NOUS41 KWBC 031636

PNSWSH

Service Change Notice 10-37

National Weather Service Headquarters Washington DC

1236 PM EDT Thu Nov 3 2011

To:         Subscribers:

            -Family of Services

            -NOAA Weather Wire Service

            -Emergency Managers Weather Information Network

            -NOAAPort

            Other NWS partners and employees

From:       Cynthia Abelman

            Chief, Aviation Services Branch

Subject:    US SIGMET Testing from November 8-22, 2011

The NWS will be performing annual end-to-end testing of Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET) production from November 8-22 at 0200 coordinated universal time (UTC).

On November 8, the SIGMET test for Tropical Cyclone (WC) is scheduled to occur at 0200 UTC when the Miami and Honolulu Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centers (TCAC) issue their Tropical Cyclone test advisories that drive the SIGMETs produced at the Kansas City and Honolulu Meteorological Watch Offices (MWO). Look for the following two SIGMET World Meteorological Organization (WMO) IDs during this test:

WCPN## KKCI

WCPA## PHFO

On November 15, the SIGMET test for Volcanic Ash (WV) is scheduled to occur at 0200 UTC when the Washington and Anchorage VAACs issue their Volcanic Ash Advisories (VAAs), which drive the SIGMETs produced at the Kansas City, Honolulu and Anchorage MWOs. Look for the following three SIGMET WMO IDs during this test:

WVAK## PAWU

WVPN## KKCI

WVPA## PHFO

On November 22, the SIGMET test for Weather phenomena (WS) is scheduled to occur at 0200 UTC when the three U.S. MWOs issue their test SIGMETs. Look for the following three SIGMET WMO IDs during this test:

WSAK## PAWU

WSPN## KKCI

WSPA## PHFO

The tests serve as an important exercise for the three U.S. MWOs in Kansas City, Anchorage and Honolulu. The tests will include all three types of SIGMETs: Volcanic Ash (VA), Tropical Cyclone (WC) and Weather phenomena (WS). The validity period will be 10 minutes.

The three MWOs will coordinate with the two Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers (VAACs) in Anchorage and Washington for the Volcanic Ash SIGMETs. The three MWOs will also coordinate with the two TCACs in Miami and Honolulu for Tropical SIGMET issuance.

Even if active SIGMETs are occurring at the proposed date and time, the test will occur.

If you have questions about this notice, please contact:

  Michael Graf

  National Weather Service

  SSMC-2 Station 13314

  1325 East-West Highway

  Silver Spring Md. 20910

  301-713-1726 X 117

  michael.graf@noaa.gov

National Technical Implementation Notices are online at:

  http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/notif.htm

$$