DWFE Experiment wrap-up

The DTC Winter Forecast Experiment was conducted from January 15 to March 31, 2005. The summary of its motiviation and experiment design are here (and at the links, left) for archival purposes. The forecast images can be viewed on the JOSS archival catalogue site.

Motivation

The DTC Winter Forecast Experiment (DWFE) was motivated by the needs of the National Weather Service (NWS) for improved model guidance to support their winter weather forecast and warning mission. The DWFE experiment uses high-resolution (5 km) NWP models with improved physics, in an effort to offer a solution. DWFE will run from December 2004 through March 2005. This experiment follows successful research conducted during BAMEX (website) in the summer of 2003, which involved extensive interactions with operational forecasters. Feedback from the forecasters indicated considerable value in the high resolution information.

Visit the DTC Real-time Forecast page to view and compare some of the results of this experiment, and to provide feedback.

Forecaster Testimonials from the summer experiment

...this model has given the WFO forecast staff excitement for the future... without question, it has been the explicit convection that has made this model so useful...

...I would put continuing the 4 km BAMEX runs for the central region through the convective season at or near the top of my funding priorities...

...I, like other forecasters at our office, really like the 4 km BAMEX model run and don't want it to go away. The reflectivity forecasts were really very helpful, and almost uncanny...