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Meteorological Training and Professional Development Links

Severe Weather and Lightning   Satellite   Numerical Weather Prediction  
Aviation   Hydrology & Flooding   Tropical Weather   WSR-88D & Radar Applications   Winter Weather   Precipitation Forecasting & QPF   Operational Decision Trees   Technical Writing & Giving Presentations   Web Page Development   Meteorological Training Organizations and NWS Training Sites   Interactive Forecast Preparation System (IFPS)   Miscellaneous

Severe Weather and Lightning

MesoAnalyst Severe Weather Guide

• gives guidelines for evaluating near-storm environmental conditions that might favor severe weather
• from Pete Wolf, NWS Wichita, KS

Structure and Dynamics of Supercell Thunderstorms

• from the NWS Louisville, KY, homepage

Techniques for Issuing Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings

• from NWS Southern Region

Cooperative Institute for Precipitation Systems  

• from Saint Louis University

Pulse Storm Downburst Prediction Workshop Coursework

• from the Warning Decision Training Branch of the Nexrad Operations Center

Forecasting Convective Weather

• gives the basics on forecasting convection and predicting regional severe weather threat
• from the NWS Training Center

Pattern Recognition in Severe Convective Forecasting

• a good overview of some synoptic-scale severe weather patterns
• from the National Weather Service Training Center

Warning Decision Making: Workshops One through Four

Dry Microburst Detection and Prediction

• from COMET and the WSR-88D Operational Support Facility

Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs): Squall Lines and Bow Echoes

• a detailed web-based module from COMET

Predicting Supercell Motion Using Hodograph Techniques

• a "webcast" module from COMET

Storm Type and Prognostic Soundings

• case studies are used to demonstrate the assessment of buoyancy and shear changes
• from COMET

NSSL Homepage

• National Severe Storms Laboratory
• contains an interactive story about the VORTEX project
• also has a homepage about CSI (conditional symmetric instability)

Tornado Warning Guidance

• from the National Severe Storms Laboratory, and the 88D Operational Support Facility

Mesocyclone Characteristics of Mini Supercells

• from the WSR-88D Operational Support Facility

Lightning Meteorology I and Lightning Meteorology II

• from VISIT

Lightning Information Page

• includes lightning climatology, applications, and detection details; from the NWSTC

Lightning Primer

• from NASA

Satellite

Experimental Satellite-Derived Tropical Rainfall Potential  

• from NOAA/NESDIS/Satellite Services Division

Polar Satellite Products for the Operational Forecaster: Case Studies

• from the Meted site

Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS)

• from the University of Wisconsin, Madison
• information on GOES-8 sounder can be found here
• includes case study of the Oakfield, WI, tornado, here
• click here for GOES-8 and -9 case studies

Picture-of-the-Day discussions (from CIRA)

• interesting satellite interpretation discussions

Archive of Picture-of-the-Day discussions (from CIRA)

• contains an abundance of satellite interpretation examples from a variety of case studies

GOES Imager Tutorial

• also from CIRA

Virtual Institute for Satellite Integration Training (VISIT)

• homepage for the joint satellite training program involving several organizations, including CIRA, CIMMS, NESDIS, and the NWS

Polar Satellite Products for the Operational Forecaster, Module 1: POES Introduction and Background

Remote Sensing Using the GOES Sounder: Example Minicases

• above 3: from the Meted site

Satellite Meteorology Online Guide

• from the WW2010 Project at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• includes interpretation of GOES and POES imagery

