.67N \| 78.37W\
\
\
Four are in the Wakefield service area:\
\
**[Station ID \| Name \| County \| Elevation \| Site Latitude \|
Longitude]{.underline}**

 446801 \| James River USFW/NWR \| Prince George \| 50 ft \| 37.25N \|
77.25W

 449801 \| Great Dismal USFW/NWR \| Suffolk \| 12 ft \| 36.61N \|
76.55W

 449905 \| Back Bay USFW/NWR \| Virginia Beach \| 8 ft \| 36.68N \|
75.93W

 449906 \| Chincoteague USFW/NWR \| Accomack \| 5 ft \| 37.99N \|
75.29W

####  Contents

The NFDRS forecast will be a forecast of the next day observation at
1300 LT. The format of the NFDRS forecast is specified in National
Weather Service Directive 10-401. The forecast will include the
following elements:

a\. ZONE/FCST: Shows whether this forecast is for an NFDRS zone or
individual station. Zone average trends are forecast when enough
observation are available for the zone area. Individual site forecasts
are done where only a few observation are available.

b\. NO: NFDRS Zone Number (or individual NFDRS site number).

c\. YYMMDD: Year, month and day of valid forecast time.

d\. 13: Valid forecast time. Always 1300 LST.

e\. WX: Weather valid at 1300 LST tomorrow. Valid entries are:

0 = clear

1 = scattered clouds (1/8 to 4/8)

2 = broken clouds (5/8 to 7/8)

3 = overcast clouds (more than 7/8)

4 = fog

5 = drizzle

6 = rain

7 = snow or sleet

8 = showers (in sight or at the station)

9 = thunderstorm

(Categories 5, 6 or 7 sets NFDRS index to 0)

f\. TEMP: Temperature in degrees F valid at 1300 LST (or temperature
trend + or - degrees F).

g\. RH: Relative Humidity in percent valid at 1300 LST (or RH trend +
or - percent).

h\. LAL1: Lightning Activity Level 1400 LST to 2300 LST.

i\. LAL2: Lightning Activity Level 2300 LST to 2300 LST.

j\. WDIR: Wind Direction. Used only for point forecast (FCST) version.
Enter direction using sixteen point compass (N, NNE, NE, ENE, etc.)
valid at 1300 LST (20 ft level, 10 minute average).

k\. WSPD: Wind Speed. Enter wind speed in mph (or wind speed trend +
or - mph) valid at 1300 LST (20 ft, 10 minute average).

l\. 10HR: 10 hour timelag fuel moisture in percent valid at 1300 LST (or
trend + or - percent).

m\. Tx: Maximum temperature from 1300 LST to 1300 LST tomorrow.

n\. Tn: Minimum temperature from 1300 LST to 1300 LST tomorrow.

o\. RHx: Maximum relative humidity from 1300 LST to 1300 LST tomorrow.

p\. RHn: Minimum relative humidity from 1300 LST to 1300 LST tomorrow.

q\. PD1: Precipitation duration in hours 1300 LST to 0500 LST.

r\. PD 2: Precipitation duration in hours 0500 LST to 1300 LST.

s\. WETFLAG: Y or N. Indicates whether liquid water will be on the fuels
at 1300 LST tomorrow. (Use with caution. A \"Y\" will set all the NFDRS
indices to zero!).

Format. The NFDRS Forecast will follow the comma delimited format as
shown:

ZONE,NO,YYMMDD,13,WX,TEMP,RH,LAL1,LAL2,WSPD,10HR,TX,TN,RHx,RHn,PD1,PD2,WETFLAG

FCST,NO,YYMMDD,13,WX,TEMP,RH,LAL1,LAL2,WDIR,WSPD,10HR,TX,TN,RHx,RHn,PD1,PD2,WETFLAG

Procedures

The land management agencies are responsible for taking, quality
controlling, transmitting and archiving the NFDRS observations.
Observation must be received at the NWS in a timely manner. Forecasts
will only be prepared for predetermined sites, and only from those sites
for which an observation has been received. The deadline for the land
management agency for transmitting the observation is 1900 GMT (2:00 PM
EST or 3:00 PM EDT). The NWS will prepare and transmit the NFDRS
forecasts no later than 1945 GMT (2:45 PM EST or 3:45 PM EDT). Although
the data cutoff time for ingest into the NFDRS software is 7 PM,
preliminary calculations based on the forecast are used by the land
managers to make staffing decisions at shift briefing time (4 PM).

###  Fire Weather Watch and Red Flag Programs

During periods in which critical fire weather conditions are expected or
imminent, the NWS will issue statements, watches and warnings to
describe the level of urgency to the appropriate user agencies. These
issuances will be coordinated with natural resource agencies.

