NOUS41 KWBC 271212
PNSWSH

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...COMMENT REQUEST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
812 AM EDT FRI APR 27 2007 

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

FROM:     ROBERT E. LIVEZEY
          CHIEF...CLIMATE SERVICES DIVISION
                    
SUBJECT:  CURRENTLY SOLICITING PUBLIC COMMENTS THROUGH JUNE 1 
          2007 ON A PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE FORECAST TREND 
          CATEGORIES FOR THE U.S. DROUGHT OUTLOOK.

THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER /CPC/ IS SOLICITING COMMENTS 
THROUGH JUNE 1 2007 ON A PROPOSED CHANGE FOR THE U.S. DROUGHT 
OUTLOOK. THE PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE MAP KEY WOULD REDEFINE THE 
FORECAST TREND CATEGORIES AS FOLLOWS:
 
INTENSIFY:    A ONE CATEGORY OR GREATER DROUGHT CATEGORY         
              INTENSIFICATION 

PERSIST:      NO DROUGHT CATEGORY CHANGE
 
DEVELOPMENT:  A CHANGE FROM DROUGHT CATEGORY ZERO /D0/ TO AT     
              LEAST D1

IMPROVEMENT:  ONE CATEGORY OR GREATER DROUGHT CATEGORY           
              IMPROVEMENT

THE CURRENT FORECAST TREND CATEGORIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

PERSIST/INTENSIFY:  NO CATEGORY CHANGE OR ONE OR MORE DROUGHT    
                    CATEGORY INTENSIFICATION 

DEVELOPMENT:        A CHANGE FROM DROUGHT CATEGORY ZERO /D0/ TO  
                    AT LEAST D1

ONGOING BUT 
SOME IMPROVEMENT:   NO OBJECTIVE CRITERIA BUT                    
                    APPLICABLE TO COMPLEX SITUATIONS             
                    WHERE EXPECTED IMPROVEMENT MAY NOT           
                    RESULT IN AN OVERALL ONE CATEGORY            
                    IMPROVEMENT IN THE DROUGHT CATEGORY.

IMPROVEMENT:        ONE DROUGHT CATEGORY OR GREATER IMPROVEMENT 

FORECAST CATEGORY CHANGES ARE BASED ON CHANGES IN THE U.S. 
DROUGHT MONITOR FROM INITIAL STATE TO THE END OF THE VALID PERIOD 
OF THE DROUGHT OUTLOOK. IF NEEDED FORECAST CHANGES IN CATEGORY 
WOULD BE APPROPRIATELY FLAGGED ON THE MAP. SUCH CHANGES MAINLY 
APPLY TO AGRICULTURAL/SHORT TERM OR HYDROLOGICAL/LONG TERM 
IMPACTS.

CPC FEELS THIS PROPOSED CHANGE WOULD BETTER SERVE THE USER 
GROUPS. 

THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS WOULD BE AFFECTED IF THE CHANGE IS MADE:

GRAPHIC:

U.S. DROUGHT OUTLOOK /CONTIGUOUS U.S...ALASKA...AND HAWAII/

      WMO HEADING - PMNV88 KWNC	AWIPS ID – RBGDRK

WEB /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/: 

HTTP://WWW.CPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV 
DROUGHT OUTLOOK LINK UNDER U.S. DROUGHT ASSESSMENT.

TEXT:

U.S. DROUGHT OUTLOOK DISCUSSION /CONTIGUOUS U.S...ALASKA...AND 
HAWAII/.

     WMO HEADING - FXUS22 KWNC        AWIPS ID - PMDDRK


PLEASE SUBMIT COMMENTS BY JUNE 1 2007 REGARDING THIS PROPOSED 
CHANGE AT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:

HTTP://WWW.CPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV/COMMENT-FORM.HTML 

OR CONTACT:

     DOUG LECOMTE
     CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER    
     5200 AUTH RD                
     CAMP SPRINGS MD 20746-4304
     PH.301-763-8000 EXT 7567
     DOUGLAS.LECOMTE@NOAA.GOV

THIS NOTICE AND OTHER CURRENT NATIONAL PUBLIC INFORMATION 
STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:

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

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

$$
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