Minutes
Fire Weather Working Team Meeting at NWCC
16 January 2004
Attendees
Mike Fitzpatrick, Terry Marsha, Greg Sinnett, Paul Werth (Chair), Mike Ziolko,
Thomas Skinner, Jayme Cox (recording minutes)
Agenda
1. Review minutes and action items of the November 2003 meeting with the NWS
2. Review the 2004 work plan presented to PNWCG at their December meeting
3. Draft letter to field concerning status of Weather Station Network analysis (Phase 1 final
comments and initial list of wind stations in Phase 2)
4. Discuss level of support requested during the spring and fall prescribed burning seasons
(internet briefings by state and requested new products)
5. Discuss the report to PNWCG concerning the evaluation of NWS products and services
during 2003
6. Draft an agenda for February 10-11 meeting with the NWS
Minutes
1. The November minutes were finalized in mid December and e-mailed to the NWS and
FWWT. Access to minutes are also available on PNWCG’s web page.
Summary of action items: Item 1: Still awaiting comments from NWS concerning
problems with getting weather observations and NFDRS zone trend forecasts through
WIMS gateway. The problem should be brought to the attention of the Fire Danger
Working Team. Item 2: The FWWT requests that the NWS include wind gusts in 2004
fire weather forecasts. Currently, wind gusts are not included in the forecasts. The
FWWT recommends that the NWS includes wind gusts in the forecast whenever they
expect 10 min average winds in excess of 15 mph, (i.e. 8-18 mph gusts to 35 mph).
Item 3: Concerns NWS coming to the daily conference calls without knowledge of
extended forecasts. Item 4: Change in forecast responsibility Portland to Pendleton. The
FWWT requests that Portland and Pendleton document that local users have been
contacted and are agreeable to this change. This affects Deschutes NF, Warm Springs
BIA, Mt. Hood NF, and some state land. No new information has been received from the
NWS concerning this request. Item 5: Evaluation and verification- had contact with all
offices except Spokane and Medford. Statistics are in pretty close agreement.
2. PNWCG December Meeting: Working teams are requested to give an annual activity
report for 2003 and a work plan for 2004. The FWWT 2004 projected work plan
includes: 1) Bi-annual meetings with the NWS. 2) Weather station network—complete
phase 1 and initial phases of 2. Need to complete comments on phase 1 and get phase 2
finished. Send list of stations with explanations for comments to field and NWS.
Additional wind stations used to identify red flag events and verification purposes for red
flag warnings. 3) Oregon National Guard: Only operate for on wildfires within Oregon.
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Need to find out if there is a similar unit available in Washington, and if they can be
dispatched to wildfires. Jim Prang will get back to Paul. 4) Red Flag criteria—dry
lightening, strong winds. Will probably be on agenda for February meeting. 5) PNWCG
and NWS agreement details verification and evaluation of NWS fire weather products
and services. Need to develop questionnaire on web for evaluation of internet briefings.
Medford had one we were using as a template. Intent is to have this questionnaire on
each Weather Service web page and also annual operating plan (AOP). No more than a
couple questions with a comment section. Thomas will try and contact Bob Tobin and
Scott Weishaar about the questionnaire as a starting point.
3.
Weather Station Network Analysis: The FFWT will compose a letter to the field units
asking for comments on the final list of stations in Phase 1; an explanation on the wind
analysis in Phase 2 in which it is determined which stations are good wind indicators.
Terry will create a table of the two station lists (NFDRS and wind). Time Frame—send
to field and weather service for comments. Need to get out sometime in February. Point
of letter: comment on the original list of 73 stations and stations that we have identified
as wind stations for monitoring and verifying red flag events. Stations must be properly
maintained to be good representative stations. Disclaimer—the FWWT does not
advocate the elimination of stations unless they are not needed at the local level. Need a
letter, a map, and table with Terry’s explanation to go to the field. Terry will work on
map and list of key stations. Mike will work on cover letter. Try to have ready hand out
to NWS at February 10 meeting.
4.
Internet briefing during spring and fall prescribed burning season for the burners. Greg
said that DNR does not have personnel to do it. Mike will look into whether ODF can.
PNWCG asked whether predictive services could provide a 7-10 day outlook for the
burners. Discussions with the Fuels Working Team will be scheduled to find out what
their needs are and what they’re looking for.
5.
Report to PNWCG and NWS concerning the evaluation of NWS products and services
during 2003. December 15 deadline has been pushed back to February.
6.
Agenda for February 10-11 meeting with the NWS: Annual Operating Plan—review, get
ready for publication. Lay out red flag criteria and how warnings are verified. Wind list
could tie in with red flag events. Follow up on action items (wind gusts in forecasts,
Portland/Pendleton forecast responsibility). Dry lightening—new study. Share some of
the latest research with the NWS. Also the latest on two-minute vs. ten-minute average
wind speeds. E-mail Paul with any more agenda items for the next meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 1230 PST.
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