#### Definition of a Red Flag Event

A Red Flag Event occurs when critical weather conditions develop which
could lead to extensive wildfire occurrence or to extreme fire behavior.
Red Flag Events represent a threat to life and property, and may
adversely impact fire fighting personnel and resources. Critical weather
conditions include combinations of the following: strong, gusty winds;
very low relative humidity; high to extreme fire danger (very low fuel
moisture).\
\
Historically, the highest risk of significant fire starts and blow-ups
occur when fuels are sufficiently dry and dry cold fronts pass over the
region. Dry cold fronts typically cause lower humidity levels and
produce shifting and increasing wind. In an effort to simplify the Red
Flag Warning process, forecasters at the NWS offices will mainly be
concerned with the specific weather conditions and critical weather
patterns necessary to produce Red Flag conditions. Tracking fuel
moisture will be the responsibility of the fire product user agencies.
\*\*As a result, coordination will be necessary with the Virginia
Interagency Coordination Center (VICC) and the Regional Fire Management
Office in Roanoke, Virginia, when a NWS forecaster considers a Red Flag
Warning or Fire Weather Watch. \*\*\
\
Generally, a Red Flag Warning will be issued when:

> **\* Ten-hour fuel moistures are observed or expected to be 7 percent
> or less.** This is an essential requirement and should be coordinated
> with the Fire Management Officer at the Regional USFS office, or the
> Virginia Interagency Coordination Center. In the event coordination is
> not possible, the forecaster may, at his or her discretion, use the
> fuel moisture readings from the NFDRS RAWS.\
> \
>           **-AND-** \
> \
> **\* Relative humidity is expected to fall below 30 percent at any
> time over the forecast area and sustained wind of 20 mph or more.**
> The sustained wind will be a two-minute averaged, 20 foot-level wind
> forecast.

During periods of extended drought or when wildland fires are occurring,
modifications to these criteria may be required. Any change will be
coordinated through the Virginia Interagency Coordination Center, or
with the Fire Burn Analyst (FBAN) and Incident Commander (IC) on an
existing large project burn. We recognize there are seasonal
variabilities that may stress live fuels differently, in addition to
other weather phenomena (such as, a frontal passage or thunderstorm
downburst), that may result in extreme fire behavior and pose a hazard
to wildland firefighters.

#### Red Flag Warning

A Red Flag Warning will be issued, after coordination with the
appropriate natural resource agencies, when a Red Flag Event is
occurring or is imminent. The warning will be issued for all or a
portion of the forecast area. It will be issued immediately once the
forecaster and the appropriate natural resource agency have determined
that a Red Flag Event is ongoing. Otherwise, it shall be issued for
impending Red Flag conditions when there is a high degree of confidence
that conditions will develop within 24 hours. The warning will continue
until the conditions cease to exist or fail to develop as forecast. At
such time, the warning will be canceled. The format of the Red Flag
Warning is specified in National Weather Service Directive 10-401. **A
sample Red Flag Warning is in the Appendix.**

#### 

#### 

#### Fire Weather Watch

A Fire Weather Watch will be issued, after coordination with the
appropriate natural resource agencies, to advise of the possible
development of a Red Flag Event in the near future. It will be issued
for all or part of the forecast area. A Fire Weather Watch is issued
when the forecaster and appropriate natural resource agencies are
reasonably confident that a Red Flag Event will occur. A watch should be
issued 12 to 48 hours in advance of, but not more 72 hours in advance
of, the expected onset of of the critical weather conditions. The watch
will remain in effect until either it is determined the Red Flag Event
will not develop, or that the watch should be upgraded to a warning. If
conditions are not expected to occur as forecast, the watch will be
canceled. The format of the Fire Weather Watch is specified in National
Weather Service Directive 10-401.

#### Fire Danger Statements and Blow-Up Alerts

When fire danger or fire occurrence is high and is coupled with critical
weather conditions, user agencies may request that the NWS issue a Fire
Danger Statement or Blowup Alert. These statements will be issued in
coordination with the requesting agency and will only be issued with
their approval. The NWS will use the Special Weather Statement (SPS) for
these issuances.

### Participation in Interagency Groups

At a minimum, one NWS representative (usually the State Liaison WFO Fire
Weather Program Leader or MIC) will attend the State Interagency
meetings or working groups where fire weather or smoke management policy
is discussed as an integral part of the meeting. However, it is strongly
recommended that all NWS offices with fire weather responsibility attend
the meetings to ensure uniform representation.

### Special Services

Special fire weather services are those services that are uniquely
required by natural resource agencies and go beyond the normal forecast
operations of the NWS. Special services include Incident Meteorologist
(IMET) deployment, station visits, training, and other pertinent
meteorological services that are designated as non-routine.

Typically, special services require NWS personnel to be away from the
Forecast Office and, in some instances, be in overtime status. User
agencies are responsible for covering the cost of NWS overtime, travel
and per diem expenses. Reimbursement of costs for special services will
be as outlined in the [**Interagency Agreement for Meteorological
Services**](http://www.nws.noaa.gov/directives/010/pd01004006a.pdf).

### Incident Support

On-site forecast service support is available for wildfires and
prescribed burns. This includes the deployment of an Incident
Meteorologist (IMET) and related service equipment such as the Advanced
Technology Meteorological Unit (ATMU), the All Hazards Meteorological
Response System (AMRS), and the Fire Remote Automated Weather Station
(Fire RAWS). The IMET, ATMU, AMRS, and the Fire RAWS are considered
national fire fighting resources, and can be requested through the
Virginia Interagency Coordination Center.

The ATMU and AMRS are modularized and mobile systems of equipment used
by an Incident Meteorologist (IMET) for data collection and forecast
preparation. Only trained personnel will operate the ATMU and AMRS, and
this service equipment will only be dispatched to an incident when a
certified IMET is requested. The IMET is responsible for ordering and
arranging shipment for the ATMU and AMRS.

