NWS WFO question

[Jason Bolt]

Could someone explain the responsibilities of the various positions in a WFO? WCM, SOO, etc.? What is the difference between a lead forecaster and a regular forecaster? How is the office staffed? More staff in spring, summer (severe season)? If there is an old thread about this I apologize, I couldn't find one. Thanks!

 

[Scott Blair]

There can be some variation between office to office and region to region, but here is a decent guideline for different positions…

Meteorologist-in-Charge (MIC)...
This individual oversees the office operations...and makes sure everything runs smoothly. This involves interacting with other managers at the office to get a feel for what is needed to better serve the citizens. The MIC also handles new hires and evaluates the performance of staff members.

Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM)...
This individual is in-charge of the warning program at the office (i.e. warning information that is sent to the public, verification of warnings, formatting warning information for "Storm Data" publication). This includes interacting with emergency managers to help create a plan of action when warnings are issued. The WCM also teaches Storm Spotters courses and is responsible for severe weather and winter weather brochures that are distributed each year to emergency managers, county officials, schools and the media.

Science and Operations Officer (SOO)...
The Science and Operations Officer (SOO) works to integrate the latest advances in the science of meteorology, as well as technology innovations, into everyday office operations. This individual will handle technical issues at the office, including the development or request of training materials and utilizing computer equipment/software to improve or enhance forecasts/warnings issued by forecasters. The SOO also organizes training seminars and helps write (or offers suggestions on how to write) meteorological research papers for publication.

Senior Forecaster...
This individual is the shift supervisor in the forecast area...and routinely issues public/aviation forecasts and works the radar in severe weather when necessary. The senior forecaster makes sure that weather service products such as forecasts and warnings are issued in a timely fashion. The senior forecaster also makes shift decisions, assigns duties, logs equipment outages, and keeps a log of events.

Journeyman Forecaster...
This individual, like the senior forecaster, routinely issues public/aviation forecasts and works the radar when necessary. The journeyman forecaster also participates in career development projects such as writing meteorological papers or developing weather related computer programs (such as software that will improve shift operations).

Meteorological Intern...
This individual is in training to become a journeyman forecaster with the weather service. The meteorological intern routinely performs the duties of an HMT while learning and understanding weather service procedures. The meteorological intern occasionally works at the public/aviation forecast desks to learn how to write forecast products. The meteorological intern is also encouraged to participate in career development projects such as writing meteorological papers or developing weather related computer programs (such as software that will improve shift operations).

 

[Chris Nuttall]

Scott beat me to it. There are also some non-met positions.

Hydrometeorlogical Technician (HMT)--Quality controls data for climate summaries and makes sure the current incoming data (ASOS, river gauges) isn't out of whack. If problems with the instrument sites are suspected, the HMT reports them to the ETs. Also responsbile for upper-air launches. Some offices also have one HMT that is designated the Observation Program Leader (OPL). The OPL oversees the Data Acquisition operation including the daily duties of the HMT and Intern. The OPL is usually in charge of maintaining the Cooperative Observer program for the WFO, including make house calls to maintaining the coop observers' equipment.

Electronics Technician (ET)--Maintains any electronic equipment that the WFO may be responsible for. This could be anything from the WSR-88D, profilers, local ASOS, or any computer hardware inside the office.

Electronics System Analyst (ESA)--Head of the ET staff.

Administrative Support Assistant (ASA)--The Office Manager of the WFO. The ASA deals with the Human Resources and general office needs of the WFO.


Typically, during an event, personnel are called in on their day off, called in early for their shift, or held over to work the event. Again, this is all dependent on the actual situation. The Senior Forecaster, acting as the shift supervisor, is constantly evaluating how the event is evolving and adjusts personnel numbers and duties as needed.

Each individual WFO is going to have slightly different methods (staff numbers, shift schedules, delegation of routine duties, etc.), but they all do basically the same things, with the exception of certain products that vary by location. For example, you're not going to see AMA issuing Avalanche Forecasts.

 

[Greg Stumpf]

One more to throw in there:

Information Technology Officer (ITO) - the IT guru in the WFO.

 

[Benjamin Rock]

You forgot the most important one, the WCM..
The Waste and CLeanup Manager(janitor). He makes sure that the floor, work areas, screens, and restrooms are kept clean and sanitary so no one falls on slick floors or uses a nasty toilet...They are usually hired outside the company and come in once or twice a week to clean. Is that apple cinnamon I smell? Must have cleaned today...