2019 National Weather Service (NWS) Satellite User Applications Workshop

July 30 – August 1, 2019

National Weather Service Training Center

Kansas City, Missouri



Forecasters, researchers, and developers interested in operational application of next-generation satellite data to enhance diagnosis and short-term prediction of weather-related hazards are invited to participate in the 2019 NWS Satellite Applications Workshop. The workshop will be held July 1 – August 30, 2019, at the NWS Training Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The NWS Operations Proving Ground (OPG), NWS Office of the Chief Learning Officer (OCLO), and the GOES-R and JPSS Programs will co-sponsor the workshop.

The primary goal of this workshop will be to share success stories, best practices, and ongoing challenges associated with integrating next-generation satellite products into the operational forecaster’s decision-making process. The agenda will feature eight 90-minute interactive sessions, presented by NWS forecasters within the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System ( AWIPS)/Common AWIPS Visualization Environment (CAVE) environment, using a Thin Client connection to the OPG. These presentations will provide concrete examples of how the satellite datasets directly impacted decision making. Ample time will be allotted to accommodate discussion, and the use of the AWIPS platform will allow for much greater interaction and impromptu exploration of data sets than would be possible with a traditional PowerPoint format.


2019 NWS Satellite Applications Workshop - Preliminary Agenda

Tuesday - 30 July 2019

8:00 AM - Welcome, Logistics, and Ice Breake

8:30 AM - Heavy Precipitation and Flash Flooding in Mountainous Terrain
Bill Line (PUB; Journey Forecaster)

10:00 AM - Break and Networking

10:30 AM - Winter Weather Applications - Blowing Snow
Carl Jones (FGF; Intern Meteorologist) / Andrew Ansorge (DMX; Journey Forecaster)

12:00 PM - Lunch

1:00 PM - Lake Effect Snow and Blizzard Warnings
Dave Zaff (BUF; Science and Operations Officer)

2:30 PM - Break and Networking

3:00 PM - Detecting and Monitoring Volcanic Ash
Nate Eckstein (AKRH; Deputy Director ATPG) or Rebecca Mazur (AKRH; Research Scientist)

4:30 PM - End of Day Discussion

5:00 PM - End of Workshop Day 1

Wednesday - 31 July 2019

8:00 AM - International Presentation #1

8:30 AM - International Presentation #2

9:00 AM - Ocean Prediction Center Applications, Michael Folmer (OPC; Journey Forecaster)

10:00 AM - Break and Networking

10:30 AM - Polar Book Club and Panel Discussion
(Eric Guillot, Dave Radell, Jeff Manion, Chad Gravelle, Matt Foster)

11:30 AM - Lunch

1:00 PM - GLM Applications for Lightning Safety
Cindy Elsenheimer (SRH; Emergency Response Specialist) / Chad Gravelle (SRH; TDM)

2:30 PM - Break and Networking

3:00 PM - Assessing Severe and Pulse Convection, Randy Bowers (OUN; Journey Forecaster)

4:30 PM - End of Day Discussion

5:00 PM - End of Workshop Day 2

Thursday - 1 August 2019

8:00 AM - Wildfire Applications #1 - Wildfire Warnings
Todd Lindley (OUN; Science and Operations Officer)

8:45 AM - Wildfire Applications #2 - Big Timber Wildfires, Jimmy Taeger (SGX; Journey Forecaster)

9:30 AM - Break and Networking

10:00 AM - Assessing Uncertainty in Convective Warning Operations
Chauncy Schultz (BIS; Science and Operations Officer)

11:30 AM - Lunch

1:00 PM - Facilitated Panel Discussion (TBD)

2:30 PM - Workshop Wrap Up

3:00 PM - End of Workshop


To enhance remote and in-person audience participation, questions and comments will be gathered and weighted via sli.do, a web-based polling platform. The workshop will also be broadcast via YouTube live stream, courtesy of COMET for participants attending remotely.

Please RSVP to the workshop via this link if you plan to attend in person. You will need to make your own hotel reservations. I recommend either the Homewood Suites - KCI or the Embassy Suites - KCI, if they have rooms at the government rate. Both are within walking distance to the NWS Training Center, and they offer a free shuttle to and from the airport. Their shuttle service also runs to local shopping and restaurants in the evenings. If those hotels are full, you might try the Home 2 Suites by Hilton or the Holiday Inn Express. They are also nearby, and we have had visitors provide favorable reviews of their stays at those facilities.

Thank you for your interest and continued support for advancing meteorological satellite applications.


The 2019 Satellite Applications Workshop Organizing Team:


Chad Gravelle (Chair, NWS SR STSD)

Dave Radell (NWS ER SSD)

Kevin Scharfenberg (NWS OCLO)

Dan Lindsey (NESDIS/GOES-R Program)

Jorel Torres (JPSS Program)

Janel Thomas-Fry (NESDIS)

Kim Runk (OPG)