There are 25 ATMUs cached across the country, mostly in the western
states. The nearest [**ATMU
cache**](http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rnk/fire/VA08/cache.jpg) to the state
of Virginia is London, KY, where two are maintained. [**AMRS
workstations**](http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rnk/fire/VA08/AMRS.pdf) are also
pre-positioned across the country, most of which are collocated with
existing Weather Forecast Offices that contain certified IMETS. These
AMRS workstations are maintained by the IMETS and are typically shipped
with the IMET being mobilized.

The ATMU is composed of one large shipping box consisting of a
theodolite with tripod, a belt weather kit, PIBAL weather balloons, a
nozzle and regulator for a helium tank, and office supplies and
miscellaneous expendables. Its volume is 13.8 cubic feet and it weighs
122 pounds.

The AMRS is also composed of one large shipping box, and contains a
laptop computer, a satellite dish (BGAN) for obtaining weather data, a
printer, and office supplies. The volume is 6.7 cubic feet, and its
weight is about 90 pounds.\
\
Total weight of the ATMU and AMRS is 212 lbs with a volume of 20.5 cubic
feet. The cubic feet are necessary for shipment by air. The same
specification shown is listed in the user agencies\' National
Mobilization Guide.

Requests for the ATMU, AMRS, and IMET should be made through the
Virginia Interagency Coordination Center. Typically, the IMET nearest
the incident will be deployed. However, during times of limited
resources, IMETs from other areas of the country may be called. The
decision will be made by the Special Meteorologist to NIFC (SMC) in
conjunction with the MIC and IMET from the affected offices. It is the
responsibility of the IMET to arrange shipment of the AMRS workstation.

The success of the operation depends in part on the user agency
providing shelter and logistical support. Prior to the use of this
equipment, the IMET is expected to have coordinated with the local user
agency to ensure proper field support. If an IMET determines that an
ATMU and/or Fire RAWS is desirable, it is the IMET\'s responsibility to
ensure the ATMU and Fire RAWS have also been ordered for the incident.

The requesting agency is responsible for any storage of service
equipment while in transit, and shelter for the IMET and service
equipment at the site. A sheltered work area, of at least 50 square feet
with a table and chair, must be protected from excessive dust, free of
standing water or condensation, and must be heated and/or cooled
sufficiently to allow efficient operation of equipment. Power (120V AC)
must be provided for the AMRS\'s electrical equipment, and priority
telephone access during certain short periods each day must be made
available.

The procedure for requesting IMETs will follow the guidelines outlined
in the national MOA, the National Mobilization Guide, and the Southern
Area Interagency Mobilization Guide. The following information will be
provided to the requested IMET:

1\. Name of fire.

2\. Location of fire.

3\. Directions to location where the IMET is to report and the location
of ICP.

4\. Name of Incident Commander, Plans Chief, and FBAN, if available.

5\. Request and Resource Order number for IMET.

Upon arrival at the incident and after going through the appropriate
check-in procedures, the IMET will:

1.  Brief the Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN), Planning Section Chief
    (PSC), and the Incident Commander (IC) on current and expected
    weather as it affects the fire.

2.  Establish a schedule with the IC and the FBAN for written forecasts
    and formal briefings.

3.  Request a briefing of the fire situation and potential behavior
    problems from the FBAN. As time and resources permit, incident
    management should arrange for an aerial inspection trip for the
    meteorologist and should provide the forecaster with current
    fireline maps. If possible, the IMET should be assigned a radio with
    the fireline frequency.

4.  Arrange for a schedule of observations from key points around the
    fire and from nearby lookouts and fire danger stations, in
    cooperation with the FBAN and PSC. On large fires, some personnel
    (at least two) should be permanently assigned to this duty. On
    smaller fires, this information can be provided by Division
    Supervisors equipped with belt weather kits.

IMET duties will vary with incident management team requirements, but
the IMET is expected to provide daily weather forecasts for the
incident, participate in shift briefings, planning and strategy meeting,
and coordinate daily with the local Weather Forecast Office (WFO) and
/or other IMETs at nearby incidents.

Demobilization is initiated at the incident, and will be coordinated
through the Virginia Interagency Coordination Center. Upon release, the
user agency will transport the ATMU and Fire RAWS back to its cache
location or to the controlling fire weather office. Travel arrangements
will be made for the IMET back to his or her home office. The IMET is
responsible for transporting the AMRS workstation back to the home
office. If the AMRS unit resides at a different location than the IMET,
the IMET must make arrangements to ship the equipment to the proper
office, and charge any shipping cost to the fire.

### Other Special Services

Other special services may include weather station visits by partner
agency personnel, RAWS site surveys and inspections, weather observer
training, and course development work or related program work. These
activities would typically be at the full expense of the requesting
agency unless other arrangements have been made.

NWS meteorologists may also be asked to assist in other non-routine
services (e.g. briefings or coordination calls) during periods of high
fire danger or fire occurrence. MICs and Fire Program Leaders are to
ensure the natural resource agency needs are met with little expense to
either agency.

