How can I trim back on the time it takes
to create an HLS?
There are a number of things that can be done.
Have the GFE focal point set up
the ER
HLS formatter. This formatter brings
in additional information from the grids, can read the PWS product,
and allows for flat files to populate certain sections. Make sure
to use the latest version of the ER formatter (8.3-4) as there are
fixes based on recent tropical events. Training is available on
the NWS learning center for configuring the HLS to be most efficient
for your office.
Only keep the sections you really
need in each segment. While it is easy to
copy and paste information from other segments, it still makes for
more work internally and externally to have redundant information
or sections which are unnecessary in a given segment.
Place all common information in
the overview. With the ER HLS formatter,
the default is to include the storm information in the overview.
If there is other information that is common to all segments, include
those in the overview as well. For example, if the tornado or waterspout
threat is the same everywhere, include it in the overview.
Check out the HLS
experiences from offices so far this season.
How should our office get the HLS information on NWR?
The current design of NWRWAVES does not handle the new
segmented HLS well. The recommended practice for
this season is to create a summary HLS (i.e. NWRHLS) with just
the information pertinent to NWR listeners. Every section does not need
to be included. A fix is being worked for a later build to allow offices
to decide which sections are picked up for use on NWR rather than all
sections for all zones.
How should our office tone alert tropical hazards on
NWR?
There are a few ways this can be done.
Manually tone the desired hazards
and read the specific information on NWR. This is how most offices have
chosen to handle this.
Have the TCV tone alert when it comes
in. This can be configured in the NWRWAVES configuration
interface.
Use the HLS as the means to tone.
This is less desired as it requires the use of the actual VTEC-enabled
HLS on NWR.
How can I know what zones to expect from the NHC breakpoints?
NWSHQ and NHC worked with the regions/WFOs to come up
with a list of zones that will be generated with the various breakpoint
segments. That file can be found here.
Look for your office and read the instructions at the top on how to determine
which zones will be included when there are multiple tropical hazards
involved.
How can I prevent bad VTEC and/or UGCs?
Follow the training!
The NWS learning center course outlines the correct way to create and
edit the various hazard grids and the subsequent HLS. Many offices run
through the pertinent sections prior to a landfalling cyclone. The tropical
jobsheets can also be utilized during operations.
NEVER preselect an NHC hazard grid before
going into MakeHazard. It can cause zones to be
dropped from active hazards. OB8.3.1 will not allow this to happen. OB8.3.1
begins deployment in late September.
Use MakeHazard to edit tropical grids.
Do not try to add or delete areas from NHC-issued hazards in the spatial
editor. This leads to incorrect VTEC used for marine zones and subsequent
dissemination and tracking problems.
Never run PlotTPCEvents or PlotSPCWatches
if the hazard grid is locked by another user (red
background). While GFE does not appear to change the grid, changes are
being made to the data on the server. OB8.3.1 prevents this from happening.
How can I correct a bad HLS?
ALWAYS use GFE to edit and transmit
all HLSs. GFE VTEC products cannot be edited outside
of GFE or bad VTEC will result. Use the steps outlined here
to correct any text mistakes.
For area, time or other VTEC mistakes, the grids
need to be corrected and a new HLS generated. While this is extra
work, it is necessary to get a valid product which will be properly disseminated.
Catching these mistakes before they are disseminated is also why having
multiple forecasters QC the HLS before transmitting is vitally important.
How can I separate marine zones within
a particular hazard to delineate different wind and wave threats?
At this point you cannot easily do this.
The segment box cannot be used with HU and TR hazards as that number is
assigned to the ETN, which is not correct. It is possible that a workaround
will become available, so check back here in the coming weeks.
Inland wind hazards can be separated out using the segment box, as was
shown in the training.
How can I prevent the ER HLS from separating like hazards
based on non-tropical hazards like tornado watches?
The GFE focal point can remove
all non-tropical hazards from the allowedHazards definition via
the local HLS_XXX_Overrides. The side effect of this is that the Watches/Warnings
section will not automatically be filled in based on your Hazard grid.
Why did I get a UPG instead of CAN for the hurricane
watch when it was cancelled?
When a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning coexist
and the watch is cancelled, GFE sees this as an
upgrade as there was a watch and there is a warning present for
the same zone(s). This has been determined to be undesirable behavior
when the warning is preexisting and will be fixed in a future release.
What happens if I am in the middle of
a cyclone and need help creating tropical grids or an HLS?
You can call (after hours) or e-mail (regular hours)
Shannon White at 336-310-3032 or shannon.white@noaa.gov. If it is a software
problem, you will also be asked to open a trouble ticket with the NCF.