Summer 2023 Schedule

Semester runs: May 17 - August 3

Visit 1 (Orientation): Intro to program, NWS organization, who we serve

Student homework: (homework is always due before next week’s meeting, with the exception of this week):

Complete the “Welcome to the National Weather Service” LMS training (45 minutes)

Visit 2: Public service duties

• Entry Level Met Duties:

  • Data collection/QC

  • Climate

  • Hydro/Rivers

  • Media/public calls

  • Social Media

  • What to expect in first year of met position

  • Duties during active/severe weather

  • Brief Overview of AWIPS functions/tools 

Student homework (due before Week 3 visit): Review a winter case study of your choice from https://www.weather.gov/rah/events (no formal module to be completed)

Visit 3: AWIPS Familiarization 

Student homework: Complete your favorite 3 “SatFC-G” Satellite modules in the LMS (full list of modules available at http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/training/visit/training_sessions/satfc-g.asp) (10-45 minutes per module)

Visit 4: Observing systems, including local observations, upper air, satellite, and radar

Student homework: Review Forecast Process - A General Approach to Weather Forecasting (9 page PDF)

Visit 5: Forecast process/forecast funnel discussion - what goes into an NWS forecast

• Meteorological Watch

  • Situational Awareness

  • Satellite

  • Upper-air observations

  • Surface observations

• Diagnose Cause and Effect

  • Diagnose causes of forecast departures

• Determine Plausible Outcomes

  • Ensembles

    • dProg/dt

    • Probability charts

    • Plumes

    • Spaghetti Diagrams

  • Consistency 

  • Deterministic global/regional guidance

• Update Forecast

Student homework: This will depend on what you’re doing each of the next 4 weeks!  Do the homework assignment based on what your next session will be.

• Near term: Complete “Effective Use of High-Resolution Models” LMS training (2 hours)

• Long term: Complete “Understanding the Role of Deterministic versus Probabilistic NWP Information” LMS training (45 minutes)

• Aviation: Complete “Air Traffic Basics” and "Module 2 Digital Aviation Service GFE Grids" (1 hour) LMS training

• Fire weather: Complete “The Structure of the NWS Fire Weather Program” LMS training (90 minutes)

Visits 6-9: Job shadowing

In this four week period, students will participate in a forecast round-robin.  Based on availability, one week will be spent working on the near-term forecast, one week will be spent working on the long-term forecast, one week will be spent working on the aviation forecast, and one week will be spent on the fire weather forecast.

Visit 10: Winter weather program overview

Discussion on the forecast process, synoptic patterns for snow/ice, past significant events for central NC. 

Visits 11-12: Career discussions with Senior Service Hydrologist, Meteorologist in Charge, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, and Science and Operations Officer

Student homework: Complete "Effective Weather Messaging for NWS Employees" LMS training (40 minutes) and at least 10 of the short "Public Speaking" training videos (20-45 minutes). Complete these prior to the meeting with the Warning Coordination Meteorologist and Science and Operations Officer. 

Visit 13: Weather Event Simulation

Visit 14: NWS Application process and resume building