**COMMITTEE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, OPERATIONS, AND RESEARCH NEEDS
(CESORN)**

**[JOINT ACTION GROUP FOR SEVERE LOCAL STORM OPERATIONS
(JAG/SLSO)]{.underline}**

[JAG/SLSO MEMORANDUM 2008-01]{.underline} January 16, 2008

MEMORANDUM FOR: JAG/SLSO Members

FROM: Mark P. Weadon

Executive Secretary

SUBJECT: Draft Record of Actions for JAG/SLSO Meeting 2007-02

I have prepared for your review the attached draft Record of Actions for
the JAG/SLSO Meeting 2008-01 held on 16 January 2008 in Silver Spring,
MD. If you have any changes or additions, please call or send them to me
as soon as possible. My telephone number is (301) 427-2056, ext 18. My
email address is <mark.weadon@noaa.gov>.

Attachment

JAG/SLSO MEMBERS

DOC - John Ferree (NWS), Chair

Chris Maier (NWS)

Ron Olson (NWS/AWC)

Greg Carbin (NWS/SPC)

George Serafino (NOAA/NESDIS)

DOT - Victor Passetti (FAA)

DOD - Kurt Nelson (USN)

Craig Kirwin (USAF)

DOE - Rick Petty

DOI - TBA

DHS - Dan Catlett (FEMA)

Jonathan Berkson (USCG)

OFCM - Mark Weadon (STC), Executive Secretary

cc:

JAG/SLSO Mailing List

OFCM Staff

**COMMITTEE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, OPERATIONS, AND RESEARCH NEEDS
(CESORN)**

**[JOINT ACTION GROUP FOR SEVERE LOCAL STORM OPERATIONS
(JAG/SLSO)]{.underline}**

**[Record of Actions, Meeting 2008-01]{.underline}**

**[16 January 2008]{.underline}**

**[Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology, Silver Spring,
MD]{.underline}**

**[MEMBERS PRESENT]{.underline}**

DOC - John Ferree, NWS Chair (dial-in)

Greg Carbin (NWS/SPC) (dial-in)

DOD - Mr. Kurt Nelson (USN)

FAA - Vic Passetti (dial-in)

OFCM - Mark Weadon, Executive Secretary

**1. OPENING REMARKS**

Exec Sec asked that any additional reference documents pertinent to
severe weather be forwarded to him to place on JAG website. It is
important to base the NSLSOP on current directives and the JAG website
(<http://www.ofcm.gov/jag-slso/references.htm>) will provide a handy
repository of all relevant source material.

**2. DISCUSSION TOPICS**

[Review of Action Items (AIs).]{.underline}

Initial responses to the NSLSOP have been received from all agency
representatives; **AI 20071.3** recommended for closure.

John Ferree forwarded the 2005 NWS Central Region study on effect of 1"
hail warnings to all JAG members; **AI 2007-2.4** recommended for
closure. JAG members are encouraged to informally coordinate the
proposed change hailsize threshold within their respective agencies, and
provide inputs to John Ferree and the Exec Sec by mid March.

The Executive Secretary reorganized section headings of Chapter 1 of the
NSLSOP to account for standup of the Department of Homeland Security.
**AI 2007-2.5** recommended for closure.

Several AIs remained open and had to be resuspensed:

A recommendation for John Ferree and Ron Olson to reorganize sections of
NSLSOP to more clearly distinguish between severe weather products for
aviation and for the general public (**AI 2007-2.1)** remains
unaccomplished. AI will be resuspensed for 15 Feb.

Exec Sec still awaiting AF representative's (Craig Kirwin) review of
NSLSOP section 5.7.3 to ensure currency of information on DMSP. **AI
2007-2.2** will be resuspensed for 1 Feb.

Exec Sec still awaiting examples of various severe weather products from
the OPRs: NCWF, CCFP, Convective SIGMET, CWA, WCN, and Graphic Weather
Products.Rationale behind this AI is that any product described in the
body of Chapter 3 needs a corresponding example. **AI 2007-2.3** will be
resuspensed for 15 Feb.

