Thunderstorm Decision Support

NSSL continues to work on an automated Multi-radar multi-sensor (MRMS)

system that quickly integrates data streams from multiple radars, surface and
upper air observations, lightning detection systems, and satellite and forecast
models. The MRMS system was developed to produce severe weather and
precipitation products for improved decision-making capability within NOAA.

The Four-dimensional Stormcell Investigator (FSI) developed by NSSL and

CIMMS (now CIWRO) is now operational in the NWS. FSI allows users to
“slice and dice” storms to look at cross sections of radar images. Forecasters
have found the tool to be very useful in the warning decision-making process.

NSSL's On-Demand web-based tool helps confirm when and where severe
weather occurred by mapping circulations or hail detected by radar on Google
Earth satellite images. NWS forecasters can quickly review warnings and
check their accuracy with this system. Emergency responders and damage
surveyors have also used On-Demand to produce high-resolution street maps
of affected areas, so they can more effectively begin rescue and recovery
efforts and damage assessments.

NSSL and the National Weather Service collaborate to streamline research

into operations. NSSL has developed severe weather warning applications
and decision support systems that will make the forecasters job easier. The
result will be improved NWS warning services for the public, increased
detection accuracy, and longer lead times.

NSSL's Probabilistic Hazard Information (PHI) experiment is assessing the

concept of rapidly updating high resolution hazard products that could be
customized to meet the needs of specific users. The products would be
designed to address their individual response times and exposure to the
hazard, versus the current one-size-fits-all approach to severe weather
warnings.