### Fire Weather Training

NWS meteorologists will be available to assist in user-oriented
training. This includes fire behavior courses, such as S-190 and S-290,
where the meteorologist will serve as part of the cadre for that course.
Requests for training assistance should be made through the NWS
office\'s Fire Weather Program Leader or Meteorologist-in-Charge (MIC).
Sufficient advance notice should be given to allow for scheduling and
proper preparation. Costs incurred by the NWS in providing training
assistance will be borne by the requesting agency.

# Natural Resource Agency Responsibilities

### 

### Operational Support and Predictive Services

#### Program Management

The natural resource agencies will oversee the fire weather observation
program, including the siting and maintenance of the observing
equipment, fire weather training of their personnel, and the proficiency
of their personnel in the use of the NWS Spot software.

#### Monitoring, Feedback and Improvement

Natural resource agencies will monitor the quality and timeliness of NWS
fire weather products, and provide feedback to the NWS in order to
improve services to the agencies.

#### Technology Transfer

The natural resource agencies may, from time to time, advise the NWS of
new technologies being implemented to monitor meteorological or fuel
parameters, or to improve communication, coordination, training or
reference. Natural resource agency personnel may, with prior
arrangement, visit an NWS office to acquire a knowledge of NWS
technologies used in the monitoring of weather, or the preparation of
products.

#### Agency Computer Resources

Internet will be the primary method of obtaining the Fire Weather
Forecast, Red Flag Warning, Fire Weather Watch, and for both requesting
and receiving a Spot Forecast. As a backup method, a request can be made
to the NWS for a product to be faxed to the customer agency. NFDRS
observations will be entered into WIMS, and forecasts and calculations
based on these observations will be received by WIMS, or by internet via
a WIMS website.

#### Fire Weather Observations

Fire weather observation stations provide the specialized weather
observations for fire weather forecasts, wildfire control and
suppression, and various other land management operations. These
stations were selected very carefully in each state and federal
district. Sites were chosen to represent homogeneous weather conditions
across a district. Stations may either be manned sites operated by land
management agencies, or unmanned, Remote Automatic Weather Stations
(RAWS) maintained by any of the federal or state land management
agencies in the area.

All observation stations are assigned a 6-digit identification/location
number. The first two digits indicate the state, the second two digits
indicated the county, and the last two digits indicated the
consecutively-assigned station number for that county. Land managers who
wish to have a number assigned to a station should contact the GACC
meteorologist at SACC in Atlanta.

RAWS stations are also assigned an 8 character alphanumeric identifier
based on satellite transmission time. The NESDIS ID, transmit channel
and time are assigned by the US Forest Service National RAWS program.

Observations from a satellite telemetered RAWS will automatically flow
into

WIMS via the NESDIS ID. If a station is not satellite telemetered, the
data must be manually entered into WIMS. It is important the 1300 hour
observation is quality controlled, as this observation will be used by
the NFDRS. The RAWS owner must enter WIMS and manually change a recorded
observation (an R ob) to an observed observation (an O ob), manually
enter the State of the Weather (SOW), and save the observation to WIMS.
This action is generally applied only to the daily 1300 hour
observation. Non-NFDRS stations are naturally exempt from these
procedures.

Even with automated observations, the responsibility still rests with
the RAWS owner to ensure that observations are being transmitted,
recorded, and archived properly in WIMS. Automation greatly simplifies
the daily process, however there will still be the need for observations
to be checked for integrity and consistency. Managing the NFDRS model
parameters will still be a manual process in WIMS. Automation helps
streamline the WIMS collective that is distributed to the NWS via AWIPS.
NFDRS forecasts are based on RAWS observations that appear on the daily
collective and it is important these observations are accurate.

Sensor failure will often result in erroneous or (at best) suspicious
values. If the NWS becomes aware of such a situation, it is prudent to
contact the station owner. Similarly, if a station owner becomes aware
of a sensor failure, he should relay that information to the appropriate
NWS office. It is that station owner\'s responsibility to make sure that
their station is and remains in good working order and repairs are made
in a timely manner. Owners of NFDRS stations can still (and should)
correct any errors in their respective observations.

It is important to note, observations are the most important single
effort the control agencies put into the Fire Weather Program. Potential
fire danger is derived from these observations. The Fire Danger Rating
System is the guidance tool that, together with the weather forecast, is
used to make a variety of management decisions. It is important that
observers be well trained and informed of the necessity for accurate,
timely, and representative observations.

#### On - Site Support

The user agencies are also responsible for maintaining observation site
equipment. NWS personnel may accompany the user on maintenance trips or
for annual inspection visits, which could also serve as liaison with the
users.

#### Training

The responsibility of training natural resource agency employees will be
that of the agencies themselves. However, the NWS will be available to
assist when requested to do so. Any expenses incurred by the NWS will
normally be charged to the user agency, unless other arrangements have
been made.

#  Joint Responsibilities 

Joint responsibilities include the following:

### Meetings between the NWS offices and the natural resource agencies.

The Virginia Interagency Coordination Center conducts at least two
meetings per year, roughly every spring and fall, with all natural
resource agencies and NWS offices serving Virginia invited to attend.
These meetings typically will be held at the Virginia Interagency
Coordination Center (VICC) in Charlottesville, to minimize travel
distance. Although the agenda includes many internal division matters
they are of interagency consequence. Therefore, the NWS is a Strategic
Partner and is invited to these meetings since topics often include NWS
operations.

