National Weather Service (2024)

The FY24 version of the WOC Severe Track will kick off in January 2024. If you want to sign up for the next available WOC Severe, please complete the WOC Severe Registration Form. Note: You should coordinate with your local training facilitators (e.g., SOO) before completing this form.

Weather.gov > Warning Decision Training Division > Chief Learning Officer Training Portal > Courses > WOC Severe

Brief Description: This section provides a brief introduction to WOC Severe.

Delivery Method: Web module

Approximate Completion Time: 10 minutes

Content:

• WOC Severe FY24 Orientation: Web Version | LMS Version

Brief Description: Explore the fundamentals of mesoanalysis, including introductions into both why and how to conduct mesoanalysis as a part of severe weather operations.

Delivery Methods: Web modules

Approximate Completion Time: 1.5 hours

Content:

• Introduction to Mesoanalysis: Web Version | LMS Version
• Hand Analysis in a Digital Age: Web Version | LMS Version
• How to Hand Analyze Maps: Web Version | LMS Version

Brief Description: Models, especially convection-allowing models (CAMs) change rapidly and are a fundamental component of severe weather forecasting in the 0-48-hour time periods. Stay apprised of the latest features and recommended uses of CAMs and other models to support severe weather forecasting.

Delivery Method: Web modules & videos

Approximate Completion Time: 1.5 hour

Content:

• Convection-Allowing Models: Fundamentals: Web Version | LMS Version
• Convection-Allowing Models: Model Details: Web Version | LMS Version
• Convection-Allowing Models: Using Updraft Helicity: Web Version | LMS Version
• Convection-Allowing Models: Applications: Web Version | LMS Version

Brief Description: The ability to diagnose and anticipate convection requires a deep knowledge of storm structures and characteristics, as well as the environments that support them.

Delivery Method: Web modules

Approximate Completion Time: 3.75 hours

Content:

• Storm Modes:
  • Lifting Mechanisms: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Understanding Storm Modes: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Applications of Storm Mode Concepts: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Hodographs Part 1: Fundamentals: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Hodographs Part 2: Bulk Shear: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Hodographs Part 3: Shape: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Hodographs Part 4: Storm Motion: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Hodographs Part 5: Storm-Relative Winds: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Hodographs: Horizontal Vorticity: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Hodographs: Streamwise Vorticity and SRH: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Hodographs: Supercell Dynamics (Part 1): Web Version | LMS Version
  • Hodographs: Supercell Dynamics (Part II): Web Version | LMS Version
  • Anticipating Deviant Tornado Motion: Web Version | LMS Version
• Tornadoes:
  • Tornado Warning Guidance Lesson 1: The Near Storm Environment: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Tornado Warning Guidance Lesson 2a: Pre-Tornadic Supercell Signatures: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Tornado Warning Guidance Lesson 2b: Pre-Tornadic QLCS Signatures: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Tornado Warning Guidance Lesson 3: Nowcasting Tornado Intensity: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Warning for Dual Hazard Events: Tornado and Flash Flood (TORFF): Web Version | LMS Version
  • Use of Spectrum Width in Tornado Warning Decision Making: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Climatology of Tropical Cyclone Tornadoes: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Environmental Characteristics of Tropical Cyclone Tornadoes: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Radar and Satellite Characteristics of Tropical Cyclone Tornadoes: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Warning Methodology for Tropical Cyclone Tornadoes: Web Version | LMS Version
• Hail:
  • Hail Forecasting: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Hail Formation, Growth, and Melting: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Hail: Radar Considerations: Web Version | LMS Version
• Severe Convective Winds:
  • Anticipating Severe Winds: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Introduction to Derechos: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Derecho Warning Strategies and Operations: Web Version | LMS Version

Brief Description:With so many observational platforms available – radar (including WSR-88D, terminal Doppler, and others), satellite, and other detection networks – the challenge of pulling together multiple sources rapidly in the process of forecasting severe convective weather and making warning decisions can seem daunting. These modules will address the many platforms of information that can aid severe weather forecasting and warning decision making, including how to combine multiple sources of data.

