TO: FAMILY OF SERVICES /FOS/ SUBSCRIBERS...NOAA WEATHER
WIRE SERVICE /NWWS/ SUBSCRIBERS...EMERGENCY MANAGERS
WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK /EMWIN/ SUBSCRIBERS...
OTHER NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE /NWS/ CUSTOMERS AND
PARTNERS...NWS EMPLOYEES

FROM: BILL PROENZA
DIRECTOR... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
SOUTHERN REGION

SUBJECT: EXPERIMENTAL HOURLY PRECIPITATION ESTIMATE WEB-BASED
INFORMATION SERVICE

EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 27 2008... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SOUTHERN
REGION UNVEILED A NEW HOURLY PRECIPITATION ESTIMATE EXPERIMENTAL
INFORMATION SERVICE.

DATA FROM GROUND-BASED RAIN GAGES ARE COMBINED WITH HOURLY PRECIPITATION ESTIMATE FROM DOPPLER RADAR TO DERIVE THESE HOURLY MULTISENSOR PRECIPITATION ESTIMATES. THE PRECIPITATION ESTIMATES ARE UPDATED HOURLY AT APPROXIMATELY 58 MINUTES PAST THE HOUR.

THE SERVICE PROVIDES PRECIPITATION ESTIMATES IN SHAPE FILE GRAPHICAL FORMAT WHICH ALLOWS FOR DOWNLOAD IN GIS BASED SOFTWARE. THE SUITE OF GRAPHICS INCLUDES PRECIPITATION FOR THE LAST HOUR...3 HOURS...6 HOURS...12 HOURS...24 HOURS...48 HOURS...AND 72 HOURS AND SINCE 12Z FOR THE CURRENT DAY.

THE SERVICE IS AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING WEB SITE:

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/rfcshare/precip_analysis_hourly.php

THE FEEDBACK PERIOD FOR THIS EXPERIMENTAL INFORMATION SERVICE WILL EXTEND THROUGH JANUARY 2009. WE ENCOURAGE OUR PARTNERS AND CUSTOMERS TO FILL OUT A SURVEY AND LET US KNOW WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THIS SERVICE. CLICK ON THE SURVEY/FEEDBACK TAB ABOVE THE MAP TO FILL OUT OUR SURVEY.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS EXPERIMENTAL INFORMATION
SERVICE...PLEASE CONTACT:

KAI ROTH
LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER FORECAST CENTER
62300 AIRPORT RD.
SLIDELL, LA 70460-5243
EMAIL: SR-TUA.PRECIP@NOAA.GOV
PHONE: 985-641-4343