### Conference Calls.

During times of very high or extreme fire danger, the Virginia
Interagency Coordination Center (VICC) may initiate a conference call to
discuss fire danger and weather. This call may include various partner
agencies, and either some, or all of the NWS offices serving Virginia,
depending on the extent of the area of concern. When more than one NWS
office is participating, VICC will ask one NWS office to lead the
weather discussion, which may be followed by input from the other NWS
offices for their area. At times when the entire state is the area of
concern, the NWS State Liaison Office in Wakefield will normally lead
the discussion, but this may vary if the area of concern is skewed
toward another NWS office\'s area. Conference calls will normally be
held in the late morning, when NWS offices are beginning to consider
their afternoon forecast package.

### Maintenance and Revision of the Annual Operating Plan.

The AOP should be revised each year by the end of January, with
cooperation and participation from each NWS office and each natural
resource agency. The National Weather Service Office in Blacksburg,
Virginia, will be custodian of the plan.

### Notification of NWS Changes in Operating Procedures.

From time to time, NWS headquarters, or NWS Eastern Region Headquarters,
will send draft versions of future directives to their forecast offices
for review and comment. To ensure that the natural resource partner
agencies have an opportunity to review and comment on proposed changes,
the NWS State Liaison Office in Wakefield will forward a copy of draft
directives to VICC when they are received. VICC will then forward draft
NWS directives to the rest of the natural resource partner agencies for
review. Comments and suggestions can be forwarded to the NWS State
Liaison Office in Wakefield, which will forward them to NWS Eastern
Region Headquarters.

### Agreements on Services Provided.

Agreements on services and standards are normally reached at statewide
meetings, but may be achieved at by a series of local meetings or by
other means such as telephone or e-mail. NWS offices and land mangers
should be aware of the ripple effect an agreement might have on other
NWS offices and their customers, particularly when service areas cross
state lines.

### Workplace Visits.

Natural resource agencies and the NWS collaborate on familiarization of
personnel in each others fields of expertise, operations and equipment.
Visits to offices and work centers, as well as field job sites can meet
part of these requirements.

### Service Evaluation.

Services provided by the NWS, and delivery of observations and
information from the natural resource agencies to the NWS in support of
these services, shall be under constant evaluation by both parties.

### Numbering and archiving of observation stations.

The GACC, when requested to do so by a natural resource agency, shall
assign a station ID number for fire weather observation platforms.\
\
The land management agency will provide the station name, location
(county, latitude, and longitude), and elevation to the GACC
meteorologist.\
\
The GACC meteorologist will assign the number and assist the station
owner in establishing a station catalog in WIMS.\
\
The numbering convention uses a six digit number, starting with 44 (for
VA). The following two digit number designates the county, and the
counties are numbered from 01 in the northwest, to 99 in the southeast.\
\
The GACC meteorologist is responsible for maintaining a database of RAWS
stations in their area. This information can be provided to the NWS
regional program manager upon request.\
\
The master list for the state of Virginia can be found in the appendix
of this operating plan, which will be updated at least annually with any
new or changed stations.

# Effective Dates on the AOP

The effective dates of this Annual Operating Plan will be from January 1
through December 31 of the current calendar year. This plan will be
subject to review and revision by all signatory parties each year, or
more frequently as operations warrant.

This plan will be available on the WFO fire weather web pages. A copy of
this plan will be sent to NWS Eastern Region Headquarters by January 31
of the current year. Eastern Region Headquarters will forward a copy of
the plan to NIFC and NWS Headquarters.

# Signatory Page

The following signatories have agreed to the terms and conditions of
this Annual Operating Plan, which is subject to revision on a least an
annual basis, or more frequently as operations necessitate. Actual
signatures are maintained on file.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_/signed/\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_2/xx/2008

Phillip Manuel

Fire Weather Program Leader

NWS Blacksburg, VA

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_/signed/\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_2/xx/2008

Richard Winther

Fire Weather Program Leader

NWS Sterling, VA

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_/signed/\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_2/xx/2008

Mark Pellerito

Fire Weather Program Leader

NWS Charleston, WV

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_/signed/\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_2/xx/2008

David Gaffin

Fire Weather Program Leader

NWS Morristown, TN

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_/signed/\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_2/xx/2008

Larry Brown

Fire Weather Program Leader

NWS Wakefield, VA

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_/signed/\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_2/xx/2008

Jeff Koenig\
Fire Management Officer\
Shenandoah National Park

USDI National Park Service

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_/signed/\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_2/xx/2008

Denver S. Ingram

Predictive Service Program Manager

Southern Area Coordination Center\
\
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_/signed/\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_2/xx/2008

Timothy Craig

Fire Management Officer

Virginia-West Virginia Zone\
Great Dismal Swamp NWR

USDI Fish and Wildlife Service

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_/signed/\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_2/xx/2008

Bobby Miller\
Fire Manager\
Blue Ridge Parkway

USDI National Park Service\
\
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_/signed/\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_2/xx/2008

Glen Stapleton

Fire Staff Officer\
GW JEFF National Forest

USDA Forest Service\
\
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_/signed/\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_2/xx/2008

Jason Steinmetz\
Coordinator

Virginia Interagency Coordination Center

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_/signed/\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_2/xx/2008

John D. Miller

Cheif of Resource Protection

VA Dept. of Forestry

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_/signed/\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_2/xx/2008

Don Boucher\
Fire Manager\
National Capitol Region

USDI National Park Service

# Appendices

### Interagency Agreement for the Meteorological Services in Support of Agencies with Land and Fire Management Responsibilities can be found at [http://www.nws.noaa.gov/directives/010/pd01004006a.pdf](../%20(http://www.nws.noaa.gov/directives/010/pd01004006a.pdf%20)) .

