Probabilistic Hazard Information Experiment at NOAA's Hazardous Weather Testbed

news image
Special Stories
16 Mar 2018 10:10 AM
From NOAA The NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed is once again busy buzzing with activity as researchers kick off the year’s first research activities. Located in the National Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma, the testbed is operated by the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory and the NOAA National Weather Service. Starting this week, participants will assess a new tool using rapid-updating, high-resolution Probabilistic Hazard Information, known as PHI. From March 12-16,  April 2-6 and April 9-13 the Hazard Services – Probabilistic Hazard Information Experiment is testing an experimental concept for delivering information to the public in a way that simulates how National Weather Service forecasters would use it within their software. [The NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed during the Hazard Services – Probabilistic Hazard Information Experiment in 2017. (Photo by James Murnan/ NOAA NSSL)] “PHI will bring the public more specific weather information, but most importantly it will deliver severe weather information hours, rather than minutes before severe weather could become a threat,” said Alyssa Bates, University of Oklahoma cooperative institute and NWS Warning Decision Training Division researcher. “That will allow ample time for businesses, outdoor venues, and healthcare facilities to execute their severe weather preparedness plan.” This experiment is one of many under the umbrella of  NSSL’s FACETs, Forecasting a Continuum of Environmental Threats project. FACETs is an initiative aimed at improving the communication of hail, wind, and tornado hazards to save lives and property.  Instead of a creating a warning area, in the FACETs paradigm forecasters would create probabilistic hazard information “plumes.” New types of severe weather warnings can be derived from the plumes. These include the traditional warnings the public receives today, to special warnings for specific users that have a lower tolerance to severe weather and require longer lead times to take action. Participants for the week include NWS forecasters from Albany, New York, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, as well as researchers from NOAA’s  Earth System Research Laboratory and the University of Akron. HS-PHI was developed by the National Severe Storms Laboratory with the National Weather Service and ESRL, and is in its second year of evaluation. PHI is one of six different experiments taking place in the NOAA HWT this spring. Edited for WeatherNation by Meteorologist Mace Michaels
All Weather News
More
ATLANTIC: Tropical Depression Seven Forms

ATLANTIC: Tropical Depression Seven Forms

We are now a week after the climatological pe

17 Sep 2025 9:00 AM
Storms Picking on the High Plains

Storms Picking on the High Plains

CENTRAL U.S - A trough pushing in from the we

17 Sep 2025 2:20 AM
Coastal Low Spins Trouble Onshore

Coastal Low Spins Trouble Onshore

We've got a low-pressure system out over the

17 Sep 2025 2:15 AM
Florida Rainfall: Nuisance or Beneficial?

Florida Rainfall: Nuisance or Beneficial?

The dry time has been a little hard to enjoy

17 Sep 2025 2:10 AM
Eastern Pacific: Mario Weakens, Sends Moisture to California

Eastern Pacific: Mario Weakens, Sends Moisture to California

While the Atlantic has been relatively quiet

16 Sep 2025 6:10 PM
Northern Lights Close Out the Weekend For Many

Northern Lights Close Out the Weekend For Many

Did you see them? Many might have had better

15 Sep 2025 10:30 PM
Fall Color Starting to Show In Parts of the Lower 48

Fall Color Starting to Show In Parts of the Lower 48

Grab the pumpkin spice and apple cider donuts

15 Sep 2025 1:10 AM