Numerical Weather Prediction

Using AWIPS to Evaluate Model Initializations

• a presentation from the VISIT training group

Web-Based Numerical Weather Prediction Training

• from COMET

NCEP/HPC's Model Diagnostics and Biases Page

• from the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center of the NWS

Model Fundamentals

• from Meted site

Impact of Model Structure & Dynamics

• from Meted site

Characteristics of Operational NWP Models

• from Meted site

Aviation

Thunderstorms and Flying: An Internet Course

• an excellent online course, from the NWA Aviation Committee

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) Training

• from the NWS Training Center

Forecasting Radiational Fog

Forecasting Aviation Icing: Icing Type and Severity

Forecasting Aviation Icing: Assessment Using Soundings and Wind Profiles

Forecasting Aviation Icing: Assessment Using Observations and Pilot Reports

• above 4: from the Meted site

Aviation Weather Center website

• located in Kansas City, MO

Hydrology & Flooding

Basic Hydrologic Concepts

• from the NWS Training Center

Basic Hydrologic Sciences Distance Learning Course

• web-based module which teaches how to evaluate a potential headwater flooding situations; from the COMET site

A Social Science Perspective on Flood Events

• a webcast from the Meted site

Urban Flooding: It Can Happen in a Flash!

• from the Meted site

Tropical

NOAA El Nino Page

• includes definitions, and basic info about El Nino and La Nina

Hurricanes: An Online Meteorology Guide

• includes basics on tropical cyclone development; from the University of Illinois

Summary of Tropical Cyclone Guidance Models

• discussion of the track and intensity guidance models, from NHC

WSR-88D & Radar Applications

Radar Rules of Thumb

• succinct guidelines for radar interpretation, compiled from experienced WSR-88D operators from the USN, USAF, & NWS
• from the Annual Hampton Roads (VA) Radar Conference

Introduction to the WSR-88D Doppler Weather Radar

• basic intro to the radar, from the Nexrad Support Facility

Radar Meteorology Basics

• online training module on radar basics, Doppler radar interpretation, and radar applications, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

WSR-88D Clutter Suppression and Its Impact On Meteorological Data Interpretation

• in PDF format; from the Nexrad Support Facility
• see also: Intro to Clutter Suppression (also in PDF format)

Winter Weather

Cold Air Damming

• a COMET module detailing the various damming types, their characteristics, and their driving mechanisms

An Ingredients-Based Approach to Forecasting Winter Weather

• a training module based on a November '99 winter weather workshop at Green Bay, WI
• addresses various parameters affecting winter precipitation, diagnostic tools, and forecast techniques
• from Suzanne Wetzel at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in cooperation with the National Weather Service and COMET

Winter Weather Forecasting

Snow Forecasting

• above 2: from Wes Junker of the HPC

Using BUFKIT Program to Predict Lake Effect Snow

• from the National Weather Service, Buffalo, NY

Using the "Magic Chart" in a Southeastern U.S. Snowstorm

• from the National Weather Service, Birmingham, AL

Forecasting Lake Effect Snow

• a National Weather Service Central Region Technical Attachment, from the NWS Detroit, MI

Precipitation Forecasting & QPF

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasting Overview

• excellent site from COMET containing webcasts and PowerPoint materials relating to QPF

Assessing Moisture for Summertime MCC Development for Maddox et al. Type Heavy Rainfall Events

• a web-based presentation, from HPC

The Use and Misuse of CSI

• a "webcast" module from COMET

Operational Decision Trees

Operational Decision Trees on:

   --wet microbursts
   --sea fog
   --cyclogenesis over the Gulf of Mexico
   --flash flooding
   --precipitation estimation

    (...courtesy of NWS New Orleans, LA)

Technical Writing & Giving Presentations

Tips for Scientific Writing

• broad, succinct tips for writers; from NWS Southern Region

Tips for Effective Oral and Poster Presentations

• a great site for presenters, courtesy of Dr. Tutis Vilis, Univ. of Western Ontario

NWA member Alan Sealls offers Presentation Tips at http://weatherthings.com/presenter.html and "Bad Weather Words"to avoid at http://weatherthings.com/wxcasters.html.

AMS Suggestions for Preparation of Slides or Transparencies

Poster Presentations

• courtesy of Irv Watson, NWS Tallahassee, FL

Web Page Development

Web Page Design Tips

• tips for web page design, with links to HTML instruction and reference sites
• from COMET

HTML Goodies: Tutorials and More

• great site for HTML instruction, from the basics on up; from Joe Burns, Ph.D.

