AC 00-45H

Historical

Advisory circular · Aviation Weather Services

Approved
November 14, 2016
Last reviewed
September 13, 2024
This change
This entire document series, all through the H Revision, is canceled.
Cancelled by
AC00-45H CHG 1
Family
AC 00-45 · 10 versions
Revision
H
14 CFR parts
25, 91

Guidance, not mandatory unless a rule or AD requires it. DRS record last changed November 21, 2025.

Show pages 154–165
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11/14/16 Aviation Weather Services AC 00-45H 5-37 ...SUMMARY...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND LOCALLY DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...ARE EXPECTED ACROSS PARTS OF THE SOUTH

CENTRAL PLAINS INTO THE OZARK PLATEAU LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

...SYNOPSIS...

SIGNIFICANT AMPLIFICATION IS ONGOING WITHIN A BRANCH OF MID-LATITUDE WESTERLIES ACROSS THE EASTERN PACIFIC INTO WESTERN NORTH AMERICA.

AS LARGE-SCALE MID/UPPER RIDGING CONTINUES TO BUILD NEAR THE PACIFIC COAST DURING THIS PERIOD...MODELS INDICATE THAT LARGE-SCALE TROUGHING WILL BEGIN TO EVOLVE DOWNSTREAM...EAST OF THE ROCKIES...THROUGH THE VICINITY OF THE APPALACHIANS.

WITHIN THIS LATTER REGIME...ONE NOTABLE SHORT WAVE IMPULSE IS FORECAST TO PIVOT RAPIDLY NORTHEASTWARD...FROM THE OHIO VALLEY THROUGH THE ST. LAWRENCE VALLEY BY LATE TONIGHT. AN ASSOCIATED

SURFACE LOW MAY CONSOLIDATE WITH ANOTHER LOW OVER THE GREAT LAKES REGION...BEFORE CONTINUING INTO QUEBEC LATE IN THE PERIOD...WITH A

TRAILING COLD FRONT ADVANCING SOUTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES.

INITIALLY STALLED OVER PARTS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY/OZARK PLATEAU AND CENTRAL PLAINS...MODELS SUGGEST THAT THE SOUTHWESTERN FLANK OF THIS FRONT WILL BEGIN A MORE RAPID SOUTHWARD SURGE...IN RESPONSE TO

ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT SHORT WAVE IMPULSE DIGGING SOUTHEAST OF THE CENTRAL ROCKIES THROUGH MUCH OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL PLAINS BY 12Z THURSDAY. THIS MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY WIDESPREAD CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT...AND THE RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS.

...SOUTH CENTRAL PLAINS/OZARK PLATEAU INTO LOWER OHIO VALLEY...

SOME BOUNDARY LAYER MOISTENING CONTINUES ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE FRONT...BUT A SUBSTANTIVE RETURN FLOW OF MOISTURE OFF THE GULF OF MEXICO STILL APPEARS UNLIKELY DURING THIS PERIOD. MODEL SURFACE DEW

POINT FORECASTS FOR THIS AFTERNOON MAY STILL BE AT LEAST A BIT TOO HIGH. HOWEVER...NORTHEASTWARD ADVECTION OF WARM ELEVATED MIXED

LAYER AIR IS EXPECTED TO AGAIN CONTRIBUTE TO VERY STEEP MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES BY THIS AFTERNOON. THIS PROBABLY WILL SUPPORT SIZABLE CAPE /PERHAPS AT OR ABOVE 2000 J PER KG/ WITHIN AT LEAST A NARROW CORRIDOR ALONG THE FRONTAL ZONE. IN THE PRESENCE OF STRONG SHEAR BENEATH 40-50 KT WESTERLY 500 MB FLOW...CONDITIONS SHOULD BECOME

CONDUCIVE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE STORMS FOR AT LEAST A PERIOD LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING.

MODELS SUGGEST THAT FORCING FOR ASCENT ASSOCIATED WITH LOW-LEVEL

WARM ADVECTION MAY SUPPORT A RAPID INCREASE IN SEVERE STORM DEVELOPMENT BY 20-22Z NEAR THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN KANSAS/OKLAHOMA BORDER AREA. THIS MAY INITIALLY INCLUDE DISCRETE STORMS...BEFORE GROWING UPSCALE...WHICH SHOULD TEND TO TRACK EASTWARD ALONG THE FRONT INTO THE OZARK PLATEAU. ADDITIONAL SEVERE STORMS MAY FORM SHORTLY THEREAFTER ACROSS PARTS OF WEST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA. IT

APPEARS THAT THIS LATTER ACTIVITY WILL OCCUR JUST AHEAD OF THE SOUTHWARD SURGING COLD FRONT...AND STRONGER STORMS PROBABLY WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND LOCALLY STRONG WIND GUSTS.

