NOUS41 KWBC 161414
PNSWSH

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
1015 AM EDT THU JULY 16 2009

TO:       FAMILY OF SERVICES /FOS/ SUBSCRIBERS...NOAA WEATHER
          WIRE SERVICE /NWWS/ SUBSCRIBERS...EMERGENCY MANAGERS
          WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK /EMWIN/ 
          SUBSCRIBERS...OTHER NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE /NWS/ 
          USERS AND PARTNERS...AND NWS EMPLOYEES

FROM:     DAVID CALDWELL
          DIRECTOR...OFFICE OF CLIMATE WATER AND WEATHER
          SERVICES
          NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS

SUBJECT:  NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SUPPORT FOR STATE/LOCAL
          DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION

ON JUNE 30 2009...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE /NWS/ ISSUED AN 
INTERNAL MEMORANDUM PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND POLICY PRINCIPLES 
REGARDING NWS SUPPORT FOR STATE AND LOCAL DEPARTMENTS OF 
TRANSPORTATION /DOT/.  HAZARDOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS CAN OFTEN 
NEGATIVELY IMPACT SURFACE TRANSPORTATION.  NWS SUPPORT OF DOTS 
FOCUSES ON OUR EXPERTISE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE EVOLUTION AND 
TIMING OF HAZARDOUS WEATHER EVENTS.  WHILE NWS CAN PROVIDE 
SUPPORT TO OUR TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS AS THEY MITIGATE THE 
IMPACT OF WEATHER-RELATED HAZARDS...MORE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES 
ARE AVAILABLE FROM AMERICAS WEATHER INDUSTRY /PRIVATE SECTOR 
PROVIDERS OF WEATHER SERVICES/...SUCH AS FORECASTING 
SURFACE/PAVEMENT CONDITIONS TO SUPPORT WINTER ROAD MAINTENANCE 
DECISIONS.  THE NWS PARTNERSHIP WITH AMERICAS WEATHER INDUSTRY 
HELPS IMPROVE THE OVERALL LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT CAN BE PROVIDED 
TO THE PUBLIC. THE INTENT OF THE GUIDANCE IS TO CLARIFY THE ROLE 
OF NWS IN PROVIDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AS WELL AS ADDRESS THE 
ROLE OF PRIVATE SECTOR WEATHER PROVIDERS IN PROVIDING 
COMPLEMENTARY SERVICES.

THE PUBLIC WAS GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW AND COMMENT ON 
THESE POLICY PRINCIPLES AND...BASED ON THIS REVIEW...WE ARE 
CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE OPERATING IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR 
USERS.  WE DO NOT SEE THIS AS A CHANGE IN OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF 
SUPPORT...BUT RATHER A CLARIFICATION OF THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT NWS 
IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDE.

YOU MAY VIEW THE DOT SUPPORT GUIDANCE MEMORANDUM AT /USE LOWER 
CASE LETTERS/:

HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SP/DOTSUPPORTGUIDANCE.PDF


IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS...PLEASE CONTACT: 

ELI JACKS 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE OF CLIMATE WATER AND WEATHER SERVICES
PHONE:  301-713-1858 X110
E-MAIL: ELLIOT.JACKS@NOAA.GOV

THIS AND OTHER NOTIFICATION MESSAGES ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT 
/USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:

HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIF.HTM

THIS PARTICULAR MESSAGE IS LISTED AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE...ABOVE 
THE SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE AND TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION NOTICE 
BOX.

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