### Fire Weather Zone Maps

Fire weather zones consist of groups of counties (or occasionally single
counties) selected based on homogeneous climatology and expected
weather. These groupings may change from forecast issuance to forecast
issuance, and may contain counties from adjacent states served by the
same NWS office.

###  Catalog of Fire Weather Observation Sites within the State of Virginia 

#### Name; County; NWS Office; Station ID; Latitude; Longitude; Elevation

BACK BAY; Virginia Beach; AKQ; 449905; 36.68 N; 75.93 W; 8\'

CHINCOTEAGUE; Accomack; AKQ; 449906; 37.9917 N; 75.2878 W; 5'

CRAIG VALLEY; Craig; RNK; 444002; 37.5219 N; 80.0800 W; 1266\'

FORT VALLEY; Shenandoah; LWX; 440402; 38.83 N; 78.40 W; 800\'

GREAT DISMAL; Suffolk; AKQ; 449801; 36.61 N; 76.55 W; 12\'

HEADQUARTERS; Page; LWX; 440901; 38.67 N; 78.37 W; 1200\'

JAMES RIVER; Prince George; AKQ; 446801; 37.25 N; 77.25 W; 50\'

LIME KILN; Bath; RNK; 441801; 37.9864 N; 79.7594 W; 2580\'

STONY FORK; Wythe; RNK; 447502; 37.0111 N; 81.1786 W; 2540\'

UMHOLT (PEDLAR); Rockbridge; RNK; 441903; 37.7389 N; 79.3361 W; 1120\'

WISE; Wise; MRX; 448502; 36.98 N; 82.56 W; 2530\'

### 

###  ASOS Observation Sites

#### Name; ID; Latitude; Longitude; Elevation

Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport; CHO; 38.139 N; 78.453 W; 639\'

Danville Regional Airport; DAN; 36.5742 N; 79.3358 W; 572\'

Hanover County Municipal Airport; OFP; 37.7078 N; 77.4364 W; 205\'

Lynchburg Regional Airport; LYH; 37.3267 N; 79.2006 W; 938\'

Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport; PHF; 37.1319 N; 76.4930
W; 43\'

Norfolk International Airport; ORF; 36.8944 N; 76.2017 W; 27\'

Reagan National Airport; DCA; 38.852, 77.038 W; 15\'

Richmond International Airport; RIC; 37.5050 N; 77.3200 W; 168\'

Roanoke Regional Airport; ROA; 37.3314 N; 79.9813 W; 1176\'

Shenandoah Vly Regional Airport (Staunton); SHD; 38.264 N; 78.896 W;
1201\'

Wakefield Municipal Airport; AKQ; 36.9872 N; 77.0011 W; 113\'

Wallops Flight Facility; WAL; 37.9402 N; 75.4664 W; 40\'

Washington Dulles International Airport; IAD; 38.945 N; 77.456 W; 316\'

### 

### AWOS Observation Sites

#### Name; ID; Latitude; Longitude; Elevation

Accomack County Airport (Melfa); MFV; 37.6469 N; 75.7611 W; 47\'

Chesapeake Regional Airport; CPK; 36.6656 N; 76.3207 W; 20\'

Culpeper Regional Airport; CJR; 38.5267 N; 77.8589 W; 316\'

Davison Army Airfield (Fort Belvoir); DAA; 38.7150 N; 77.1810 W; 74\'

Dinwiddie County Airport (Petersburg); PTB; 37.1838 N; 77.5074 W; 193\'

Emporia-Greensville Regional Airport; EMV; 36.6869 N; 77.4828 W; 127\'

Farmville Regional Airport; FVX; 37.3575 N; 78.4378 W; 417\'

Franklin Municipal Airport; FKN; 36.6981 N; 76.9038 W; 41\'

Ingalls Field Airport; HSP; 37.9514 N; 79.8342 W; 3792\'

Leesburg Executive Airport; JYO; 39.0780 N; 77.5575 W; 389\'

Lonesome Pine Airport; LNP; 36.9875 N; 82.5300 W; 2684\'

Louisa County Airport; LKU; 38.0098 N; 77.9701 W; 493\'

Mecklenburg-Brunswick Regional Airport; AVC; 36.6883 N; 78.0545 W; 442\'

Middle Peninsula Regional Airport (West Point); FYJ; 37.5212 N; 76.7647
W; 24\'

Manassas Regional Airport; HEF; 38.7214 N; 77.5154 W; 192\'

Mountain Empire Airport; MKJ; 36.8947 N; 81.3500 W; 2559\'

New River Valley Airport; PSK; 37.1372 N; 806786 W; 2105\'

Norfolk Naval Station; NGU; 36.9377 N; 76.2893 W; 15\'

Oceana Naval Air Station; NTU; 36.8207 N; 76.0335 W; 22\'