AS LARGE-SCALE FORCING SUPPORTS INCREASINGLY WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY THROUGH MUCH OF THE INSTABILITY AXIS...WHILE THE SURFACE

COLD FRONT BEGINS TO SURGE SOUTHWARD AND TENDS TO UNDERCUT

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11/14/16 Aviation Weather Services AC 00-45H 5-38 CONVECTION...IT REMAINS UNCLEAR AT THE PRESENT TIME HOW LONG THE SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS.

..KERR/MOSIER.. 03/25/2015

5.6.2 Watch Notification Messages.

The SPC issues Aviation Watch Notification Messages (SAW) to provide an area threat alert for the aviation meteorology community to forecast organized severe thunderstorms that may produce tornadoes, large hail, and/or Convective damaging winds as indicated in Public Watch Notification Messages within the CONUS.

SPC issues three types of Watch Notification Messages: SAW, Public Severe Thunderstorm Watch Notification Message, and Public Tornado Watch Notification Message. They are available on the SPC Web site.

The SAW was formerly known as the Alert Severe Weather Watch Bulletin (AWW). The NWS no longer uses that title or acronym for this product. The NWS uses the acronym SAW for the Aviation Watch Notification Message, but retains AWW in the product header for processing by weather data systems. The NWS uses the acronym AWW for their Aviation Weather Warning product, which is a completely different product from the SAW.

The Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Watch Notification Messages were formerly known as the Severe Weather Watch Bulletins (WW). The NWS no longer uses that title or acronym for this product but retains WW in the product header for processing by weather data systems.

It is important to note the difference between a Severe Thunderstorm (or Tornado) Watch and a Severe Thunderstorm (or Tornado) Warning. A watch means severe weather is possible during the watch valid time, while a warning means that severe weather has been observed or is expected within the hour. Only the SPC issues Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Watches, while only NWS WFOs issue Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings.

5.6.2.1 Aviation Watch Notification Message (SAW).

The SPC issues SAW to provide an area threat alert for the aviation meteorology community to forecast organized severe thunderstorms that may produce tornadoes, large hail, and/or Convective damaging winds as indicated in Public Watch Notification Messages.

The SAW product is an approximation of the area in a watch. For the official area covered by a watch, see the corresponding Public Watch product. To illustrate, Figure 5-24, Aviation Watch (polygon) Compared to Public Watch (shaded) Example, is an example of the Aviation Watch (polygon) compared to the Public Watch (shaded). Also, the SAW is easier to communicate verbally over the radio and telephone than reciting the entire Public Watch product.

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11/14/16 Aviation Weather Services AC 00-45H 5-39 Figure 5-24. Aviation Watch (polygon) Compared to Public Watch (shaded) Example

5.6.2.1.1 Issuance.

The SPC will issue the SAW after the proposed Convective watch area has been collaborated with the affected NWS WFOs defining the approximate areal outline of the watch.

Watch Notification Messages are nonscheduled, event-driven products valid from the time of issuance to expiration or cancellation time. Valid times are in UTC. SPC will correct watches for formatting and grammatical errors.

When tornadoes or severe thunderstorms have developed, the local NWS WFO will issue the warnings for the storms.

5.6.2.1.2 Format and Example of an Aviation Watch Notification Message (SAW).

SPC forecasters may define the area as a rectangle or parallelogram (X mi either side of the line from point A to point B) or (X miles north and south or east and west of the line from point A to point B). Distances of the axis coordinates should be in sm. The aviation coordinates referencing VOR locations and state distances will be in nautical miles (NM). Valid times will be in UTC. The watch half width will be in sm. The SAW will contain hail

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11/14/16 Aviation Weather Services AC 00-45H 5-40 size in inches or ½ in (forecaster discretion for tornado watches associated with hurricanes) surface and aloft, surface Convective wind gusts in knots, maximum cloud tops and the Mean Storm Motion Vector, and replacement information, if necessary.

The SAW will refer users to the accompanying public product, known as the Watch Outline Update (WOU) message, which provides the names of all counties or parishes in the watch area. Note the letter “n” refers to the issuance number, e.g., 2 means the second issuance of the WOU message.

