WESTERN REGION TECHNICAL ATTACHMENT
NO. 97-14
APRIL 22, 1997
INTEGRATING THE SPOTTER PROGRAM INTO
THE MODERNIZED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
Mark H. Strobin, John Livingston, and Kenneth Holmes
NWSO Spokane, Washington
Abstract
The modernization of the National Weather Service (NWS) has provided forecasters with
a number of new observation tools including ASOS, NEXRAD, and GOES. However,
much of the available data are remotely sensed or automated, and the forecaster must
often extrapolate and infer the actual surface conditions. While the modernization has
provided significant benefits, ground truth reports are still an essential part of the forecast
and warning process. As such, the need for volunteer weather spotters has increased in
the modernized NWS and this need will continue well into the future.
In the past, spotters were mainly viewed as a resource that would call the NWS office
when they observed significant weather (e.g., large hail, tornadoes, heavy snow, etc.).
Such reports would be integrated into the warning and forecast process, manually logged
by NWS personnel and/or transmitted in a Local Storm Report (LSR). As the NWS
transitions to more remotely sensed and automated observations in place of manual
observations, the need for spotter reports of "non-severe" weather has increased. In order
to form the most complete picture of surface conditions across a given area, NWS
personnel must be proactive and initiate calls to spotters. New tools and techniques are
available that allow forecasters to do this in a more efficient manner.
The authors are developing a system for updating, improving, and maintaining a spotter
database, then integrating it into the modernized NWS. The key components are spotter
sources, spotter information, spotter database, map generating software, WSR-88D, and
automatic dialing software. These tools and techniques are presented here in an
integrated package.
Introduction
The weather spotter program is an integral part of the NWS forecast and warning process
which allows the forecaster to verify "severe" and "non-severe" weather events. The
program, in some respects, has not kept pace with the modernization of the NWS.
In the past, spotters were mainly viewed as a resource that would call the local NWS office
whenever significant weather was observed. As the NWS continues to modernize, and
more remotely sensed observations replace manually observed data, the need for spotter
reports of both "severe" and "non-severe" weather increases. In order to form the most
complete picture possible of surface conditions across an area, NWS personnel need to
initiate calls to spotters. Many times this will occur in non-severe weather situations (e.g.,
light snow, fog, winds) when spotters would not normally call into the office. Various tools
must be in place in order to allow forecasters to do this in an efficient manner.
There are several components to the spotter program that can be added or modified to
achieve this. The key components and necessary actions are as follows:
- Expand the information maintained on each spotter in the spotter binder;
- Set up and maintain a master database of all spotters and other contacts, accessible
to all users on the office local area network (LAN). This information is then used to
update and maintain the spotter binder, maps, and dialer;
- Create and maintain computer-based maps, a large wall map, and hard copy maps
for the spotter binder;
- Input and maintain spotter locations and identifications on an unused 124 nautical
mile 4X background map on the WSR-88D Principle User Processor (PUP); and
- Set up and maintain an automatic dialing program on operations area personal
computers that uses Windows-based point and click type software to initiate and log
calls to spotters. This software should be compatible with OS/2
Spotter Sources
Sources of volunteer spotters have come from various groups who have an interest in
weather and helping the NWS with its mission. The general public is an obvious source.
These people are often recruited by newspapers, booths at conferences/shows, and in a
variety of other methods.
Ham radio clubs are another good source of spotters. The lead member of a club can
activate a ham radio net among the members to report on significant weather.
Another source available in most areas are the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and the Coast Guard
Auxiliary (CGA). CGA squadrons are found not only along the ocean but also in most
inland lakes that have recreational boating. The advantage to these spotters is that they
often have meteorological training. Each state has numerous chapters of the CAP and
CGA, thus making it easier to recruit spotters in many areas.
In rural areas, Granges are another source of spotters. A Grange is a rural association
of farmers. Members of the Grange are usually knowledgeable in the sensible weather as
it directly affects their livelihood. Since the population density is very low in rural areas,
spotters recruited from Granges are a very valuable source of information.
Sources of untrained spotters are 24-hr truck stops, gas stations, and motels. These
resources are not trained due to high turnover and they are not expected to call the NWS
with reports. However, they can provide the forecaster with simple current weather
conditions. When called, these people have been very cooperative and have proved to
be a valuable source of weather information. Another plus is that they often hear weather
reports from motorists and truckers who are stopping for gas and supplies.
Spotter Information
Most NWS offices have a spotter binder which typically contains the necessary information
on each spotter, often grouped by county. In order to effectively use spotters, the following
information is recommended:
- Spotter ID, including county and number;
- First and last name of the primary contact;
- Primary contact's ham radio call sign (if applicable);
- First and last name of the secondary contact (if applicable);
- Secondary contact's ham radio call sign (if applicable);
- Primary phone number and location (home, work, etc.);
- Secondary phone number and location (home, work, etc.);
- Plain language description of location referenced to cities, major town, rivers and
creeks;
- Elevation;
- Special instructions (do not call times, work hours, etc.); and
- Meteorological equipment.
Figure 1 shows an example of a spotter
listing.