Orange County Airport; OMH; 38.2472 N; 78.0456 W; 465\'

Quantico Marine Corps Airport; NYG; 38.5018 N; 77.3053 W; 11\'

Shannon Airport (Fredericksburg); EZF; 38.2668 N; 77.4492 W; 85\'

Stafford Regional Airport; RMN; 38.3981 N; 77.4556 W; 211\'

Suffolk Executive Airport; SFQ; 36.6824 N; 76.6019 W; 72\'

Tazewell County Airport; 6V3; 37.0636 N; 81.7983 W; 2652\'

Twin County Airport; HLX; 36.7661 N; 80.8239 W; 2693\'

Virginia Highlands Airport; VJI; 36.6869 N; 82.0336 W; 2087\'

Virginia Tech Airport; BCB; 37.2075 N; 80.4083 W; 2132\'

Winchester Regional Airport; OKV; 39.1435 N; 78.1444 W; 727\'

### All Hazards NOAA Weather Radio Transmitters Serving The State of Virginia

####  Location, Call Sign, Frequency, VA Counties Served

Beckley, WV; WXM-71; 162.550 MHz; Tazewell.

Bristol (Tri-Cities), TN; WXK-47; 162.550 MHz; Lee, Russell, Scott,
Smyth, Washington, and Wise.

Charlottesville (Covesville/Fan Mountain), VA; KZZ-28; 162.450 MHz;
Albemarle, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Buckingham, Charlotte,
Cumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Louisa, Lunenburg, Madison,
Nelson, Nottoway, Orange, Powhatan, Prince Edward, and Spotsylvania.

Gilbert, WV; WXM-75; 162.475 MHz; Buchanan and Dickenson.

Hagerstown (Clear Springs), MD; WXM-42; 162.475 MHz; Clarke, Fauquier,
Fredrick, Loudoun, Page, Shenandoah, and Warren.

Heathsville, VA; WXM-57; 162.400 MHz; Accomack, Essex, Gloucester, King
and Queen, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, North Hampton, Richmond, and
Westmoreland.

Harlan, KY; WWG-68; 162.450 MHz; Lee and Wise.

Henderson, NC; WNG-586; 162.500 MHz; Brunswick and Mecklenburg.

Hinton (Keeney Mtn.), WV; WXM-72; 162.425 MHz; Alleghany, Bath, Bland,
Craig, Giles, and Tazewell.

Lynchburg (Madison Heights), VA; WXL-92; 162.550 MHz; Amherst,
Appomattox, Bedford, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, Halifax, Prince
Edward, and Rockbridge.

Manassas (Independence Hill), VA; KHB-36; 162.550 MHz; Clarke, Culpeper,
Fairfax, Fauquier, King George, Loudoun, Madison, Orange, Prince
William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Warren.

Margarettsville NC; WWG-33; 162.450 MHZ; Brunswick, Dinwiddie,
Greensville, Isle of Wight, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Southhampton, and
Sussex.

Mount Jefferson, Ashe Co., NC; WNG-588; 162.500 MHz; Grayson and
Washington.

Moorefield, WV; WXM-73; 162.400 MHz; Augusta, Fredrick, Highland, Page,
Rockingham, and Shenandoah.

Norfolk (Driver), VA; KHB-37; 162.550 MHz; Isle of Wight, James City,
Surry, and York.

Pikeville, KY; WWG-69; 162.400 MHz; Buchanan, Dickenson, and Wise.

Phelps, KY; WWG-81; 162.500 MHz; Buchanan and Dickenson.

Richmond, VA; WXK-65; 162.475 MHz; Amelia, Charles City, Chesterfield,
Cumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, King William, Louisa,
New Kent, Nottoway, Prince Edward, Prince George, and Powhatan.

Roanoke (Poor Mtn), VA; WXL-60; 162.475 MHz; Alleghany, Appomattox,
Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Campbell, Caroll, Craig, Floyd, Franklin,
Giles, Halifax, Henry, Montgomery, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Pulaski,
Roanoke, Rockbridge, and Wythe.

Salisbury, MD; KEC-92; 162.475MHz; Delmarva Peninsula, Accomack.

Winston-Salem, NC; WXL-42; 162.400 MHz; Carroll, Grayson, Henry,
Patrick, and Pittsylvania.

### Red Flag Criteria

The following weather criteria must be met, in addition to low fuel
moisture:

**Ten-hour fuel moistures are observed or expected to be 7 percent or
less.** This is an essential requirement and should be coordinated with
the Fire Management Officer at the Regional USFS office, or the Virginia
Interagency Coordination Center. In the event coordination is not
possible, the forecaster may, at his or her discretion, use the fuel
moisture readings from the NFDRS RAWS.\
\
          **-AND-** \
\
**Relative humidity is expected to fall below 30 percent at any time
over the forecast area and sustained wind of 20 mph or more.** The
sustained wind will be a two-minute averaged, 20 foot-level wind
forecast.

