NOUS41 KWBC 031445
PNSWSH

SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE 08-58
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
945 AM EST MON NOV 03 2008

TO:       SUBSCRIBERS:
          -FAMILY OF SERVICES
          -NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE
          -EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK
          OTHER NWS PARTNERS...AND NWS EMPLOYEES

FROM:     ELI JACKS
	  CHIEF...FIRE AND PUBLIC WEATHER SERVICES BRANCH

SUBJECT:  IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX
          PRODUCT/SERVICE ISSUED BY THE WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE
          /WFO/ AT WICHITA KANSAS...EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 9 2008

EFFECTIVE 0001 COORDINATED UNIVERSAL TIME /UTC/ ON TUESDAY 
DECEMBER 9 2008 THE WFO AT WICHITA KANSAS WILL BEGIN ISSUING THE 
GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX /GFDI/ ON AN OPERATIONAL BASIS.  A 
GFDI WILL BE PROVIDED FOR EACH COUNTY IN THE WICHITA COUNTY 
WARNING AREA /CWA/.  THE GFDI FORECAST WILL BE ISSUED ONCE PER 
DAY DURING THE FIRE WEATHER SEASON AS BOTH A TABULAR AND GRAPHIC 
PRODUCT.

THE GFDI VALUES ARE DESCRIPTIVE TERMS /LOW...MODERATE...HIGH... 
VERY HIGH...EXTREME/ THAT CORRESPOND TO THE LIKELIHOOD THAT FIRES 
WILL GET OUT OF CONTROL.

THE TABULAR PRODUCT /AWIPS ID RFDICT/ CONSISTS OF GFDI FORECASTS 
EVERY 3 HOURS OUT TO 6 DAYS FOR EACH COUNTY IN THE CWA.

PERTINENT PERSONNEL/OFFICES/AGENCIES WILL NEED TO ADD THE 
FOLLOWING IDENTIFIER TO THEIR COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS TO RECEIVE 
THIS NWS PRODUCT:

PRODUCT NAME                       WMO HEADING         AWIPS ID
-----------------------------      -----------         --------
RANGELAND FIRE DANGER FORECAST     FNUS63 KICT         RFDICT

THE GRAPHIC PRODUCT IS COLOR CODED TO SIGNIFY THE DESCRIPTIVE 
TERMS...AND THE TIME RESOLUTION IS EVERY 6 HOURS OUT TO 6 DAYS.  
THE GRAPHICAL PRODUCT IS ONLY FOR THE WFO WICHITA CWA.

THE GFDI GRAPHIC PRODUCT IS AVAILABLE VIA WFO WICHITA HOMEPAGE AT 
/USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/

     HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/ICT

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS...PLEASE CONTACT 

     MR. GARY SCHMELING
     REGIONAL OPERATIONS SERVICES METEOROLOGIST
     NWS CENTRAL REGION HEADQUARTERS
     7220 NORTHWEST 101ST TERRACE
     KANSAS CITY MISSOURI 64153
     PHONE 816-268-3143
     EMAIL GARY.SCHMELING@NOAA.GOV

THIS AND OTHER NWS TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION NOTICES ARE AVAILABLE 
ON THE INTERNET AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/

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

$$
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