WWUS30 KWNS 271559 SAW2 SPC AWW 271559 WW 568 TORNADO AR LA MS 271605Z - 280000Z AXIS..65 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..

45ESE HEZ/NATCHEZ MS/ - 50N TUP/TUPELO MS/ ..AVIATION COORDS.. 55NM E/W /18WNW MCB - 60E MEM/ HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..3 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..70 KNOTS. MAX TOPS TO 550.

MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 26030.

LAT...LON 31369169 34998991 34998762 31368948 THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS FOR WOU2.

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11/14/16 Aviation Weather Services AC 00-45H 5-41 Table 5-10. Decoding an Aviation Weather Watch Notification Message Line(s) 1 Content WWUS30 KWNS 271559 Description Communication header with issuance date/time 2 SAW2 NWS product type (SAW) and issuance number (2) 3 SPC AWW 271559 Issuing office Product Type Issuance date/time 4 WW 568

TORNADO

AR LA MS 271605Z - 280000Z Watch number Watch Type States affected Valid date/time period 5 AXIS..65 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE... Watch axis 6 45ESE HEZ/NATCHEZ MS/ - MS/ 50N TUP/TUPELO Anchor points 7 …AVIATION COORDS..55NM E/W /18WNW MCB - 60E MEM/ Aviation coordinates 8-9 HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT…3 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..70 KNOTS. MAX TOPS TO 550. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 26030.

Type, intensity, max tops and mean storm motion using standard contractions.

10 (blank line) 11 (blank line)

LAT...LON 31369169 34998991 4998762 31368948

Latitude and longitude coordinates 12 13-15

THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS FOR WOU2.

Notice that this is an approximation of watch area and for users to refer to the referenced product for the actual area the

5.6.2.2 Public Severe Thunderstorm Watch Notification Message.

The SPC issues a Public Severe Thunderstorm Watch Notification Message when forecasting six or more hail events of 1 in (quarter sized) diameter or greater or damaging winds of 50 kts (58 mph) or greater. The forecast event minimum threshold is at least 2 hours over an area of at least 8,000 mi2.

Below these thresholds, the SPC, in collaboration with affected NWS offices, may issue a watch for smaller areas and for shorter periods of time when conditions warrant, and for Convective watches along coastlines, near the Canadian border, and near the Mexican border.

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11/14/16 Aviation Weather Services AC 00-45H 5-42 A Public Severe Thunderstorm Watch Notification Message contains three bulleted blocks of information:

• The geographic area of the watch,

• The valid time of the watch, and

• A description of the primary threats anticipated within the watch.

A plain text watch summary is included beneath the bulleted information followed by a more detailed description of the area and axis of the watch.

The SPC includes the term “adjacent coastal waters” when the watch affects coastal waters adjacent to the Pacific/Atlantic coast, the Gulf of Mexico, or the Great Lakes. Adjacent coastal waters refers to a WFO’s near-shore responsibility (out to 20 NM for oceans), except for Convective watches, which include portions of the Great Lakes.

The SPC issues a watch cancellation message when no counties, parishes, independent cities and/or marine zones remaining are in the watch area prior to the expiration time. The text of the message will specify the number and area of the canceled watch.

5.6.2.3 Format of Public Severe Thunderstorm Watch Notification Message.

WWUS20 KWNS ddhhmm (communication header)

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER nnnn

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK time am/pm time zone day mon dd yyyy

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OFPORTION(S) OF

STATE(S)AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS (IF REQUIRED) * EFFECTIVE (TIME PERIOD) UNTIL hhmm am/pm time zone.

...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION (IF NECESSARY)...

* PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE...

HAIL TO X.X INCHES IN DIAMETER POSSIBLE

THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO XX MPH POSSIBLE

DANGEROUS LIGHTNING POSSIBLE SUMMARY...PLAIN TEXT DESCRIPTION OF WHY THE WATCH IS NEEDED.

NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF WATCH AREA USING A LINE AND ANCHOR POINTS. DISTANCES TO EITHER SIDE OF THE LINE WILL BE IN STATUTE MILES. THIS SECTION INDICATES THE WATCH IS AREA IS AN APPROXIMATION AND “FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOUn).”

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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11/14/16 Aviation Weather Services AC 00-45H 5-43

CALL TO ACTION STATEMENTS OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...OTHER WATCHES IN EFFECT AND IF THIS WATCH REPLACES A PREVIOUS WATCH.