HTML Tutorial

• another HTML instruction site

Meteorological Training Organizations and NWS Training Sites

NWSTC/OSF/COMET Joint Training Site (METED)

• from the National Weather Service Training Center, the WSR-88D Operational Support Facility, and the Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education and Training
• includes several interesting case studies, from all parts of the country, with new ones being added every few weeks
• contains interactive online tutorials on topics including MCSs, Storm Type and Forecast Soundings, Hydrology for Meteorologists, and Aviation Icing
  

UCAR Homepage

• University Cooperative for Atmospheric Research
• click here to go directly to the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)

NWSTC Homepage

• National Weather Service Training Center, Kansas City
• see their list of web-based training

COMET Home Page

• COMET: Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education and Training
• contains computer-based learning modules on a number of topics
• includes course schedule
• info about NWS/University collaborative activities; Partners Projects; fellowships

Warning Decision Training Branch

• view the Open RPG Training for the WSR-88D
• view the SCAN training
• check out the support pages for the Warning Decision Workshops, One through Four
• papers on WSR-88D Clutter Suppression, Precip Algorithm Products, and Tornado Warning Guidance
• a few case studies
• 88D Principal User Processor (PUP) job sheets

Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA)

• includes satellite archive, and a study of the 1997 and 1999 Fort Collins, CO flash floods, here
• also contains the RAMM-CIRA Training Activities page, here

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

• access the WMO E-learning, which contains computer-based learning modules & a variety of training materials

Hydrometeorological Prediction Center (HPC) Research Page

• from NCEP (National Centers for Environmental Prediction)
• contains QFP information and training
• also contains training on ensemble prediction systems

National Weather Service, Office of Meteorology

• Overview of the NWS training program

NWS Southern Region SSD

• Scientific Services Division, SR: page for training and professional development

NWS Western Region Training Page

• tools and techniques plus case studies
• NWS intern training checklist (developed by NWSFO Salt Lake City)
• training on QG Theory, satellite training for hydromet techs, isentropic potential vorticity
• WR Tech Attachments, Tech Attachment Lites, Tech Memoranda, and Local Office Training

NWS Central Region Library

• CR Tech Attachments, applied research papers, operational notes, tech memos, guidelines for papers

FMH1 Meteorological Handbook

• National Weather Service book of rules and regulations regarding surface observations

SOO (Science and Operations Officer) Training Resource Center's Catalogue

• a compilation of training materials, both hard copy and web-based, created largely by NWS field offices for their onsite training programs

Interactive Forecast Preparation System (IFPS)

(This is a system used by the National Weather Service to prepare gridded and text forecasts.)

IFPS Training from NWS Southern Region

• contains training team information and IFPS methodology workshop details
  

IFPS Training from NWS Eastern Region (internal)

• a variety of information and training sources, for internal use only

IFPS Training from the NWS Training Center

• provides details on courses

The IFPS Vision

• from VISIT

Miscellaneous

Atlantic Surface Cyclone Intensification Index (ASCII)

• provides training on the detection of "bombing" lows off the East Coast

Rip Currents

• describes rip currents and details a program for forecast rip current threat; from NWS Wilmington, NC

COMET Web-based Case Study Library

• Twenty archived cases studies of snow, tropical, flood, and severe weather events, including Hurricane Floyd, the Salt Lake City tornado, and the January 2000 East Coast snowstorm; radar, satellite, model data & observed data available

NWS Fire Weather Program

• contains descriptions of fire weather products from the NWS

National Drought Mitigation Center

• describes the various types of drought; from the National Drought Mitigation Center

Weather Glossary

• from The Weather Channel

GEMPAK Tutorial (from UCAR)

Overview of the Interactive Forecast Preparation System (IFPS)

• overview of the NWS's system for preparing forecasts