Note: During periods of extended drought or when wildland fires are
occurring, modifications to these criteria may be required. Any change
will be coordinated through the Virginia Interagency Coordination
Center, or with the Fire Burn Analyst (FBAN) and Incident Commander (IC)
on an existing large project burn. We recognize there are seasonal
vairabilities that may stress live fuels differently, in addition to
other weather phenomena (such as, a frontal passage or thunderstorm
downburst), that may result in extreme fire behavior and pose a hazard
to wildland firefighters

### Fire Weather Product Examples

Click here for the latest products from:

Blacksburg, VA (RNK): [Red
Flag](http://fire.boi.noaa.gov/FIREWX/WBCRFWRNK.html) ;[Fire Weather
Forecast](http://fire.boi.noaa.gov/FIREWX/WBCFWFRNK.html)\
Charleston, WV (RLX): [Red
Flag](http://fire.boi.noaa.gov/FIREWX/CRWRFWRLX.html) or [Fire Weather
Forecast](http://fire.boi.noaa.gov/FIREWX/CRWFWFRLX.html)\
Morristown, TN (MRX): [Red
Flag](http://fire.boi.noaa.gov/FIREWX/MEMRFWMRX.html) or [Fire Weather
Forecast](http://fire.boi.noaa.gov/FIREWX/MEMFWFMRX.html)\
Sterling, VA (LWX): [Red
Flag](http://fire.boi.noaa.gov/FIREWX/WBCRFWLWX.html) or [Fire Weather
Forecast](http://fire.boi.noaa.gov/FIREWX/WBCFWFLWX.html)\
Wakefield, VA (AKQ): [Red
Flag](http://fire.boi.noaa.gov/FIREWX/WBCRFWAKQ.html) or [Fire Weather
Forecast](http://fire.boi.noaa.gov/FIREWX/WBCFWFAKQ.html)

Click here for an example of a [Fire Danger
Statement](http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rnk/fire/VA08/SPSexample.html) .\
\
Click here for an example of a [Spot
Forecast](http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rnk/fire/VA08/SPOTexample.html).

### Burn Category Table

#### Ventilation Rate (ft mph) and Associated Burn Category

0 to 33499 = 1

33500 to 44999 = 2

44500 to 59999 = 3

60000 to 111999 = 4

112000 + = 5

###  Dispersion Tables

#### Surface Wind (MPH) and Associated Dispersion Category

Near Calm = Stagnant

2 - 4 MPH = Very Poor

6 - 8 MPH = Poor

9 - 12 MPH = Fair

13 MPH + = Good

#### Lavdas Dispersion index

1 -- 6 = Very Poor

7 -- 12 = Poor

13 -- 20 = Generally Poor

21 -- 40 = Fair\
\
41 -- 60 = Generally Good\
\
61 -- 100 = Good

100+ = Very Good

### Lightning Activity Level

#### LAL Categories

1: No Thunderstorms.

2: Cumulus clouds are common, but only a few reach the towering cumulus
stage. A single thunderstorm must be confirmed in the rating area. The
clouds mostly produce virga, but light rain will occasionally reach the
ground.

3: Cumulus clouds are common. Swelling and towering cumulus cover less
than 2/10ths of the sky. Thunderstorms are few, but two or three must
occur within the observation area. Light to moderate rain will reach the
ground, and lightning is infrequent.

4: Swelling cumulus and towering cumulus cover 2/10ths to 3/10ths of the
sky. Thunderstorms are scattered, but more than three must occur within
the observation area. Moderate rain is commonly produced, and lightning
is frequent.

5: Towering cumulus and thunderstorms are numerous, they cover more than
3/10ths of the sky and occasionally obscure it. Rain is moderate to
heavy, and lightning is frequent and intense.

6: Same as #3, but dry (little or no rain reaching the ground).

#### Lightning Strokes

1: 0/min., 0/5 min., 0/15 min.

2: 1/min., 1-5/5 min., 1-8/15 min.

3: 1-2/min., 6-10/5 min., 9-15/15 min.

4: 2-3/min., 11-15/5 min., 16-25/15 min.

5: 3/min., 15/5 min., 25/15 min.

6: 1-2/min., 6-10/5 min., 9-15/15 min.

### 

### FWF Update Criteria

Standard Air Temperature: +/- 5 degrees F.

Relative Humidity: +/- 5%.

Wind Speed and Direction at 20 ft AGL: +/- 5 mph and/or 45 degrees.

Precipitation POP, duration and amount: same as for public zones.

Transports Winds: +/- 5 mph and/or 45 degrees.

Mixing Height: +/- 300 m or 984 ft.

Dispersion: One category of change.

Note: Morning upper air soundings from nearby weather balloon sites
should be examined for update criteria.

### 

### Record of Changes to the AOP

February 2008:

Noted in Services Provided by the National Weather Service under Fire
Weather Seasons, that NWS Morristown also issues afternoon fire weather
forecasts upon request during periods of prolonged drought.

New Fire Weather Program Leader at Sterling: Rick Winther

The fire management position for the National Parks is vacant. Bobby
Miller is acting FMO until this position is filled.

Changed signatory for Fish & Wildlife Service : Timothy Craig

Changed the frequency of the Mount Jefferson Weather Radio: 162.500 MHz.

Under "Natural Resource Agency Responsibilities," removed the remarks
about the upcoming automation of the NFDRS observations, referencing the
change from R to O within WIMS. Deadline for implementation was not met,
and not sure when this change will occur.

Under "Incident Support," changed volume and shipping weights for the
AMRS equipment used by the IMET.