&& AVIATION...BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERE WEATHER THREAT TO AVIATORS.

HAIL SIZE WILL BE GIVEN IN INCHES AND WIND GUSTS IN KNOTS. MAXIMUM STORM TOPS AND A MEAN STORM VECTOR WILL ALSO BE GIVEN.

$$ ..FORECASTER NAME.. MM/DD/YY To see a dynamic representation of this, please go to the following Web site:

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0018.html.

5.6.2.3.1 Example of a Public Severe Thunderstorm Watch Notification Message.

WWUS20 KWNS 161711 (communication header) SEL2 SPC WW 161710

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 647

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 1210 PM CDT FRI JUL 16 2011

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN IOWA

NORTHERN ILLINOIS

NORTHWEST INDIANA

LAKE MICHIGAN * EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY AFTERNOON FROM 1210 PM UNTIL 500 PM CDT.

* PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE...

HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER POSSIBLE...

THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH POSSIBLEDANGEROUS LIGHTNING

POSSIBLE THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 75 STATUTE MILES EITHER SIDE OF A LINE FROM 40 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SOUTH BEND INDIANA TO 35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CEDAR RAPIDS IOWA. FOR A

COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU2).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.

PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING

WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.

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11/14/16 Aviation Weather Services AC 00-45H 5-44 OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 646...

DISCUSSION...THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE ACROSS WATCH AREA WHERE AIR MASS HAS BECOME STRONGLY UNSTABLE AND UNCAPPED.

VEERING SHEAR PROFILE SUPPORT STORMS EVOLVING INTO SHORT LINE

SEGMENTS ENHANCING WIND DAMAGE POTENTIAL AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 2 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 33025.

... NAME

5.6.2.4 Public Tornado Watch Notification Message.

The SPC issues a Public Tornado Watch Notification Message when forecasting two or more tornadoes or any tornado that could produce EF2 or greater damage. The forecast event minimum thresholds are at least 2 hours over an area at least 8,000 mi2. Below these thresholds, the SPC, in collaboration with affected NWS offices, may issue for smaller areas and for shorter periods of time when conditions warrant, and for Convective watches along coastlines, near the Canadian border, and near the Mexican border.

A Public Tornado Watch Notification Message contains the area description and axis, watch expiration time, the term “damaging tornadoes,” a description of the largest hail size and strongest thunderstorm wind gusts expected, the definition of the watch, a call-to-action statement, a list of other valid watches, a brief discussion of meteorological reasoning, and technical information for the aviation community.

The SPC may enhance a Public Tornado Watch Notification Message by using the words “THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION” when there is a likelihood of multiple strong (damage of EF2 or EF3) or violent (damage of EF4 or EF5) tornadoes.

The SPC includes the term “adjacent coastal waters” when the watch affects coastal waters adjacent to the Pacific/Atlantic coast or the Gulf of Mexico.

Adjacent coastal waters refers to a WFO’s near-shore responsibility (out to 20 NM for oceans), which include portions of the Great Lakes.

The SPC issues a watch cancellation message whenever it cancels a watch prior to the expiration time. The text of the message will specify the number and area of the canceled watch.

5.6.2.4.1 Format of a Public Tornado Watch Notification Message.

The format for a Public Tornado Watch Notification Message is the same as the Public Severe Thunderstorm Watch Notification Message.

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11/14/16 Aviation Weather Services AC 00-45H 5-45

5.6.2.4.2 Example of a Public Tornado Watch Notification Message.

A Public Tornado Watch Notification Message contains three bulleted blocks of information:

• The geographic area of the watch,

• The valid time of the watch, and

• A description of the primary threats anticipated within the watch.

A plain text summary is included beneath the bulleted information.

(Note this is a fictitious example) WWUS20 KWNS 050550 (communication header) SEL2 SPC WW 051750

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 243

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 1250 AM CDT MON MAY 5 2011

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

WESTERN AND CENTRAL ARKANSAS

SOUTHERN MISSOURI

FAR EASTERN OKLAHOMA * EFFECTIVE THIS MONDAY MORNING FROM 1250 AM UNTIL 600 AM CDT.

...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION...

* PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE

NUMEROUS INTENSE TORNADOES LIKELY NUMEROUS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 80 MPH LIKELY NUMEROUS VERY LARGE HAIL TO 4 INCHES IN DIAMETER LIKELY THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 100 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 15 MILES WEST NORTHWEST OF FORT LEONARD WOOD MISSOURI TO 45 MILES SOUTHWEST OF HOT SPRINGS ARKANSAS. FOR A

COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU2).