Delivery Method: Web modules

Approximate Completion Time: 4 hours

Content:

• Satellite:
  • Storm Signatures Observed in Satellite Imagery (from VISIT): Web Version | LMS Version
  • Integrating GOES into Mesoanalysis (from VISIT): Web Version | LMS Version
  • Above Anvil Cirrus Plumes (from VISIT): Web Version | LMS Version
• Lightning:
  • Anticipating First Lightning: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Meteorology of Total Lightning: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Ground-Based Lightning Products and Best Practices: Web Version | LMS Version
  • GLM Products and Best Practices: Web Version | LMS Version
• ProbSevere:
  • NOAA/CIMSS Probability of Severe (ProbSevere) Model Overview: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Probability of Severe (ProbSevere) Model v2 Applications: Web Version | LMS Version
• Practice and Applications from Multiple Data Sources:
  • Data Fusion in Short-Term Severe Local Storm Forecasts and Warnings: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Data Fusion in Severe Storms Forecasting: Case 2: Web Version | LMS Version

Brief Description: Creating and maintaining effective warnings is itself a skill set that requires practice and development. In this section, we will draw attention to more challenging warning scenarios and provide opportunities to practice using best practices to create warning polygons, select options within the warning interface, and create and update warnings efficiently.

Delivery Method: Web modules and WES-2 mini exercises

Approximate Completion Time: 2.5 hours

Content:

• Warning Methodology:
  • The I-SPIDA Warning Workflow: Web Version | LMS Version
  • 10 Steps to Issue a Warning or Statement: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Warning Considerations: Storm Mode and Motion: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Advanced Warning Methodology: Winds from Linear Storm Modes: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Warning Considerations: Complex Scenarios: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Warning Considerations: Non-Meteorological Factors: Web Version | LMS Version
  • Impact-Based Convective Warnings: Web Version | LMS Version
  • After the Warning Is Issued: Severe Weather Statements (SVS) and Corrections: Web Version | LMS Version
  • SPS for Near-Severe Storms: Web Version | LMS Version
• Impact-Based Warning Exercises:
  • Impact-Based Warning Exercise Instructions and Setup for the WES: Instructions
  • WES Impact-Based Warning Exercise FY24: Web Version | LMS Version

Brief Description: During and after severe weather events, NWS bears responsibility for gathering and disseminating reports, quality-controlling them, surveying damage, and sending the records to NCEI's Storm Data archive. Learn here about the flow of data from reports to archives, as well as responsible practices for using severe weather data and climatology.

Delivery Methods: Web modules

Approximate Completion Time: 0.25 hours

Content:

• Collecting and Disseminating Severe Weather Reports: Web Version | LMS Version

Brief Description: These modules focus on the interactions between NWS field offices and the Storm Prediction Center.

Delivery Methods: Web modules

Approximate Completion Time: 0.25 hours

Content:

• Introduction to Storm Prediction Center (SPC) Forecast Products: Web Version | LMS Version
• SPC Day 1 Convective Outlooks with High Temporal and Spatial Resolution: Web Version | LMS Version

Brief Description: This year, the required WOC Severe live instructor-led webinar will focus on using mesoanalysis during severe weather operations. The webinar will be offered 4 times; each student must attend at least one session, as well as complete the follow-up homework assignment.

Delivery Methods: Live instructor-led webinar and brief written homework

Approximate Completion Time: 1.25 hours

Content:

• Instructor-Led Training Session (register via the CLC)
• WOC Severe Instructor-Led Webinar Follow-Up Homework FY24: LMS Version

Brief Description: The Severe Weather Forecast Challenge provides an opportunity to practice evaluating mesoscale environments that may be conducive to severe weather and identifying most probable location and types of hazards, all in a game-like format. Participation in the forecast challenge is open to all NWS employees, but it is required for WOC Severe completion.

Each student in WOC Severe is required to attend one of 6 Forecast Challenge debrief ILT sessions. The first session is scheduled for April 23 and the last session is scheduled for May 30. It is important to note that these sessions cannot be recorded and there is no makeup available should a student miss attending one of these 6 sessions.

Delivery Method: Web interface and live instructor-led webinar

Approximate Completion Time: 3 hour

Content:

• Instructor-Led Training Session (register via the CLC and Shindig)

Supporting Links:

• WOC Severe Forecast Challenge Page

Brief Description: Students will apply WOC Severe learning objectives in a warning decision making simulation that focuses on mesoscale and storm-scale environmental assessment, data analysis, and warning creation, with options to add mesoanalysis and IDSS support.

Delivery Methods: Weather Event Simulator (WES) in the Cloud, with supporting simulation guide, briefing and debriefing modules, and CLC quizzes.

Approximate Completion Time: 2.5 hours

WES Simulation: FSD (released 2024 and required for WOC Severe in FY24)

• Student Guide: Student Guide for FSD
• WES Case Introduction: FSD July 2022: Web Version | LMS Version
• WES Case Summary: FSD July 2022: Web Version | LMS Version
• SOO/Training Officer Guide - contact the WOC Severe email address to request: nws.wdtd.wocsevere@noaa.gov