[NSLSOP Review]{.underline}

Discussion ensued about place of Flash Floods in the NSLSOP. The
argument against inclusion is that Severe Local Storms are defined by
criteria other than precipitation amount or rainfall rate (i.e.
occurrence of large hail, high winds, or tornadoes). However, the
consensus of the JAG was that, since flash flooding is almost
exclusively the result of intense convective storms, a definition of
Flash Flooding would be appropriate in Chapter 2 of the NSLSOP. John
Ferree also recommended that the definitions in Chapter 2 be rearranged
for a more logical flow. This proposed change to the Plan is captured in
**AI 2008-1.1.**

Under Responsibilities of Cooperating Agencies (Chapter 1 of the NSLSOP)
some question was raised about responsibility for PIREPS being assigned
to NWS (sec 1.3.1) vice FAA, as is implied in section 5.5.2. Vic
Passetti will review the relevant sections of the NSLSOP and propose a
revision that eliminates apparent contradictions (**AI 2008-1.2)**.

The JAG agreed to replace the General Categories of Types of NWS
Messages (Section 2.11 of the NSLSOP), with approved descriptions
outlooks/advisories/watches/warnings drawn from the AMS Information
Statement on *Weather Analysis and Forecasting* (2007). Exec Sec will
insert the AMS definitions in NSLSOP draft on website.

Extensive discussion ensured on how to improve military/civilian
collaboration for severe weather products. John Ferree pointed out that
SPC-WFO metcons, mandated prior to issuance of severe weather watches,
are prompted by a Watch County List issued by the SPC to affected WFOs,
announcing a conference call within the next 15 minutes. If this
message, sent internally via AWIPS, could be distributed through
military channels, it would be comparatively easy to have military
forecast centers participate in severe weather metcons. This recently
mandated coordination between SPC and affected WFOs has worked fairly
well in NWS. Greg Carbin will investigate possible methods by which
affected military forecast centers could be included in this
collaboration, and how the Watch County List could be shared in military
channels (**AI 2008-1.3)** The Exec Sec will craft an proposed agenda
item for the annual NORTHCOM METOC Conference (19-21 Feb) on the subject
of closer military/civil collaboration on CONUS severe weather
forecasting. (**AI 2008-1.4)**

A Severe Weather Functional Relationship diagram (draft attached) was
discussed as possible replacement for the Communications wiring diagram
in Chapter 4 (see Figu**re 4-4).** Alternatively, it could serve as a
graphical representation of Severe Weather Operations and Procedures in
Chapter 3. The group agreed that a single operational view showing
enduring relationships between main entities of the Nation's Severe
Weather Enterprise would have value, while avoiding the pitfalls of
extreme specificity afflicting Figure 4-4. JAG members were encouraged
to review the draft diagram, and come prepared to discuss at next JAG
meeting.

Several deficiencies in Chapter 5 on Observations were identified in
subsequent discussion. First, Chapter 5 makes no mention of the National
Profiler Network as an important contributor to severe weather
observation capability in the central U.S. John Ferree will provide a
draft section 5.1.3 on the NPN (**AI 2008-1.5)** Secondly, the group
agreed the NSLSOP section on Requests for Special \[upper air\]
Observations (5.2.4; Table 5-1), needed a carefully review to ensure
procedures laid out in this section to request special PIBAL/RAWINSONDE
balloon launches are in fact still valid. (**AI 2008-1.6).** Figure 5-1
listing FAA's Aviation Service Levels was deemed to be out of date and
will be reviewed by the FAA rep for currency (**AI 2008-1.7).** Section
5.6, Severe Local Storm Reports by Nonmeteorological Agencies and
Individuals prompted considerable discussion of its currency. The NWS
and DHS reps to the JAG are encouraged to review this section carefully
for its accuracy in describing the citizen spotter program,

The JAG agreed that much of the reference material in the NSLSOP
appendices is extraneous and that a better method would be to direct
readers to websites for this information. Specifically, lists for NOAA
Weather Radio Sites (Appendix D), State Contacts for NAWAS Network
(appendix E), and NOAA Marine Observational Network (Appendix F) should
be eliminated. Readers of the Plan are better served by referring to
websites where the information is updated on a much more frequent basis
than the NSLSOP can be updated. Exec Sec will update draft NSLOP to
reflect this decision.