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.

PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING

WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...THIS TORNADO WATCH REPLACES TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 237. WATCH NUMBER 237 WILL NOT BE IN EFFECT AFTER 1250 AM CDT. CONTINUE...WW 239...WW 240...WW 241...WW 242...

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11/14/16 Aviation Weather Services AC 00-45H 5-46 DISCUSSION...SRN MO SQUALL LINE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE EWD...WHERE

LONG/HOOKED HODOGRAPHS SUGGEST THREAT FOR EMBEDDED SUPERCELLS/POSSIBLE TORNADOES. FARTHER S...MORE WIDELY SCATTERED

SUPERCELLS WITH A THREAT FOR TORNADOES WILL PERSIST IN VERY STRONGLY DEEP SHEARED/LCL ENVIRONMENT IN AR.

AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 4 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 70 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 26045.

.

.. NAME To see a dynamic representation of this, please go to the following Web site:

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0020.html.

5.6.3 Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) Collaborative Convective Forecast Planning (CCFP) Guidance.

For years, CCFP was the acronym for the Collaborative Convective Forecast Product.

Beginning late 2014 the product’s name changed as well as its production and some of its content. CCFP is now the acronym for Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) Convective Forecast Planning (CCFP) guidance.

Whereas forecasters produced the old CCFP, the new CCFP is a fully automated product produced by computer model algorithms with an appearance similar to the human-produced CCFP.

The new CCFP is issued year round compared to the old CCFP, which was issued during spring, summer, and fall.

The CCFP is a graphical representation of Convective forecasts at 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after issuance time (see Figure 5-25, CDM Convective Forecast Planning (CCFP) Guidance—Example). Convection, for the purposes of the CCFP forecast, is defined as a polygon of at least 5,000 mi2 containing all of the following threshold criteria:

• An aerial coverage of at least 25 percent;

• At least 25 percent of the tops to be FL250 or greater; and

• A confidence of at least 25 percent that the event will meet minimum CCFP criteria.

All three criteria above must also occur over an area of 5,000 mi2 or greater to be included in a CCFP forecast. This is defined as the minimum CCFP criteria. Any area of convection that does not meet these criteria is not included in a CCFP forecast.

The CCFP is intended to be used as a strategic planning tool for air traffic flow management. It aids in the reduction of air traffic delays, reroutes, and cancellations due to significant convection. It is not intended to be used for tactical air traffic flow decisions, in the airport terminal environment, or for pilot weather-briefing purposes. The graphical representation is subject to annual revision.

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11/14/16 Aviation Weather Services AC 00-45H Figure 5-25. CDM Collaborative Convective Forecast Planning (CCFP) Guidance-Example 340

- 340 Моп Tue 22Z O0Z 2 hour forecast 4 hour forecast 34D Tue Tue 02Z 04Z 6 hour forecast 8 hour forecast CONFIDENCE:

HEIGHT 25-49% 50-100% HIGH TOPS: 100'S OF FEET MSL SPARSE 25000 - 29000 290 CONVECTIVE 25-39% 30000 - 34000 340 COVERAGE: MEDIUM+ 35000 - 39000 40000+ >400 390 40-100% 5-47

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11/14/16 Aviation Weather Services AC 00-45H 5-48 Figure 5-26. CDM Collaborative Convective Forecast Planning (CCFP) Guidance—Example

5.6.3.1 Issuance.

The CCFP is issued by the AWC.

The CCFP is issued every 2 hours. The CCFP product issuance time is approximately the bottom of the hour preceding the FAA’s air traffic control system command center’s (ATCSCC) strategic planning telecom (i.e., the 1600 UTC issuance would be available at ~1530 UTC for the 1615 UTC strategic planning telecom). The product can be found on http://www.aviationweather.gov.

5.6.3.2 Content.

Data graphically displayed on the CCFP consist of coverage of convection within a defined polygon, maximum tops, and confidence of Convective occurrence meeting the CCFP minimum criteria.

Additional information on the CCFP product is available on the CFFP Web page form on the INFO tab, on http://www.aviationweather.gov.

5.6.3.3 Coverage.

The Convective coverage within the forecast polygon is represented by the amount of fill within the polygon (see Figure 5-27, CCFP Product Legend).

The polygon is then assigned as a sparse or medium coverage.