Spotter Database
The spotter database is part of a larger
outreach database that will be maintained
in support of all outreach activities. In
addition to spotters, it contains media
contacts, elected officials, emergency
manager contacts, sheriff's offices, federal
legislative contacts, cooperative
observers, and other miscellaneous contacts. This database will be used as the basis for
the spotter binder.
At NWSO Spokane, Quattro Pro is the database software that is currently being used, with
the primary export of data to WordPerfect. Data can also be exported to other software
packages. Each record has many fields which can be expanded based on the need to
sort and extract the entries. For example, when it was determined that some contacts
would receive the quarterly newsletter and others would not, then a field for newsletter
receipt is added, and a "Y" or "N" is entered for each record.
The master file is kept in a specified location on the office LAN as a "read only" file.
Anyone who wishes to use it, invokes the Quattro Pro software, reads the file, and
performs the desired operations. Because the file is "read only", it cannot be over-written
or corrupted. Updates and corrections are handled by the focal point, who has full rights
to read and write to the file.
Using the master database, various subsets can be extracted for various purposes, such
as:
- A mailing to all emergency managers to allow them access to the office HydroMet
computer. Mailing labels and personalized letters were generated;
- Creation of a comma delimited ASCII file for ingest into the Maptitude software for
generation of maps of spotters for each county; and
- Creation of a flat file for input into the dialing program.
Computer Based Maps
Both a large wall map and individual county maps are used to locate spotters. The large
wall map provides an overview, but lacks the detail for accurate location of spotters,
especially in urban areas where spotters are numerous and relatively close together.
Individual computer generated county maps will be located in the spotter binder.
Maptitude is the software used to generate these maps. Information from the master
outreach database is exported in a comma delimited ASCII file. Maptitude has the
capability to create maps of a county, city, and neighborhood. Maptitude will then plot the
spotters on each map. These maps are inserted into the spotter binder before the first
page of each county listing for quick reference.
Figures 2 and 3 show examples of maps created by the Maptitude software. Figure 2
shows a map of Bonner County, Idaho. Figure 3 shows a map of the Post Falls/Coeur
d'Alene area in Idaho.
Background Maps on the WSR-88D PUP
As previously mentioned, spotters can be used with remotely sensed data to form a more
complete picture of the surface weather. The combination of spotter reports and WSR-88D is an excellent example. To make this easy to do, spotter locations and ID's can be
put on a unused 124 nautical mile 4X background map on the WSR-88D PUP. Accurate
location of spotters on this map helps the forecaster rapidly find a spotter where significant
weather exists.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate this point. Figure 4 shows a composite reflectivity picture in
which a severe thunderstorm is located in Northeast Washington. The forecaster identifies
an area of interest, marks it, and clicks on "recenter mag 4x" on the graphic tablet. The
forecaster then clicks on "restrctd area" on the graphics tablet. The various spotters are
identified on this map (Fig. 5). The forecaster then clicks on "product off/on" on the
graphics tablet. The forecaster can then identify the spotter that is closest to the area of
interest. In this example, spotter "Stevens-1" is located in the most intense portion of the
thunderstorm cell. The forecaster can then call this spotter utilizing the automatic dialing
software described in the next section.
Automatic Dialing Program
Dialing and reaching spotters to get information in a time critical warning situation can
delay the issuance of important information. Reaching spotters to get critical information
such as hail diameter, snow amounts, visibilities, wind speeds, etc., can be very time
consuming. To help with this, an automatic dialing program run on a personal computer
is recommended.
The Severe Weather Dialer (SWD) (Hirsch, 1996) is a software package that will
automatically dial spotters. Information from the spotter database in the form of a text file
is inputted into the SWD. This software is currently being used at NWSO Quad Cities,
Iowa, and NWSO Corpus Christi, Texas. Using a point and click method, the SWD dials
the spotter and provides a note pad for the forecaster to log the reported information.
Conclusion
An important and sometimes overlooked tool in the forecasting and verification process
is the weather spotter program. The tools used in the weather spotter program in many
NWS offices have not kept pace with the modernization of the NWS.
The authors have developed the above framework for updating, improving, and
maintaining a spotter database, and integrating this resource into the operations of a NWS
office. Utilizing off the shelf technology in computer database development, map
generation, WSR-88D, and automatic dialing, the weather spotter program will become
more efficient. This would save valuable time during significant weather events and
enable the forecaster to issue needed warnings or advisories in a more timely manner.
Additionally, in the modernization of the NWS, spotters are needed not only for "severe"
weather but also for "non-severe" weather too. This framework will also improve the
efficiency of gathering information for "non-severe" weather events. The spotter binder
should still be used as a back-up in case of system failure.
Utilizing the framework being developed at NWSO Spokane, the spotter program will
become fully integrated into the modernized NWS.
Acknowledgment
The authors would to acknowledge the help of NWSO Spokane Science and Operations
Officer Ron Miller and others for their assistance in preparing and reviewing this Technical
Attachment.
References
Hirsch, B. and A. Patrick, 1996: Verification using the Severe Weather Dialer (SWD).
NWSO Quad Cities and NWSO Corpus Christi.