Discussion ensued as to whether Appendix B, listing Military Bases and
their Corresponding Weather Forecast Offices, needs to be eliminated or
revised for completeness. An argument against elimination is that such a
list could indeed be useful in promoting military/civilian cooperation,
and that this information is not available on any known web site.
Accordingly, the Exec Sec will recast the list to show the geographical
alignment of all CONUS military installations (Navy and AF) with their
respective WFOs. **(AI 2008-1.8)**

The Executive Secretary will incorporate comments received during the
JAG meeting and subsequent inputs and post a latest dated copy of the
draft NSLSOP plan on the JAG website in order to maintain configuration
control throughout the revision process. Draft will also include
comments and open questions on various sections awaiting resolution by
the JAG.

**3. ASSIGNMENT OF ACTION ITEMS**

Action items were assigned, and status will be reported at next JAG/SLSO
meeting.

**4. DATE FOR NEXT MEETING**

March 13, 2008, at OFCM.

**Old Action Items**

ACTION ITEM 2007-1.1: Submit revised JAG Terms of Reference to CESORN
for approval.

OPR: executive secretary

Suspense: 5 Nov 2007

Status: **Closed**

ACTION ITEM 2007-1.2: Request clarification from CESORN on whether
flooding or severe winter weather should be included in the NSLSOP
revision.

OPR: executive secretary

Suspense: 5 Nov 2007

Status: **Closed**

ACTION ITEM 2007-1.3: Draft updates for sections of the NSLSOP.

OPR: JAG Members (as assigned).

Re-suspensed: 15 Jan 2008

Status: **Closed.**

ACTION ITEM 2007-2.1: Revise organization of NSLSOP to separate Severe
Weather Warnings/Advisories from Warnings/Advisories for Aviation

OPR: John Ferree/Ron Olson

Re-suspense: 29 Feb 2008

ACTION ITEM 2007-2.2: AF rep review NSLSOP write-up on DMSP (Section
5.7.3) for currency.

OPR: Craig Kirwin

Re-suspense 1 Feb 2008

ACTION ITEM 2007-2.3: Forward examples of various severe convective
weather products to Executive Secretary for inclusion in the draft
NSLSOP. These include examples of the NCWF, CCFP, Convective SIGMET, and
Center Weather Advisory (Ron Olson); Watch County Notification and
Graphic Watch Product (Greg Carbin); Airport Weather Forecast (John
Ferree).

OPR: Greg Carbin/John Ferree/Ron Olson

Re-suspense: 29 Feb 2009

ACTION ITEM 2007-2.4: Forward 2005 NWS Central Region Study on effect of
1" hail notifications in Kansas to JAG members as aid in gathering
informal agency inputs on impact of changed hailsize thresholds.

OPR: John Ferree

Suspense 15 January 2008

Status: **Closed**

ACTION ITEM 2007-2.5: Revise organization of chapter on agency
responsibilities in NSLSOP to account for standup of Department of
Homeland Security in 2002.

OPR: Executive Secretary

Suspense 15 January 2008

Status: **Closed**

**New Action Items**

ACTION ITEM 2008-1.1: Add flash flood definition to Chapt 2, and
rearrange other definitions in Chapter 2 for logical flow.

OPR: John Ferree

Suspense 1 Feb 2008

ACTION ITEM 2008-1.2: FAA rep to review NSLSOP sections on PIREP
collection and dissemination responsibilities to ensure accuracy,
consistency.

OPR: Vic Passetti

Suspense: 15 Feb 2008

ACTION ITEM 2008-1.3: Propose methods for distributing Watch County List
to military forecast centers to allow participation in Severe Weather
Watch metcons between SPC and WFOs.

OPR: Greg Carbin

Suspense: 15 Feb 2008

ACTION ITEM 2008-1.4: Prepare agenda item for NORTHCOM METOC conference
(19-22 Feb) concerning military-civilian collaboration on severe weather
watches/warnings/outlooks

OPR: Executive Secretary

Suspense: 25 Jan 2008

ACTION ITEM 2008-1.5: Update Figure 5.1 in NSLSOP showing various FAA
Aviation Service Levels.

OPR: Vic Passetti

Suspense: 15 Feb 2008

ACTION ITEM 2008-1.6

Recast Appendix B list to show the geographical alignment of all CONUS
military installations (Navy and AF) with their respective WFOs.

OPR: Executive Secretary OCRS: John Ferree, Craig Kirwin, Kurt Nelson

Suspense: 1 Mar 2008