MEA 498/598: National Weather Service Student Internship

Spring/Summer 2013

 

This is an internship experience at the Raleigh National Weather Service (NWS) Office for meteorology majors interested in a career in operational weather forecasting.  Activities include job shadowing, weather analysis, development of area forecast discussions, weather and storm summaries, seasonal familiarization sessions, site visits, and participation in routine shift operations of the NWS.

 

Web site - http://www.meas.ncsu.edu/nws/www/internship/

Course Description   |   Orientation Presentation 

Shift Options  | Outreach Opportunities  |  How to Access Required and Optional NWS Training Materials

Activity Checklist

 

References

AWIPS Familiarization Reference and Worksheet

NEXRAD Eye to the Sky Video

NOAA Technical Memo Operational Mesoanalysis

HPC Unified Surface Analysis Manual

Forecast Process - A General Approach to Weather Forecasting

Another Forecast Process View  - Weather Forecasting Techniques and Tools

Area Forecast Discussion Reference

 

Updated 2/19/2013

 

Date

Worksheet

Activities & Reminders

Orientation

Jan 16

 

Orientation, group photo, administrative activities

Receive training materials

Training

Jan 20 – Jan 26 or

May 19 – May 25

AWIPS Worksheet

Training with AWIPS (AWIPS Familiarization Reference and Worksheet)

Complete the NOAA Safety Training in the LMS and the “NOAA IT Security Awareness Course” by Jan 26/May 25

Week 1

Jan 27 – Feb 2 or

May 26 – Jun 1

week 1

Level I - focus on local observations and observing systems

Complete the “Welcome to the National Weather Service” LMS training by Feb 2/Jun 1

View the “NEXRAD Eye to the Sky” video by Feb 2/Jun 1

Week 2

Feb 3 – Feb 9 or

Jun 2 – Jun 8

week 2

Level I - focus on upper air and satellite observations

Turn in Journal 1 by Feb 10/Jun 9 

Week 3

Feb 10 – Feb 16 or

Jun 9 – Jun 15

week 3

Level I - focus on hand analysis - NOAA Technical Memo Operational Mesoanalysis

HPC Unified Surface Analysis Manual

Turn in a copy of your hand analysis by Feb 17/Jun16 

Week 4

Feb 17 – Feb 23 or

Jun 16 – Jun 22

week 4

Level I – pick your favorite shift!

Activity – Weather Event Simulator - Synoptic Scale Overview - 330PM Fri 2/22

Complete 1) “Fundamental Relationships Between Shear and Buoyancy on Convective Storm Structure and Type” and 2) “Multicell Archetypes”  LMS training before the activity and take the quizzes

Week 5

Feb 24 – Mar 2 or

Jun 23 – Jun 29

week 5

Activity – Weather Event Simulator – Storm Scale and Warning Operations dates and times set by student – No shifts this week!

Complete 1) “Base Reflectivity”, 2) “Base Velocity” and 3) “Storm-Relative Velocity  training before the activity

Turn in Journal 2 by Mar 3/Jun 30 

Week 6

Mar 10 – Mar 16 or Jun 30 – Jul 6

week 6

Level II - Focus on forecast process and introduction into GFE

Forecast Process - A General Approach to Weather Forecasting

Week 7/8/9/10

3rd week of Mar – 2nd week of Apr or  2nd thru 5th week of Jul

Near term worksheet

Level II round robin - Short term forecast shift

Activity – Trip to KRAX radar date TBD

Turn in Journal 3 by Mar 24/Jul 14

Week 7/8/9/10

3rd week of Mar – 2nd week of Apr  or  2nd thru 5th week of Jul

Aviation worksheet

Level II round robin - Aviation forecast shift

Complete the “NWS Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF)” LMS training before the shift and take the quiz

Activity – Trip to KIGX ASOS date TBD

Week 7/8/9/10

3rd week of Mar – 2nd week of Apr  o or  2nd thru 5th week of Jul

Fire weather worksheet

Level II round robin - Fire weather forecast shift

Complete “The Structure of the NWS Fire Weather Program” LMS training before the shift (skip the exercise questions but complete the quiz)

Turn in Journal 4 by Apr 7/Jul 28

Activity – Alternate field trip date TBD

Week 7/8/9/10

3rd week of Mar – 2nd week of Apr  or  2nd thru 5th week of Jul

Extended range worksheet

Level II round robin - Extended range forecast shift

Activity – NWS job application primer date TBD

Week 11

Apr 14 – 20 or

Aug 4 – 10

week 11

Level II - Independent forecast discussions

Area Forecast Discussion Reference

Turn in hard copy of AFD by Apr 21/Aug 11

Week 12

Apr 21 – Apr 27 or

Aug 11 – 17

week 12

Level II - Independent forecast discussions

Area Forecast Discussion Reference

Turn in Journal 5 and a hard copy of AFD by Apr 28/Aug 18