Hydrometeorological Analysis and Support Function at the Southeast River Forecast Center

Abstract

In the late 1980s, the National Weather Service (NWS) launched its ten year, 4.5 billion dollar Modernization and Restructuring (MAR) program to take advantage of rapidly advancing scientific and computer technologies. The implementation of MAR is complete and has succeeded in modernizing the hydrometeorological operations of the NWS. As a result of MAR, all 13 River Forecast Centers (RFC) across the U.S. restructured their operations and upgraded computer technology. The RFCs have extended their hours into the evening and nearly doubled their staffs, which included the hiring of three meteorologists at each RFC. These meteorologists have become part of a new function at RFCs, known as the Hydrometeorological Analysis and Support (HAS)function, to manage the greatly increased flow of hydrometeorological data for input into the hydrologic models. The HAS forecaster is primarily responsible for the production of the Quantitative Precipitation Forecast (QPF), the verification activities associated with the QPF, the comparison and quality control of radar and rain gage data, and the production of hydrometeorological discussions.