WMOD00424 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 2.0 OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT 2. 1 Seeding Decisions Planning for an operational day began with a weather review in several areas; first a look at past weather conditions, second - real time surface and radar observations at the Georgetown headquarters and a collection of data from the National Weather Service (NWS) at Wilmington, for the regional and local areas. Se lected weather data was obtained from the l'irws each morning at approximately 1020-1030 EDT. Among the more important information was the upper air sounding from Dulles International Airport (DIA) and the written summary of potential severe weather. A variety of synoptic information was recorded by the radar meteorologist. The data was made a part of the daily pilot briefing and was also archived for post-season analysis,. A select series of facsimile weather charts were collected weekly from the Salisbury Flight Serviee Station (FSS). Synoptic data provided the basis from which the radar meteorologist made a daily forecast. On the basis of the morning forecast the Project Director made the decision as to whether or not seeding operations were probable. At approximately 1100 EDT the Director declared a "GO", "ND.-GO", or "STANDBY" day. During periods of changing weather the decision would be amended as nec- essary. At about the same time, the forecast and a summary of the previous day's operation were phoned to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Chairman of the Steering Committee. Figure 3 shows the forecast center in the radar van. During periods of extremely bad weather, the radar meteorologist and NWS personnel often exchanged informatioI1l, usually as it applied to areas of strong winds and heavy precipitation. 7 ", '.