CIWRO

Derechos are rare, rapid-moving windstorms capable of causing billions of dollars in damage and widespread power loss.

Although these extreme weather events are infrequent, their destructive power has made them a growing concern for meteorologists, emergency managers and the insurance industry.

Read more about how CIWRO is unraveling the mysteries of derechos: https://bit.ly/3LHmuGr

Come meet and learn from our researchers on the 2nd floor of the National Weather Center. Our UAS crew will be flying weather drones on the east side of the parking lot. And issue your own severe weather warning in the 1st floor auditorium with the Warning Decision Training Division!

The wait is almost over!!
The National Weather Festival is happening this Saturday at the National Weather Center!

This free, family-friendly festival celebrates weather science and safety with exciting activities for all ages.

At the festival, you can:
🌪️ Meet meteorologists from local news stations and agencies
🚁 See helicopters and emergency vehicles up close
🎈 Watch a weather balloon launch
🧠 Explore interactive exhibits and hands-on science fun for all ages

Don’t miss this incredible day celebrating weather, science, and community!
National Weather Center, Norman, OK
Saturday, November 1 | 10 AM – 2 PM
Free and open to the public!

Learn more here: https://tr.ee/bUWLDc

Safe collection of high-quality data in the worst conditions takes a skilled team. Preparing to deploy to locations with the most intense weather requires days of careful planning. The most complete observations of high-impact phenomena come from a suite of mobile radars, atmospheric profilers, and deployable sensors and imagers, all of which require crews of trained scientists to navigate and operate.

When all the pieces come together, the results translate into powerful new knowledge of how storms form. Since 2021, CIWRO field work has concentrated on severe storms, damage surveys, hurricanes, extreme winter weather and boundary layer studies.

CIWRO gathers feedback from the emergency management and private broadcast sectors about U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) forecast and warning products. For instance, researchers designed and distributed an Oklahoma-wide survey with US National Weather Service Norman Oklahoma and Oklahoma Forestry Services to learn how emergency managers use weather information to prepare for dangerous wildfires. CIWRO scientists also ask questions about what weather information they need and if current products are meeting their needs.

CIWRO empowers anyone impacted by a tornado to submit a personal story through the online Tornado Tales survey. Developed with the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory, the survey allows people to enter information about how they knew a tornado was coming, what protective actions they took and what happened during their experience. The National Weather Service and private broadcast sector help distribute the survey to people after a tornado has struck their area. CIWRO researchers are tracking behavioral patterns such as what devices people use most to receive warnings.

Link to the survey: https://inside.nssl.noaa.gov/tornado-tales/survey/

CIWRO engineers are driving innovation in radar technology through their work on the Advanced Technology Demonstrator (ATD), a key platform in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s phased array radar research. Phased array radar systems are highly advanced, requiring precise coordination of thousands of electronic components to steer beams and process data in real time.

CIWRO develops sophisticated software that enables agile scanning and high-speed data processing — capabilities essential for observing rapidly evolving weather. These engineering breakthroughs are helping define the next-generation nationwide weather radar network.

Weather-related disruptions cost the aviation and transportation industries over $130 billion each year — losses that could be significantly reduced with
improved weather predictions. With machine learning tools for automatic damage detection, CIWRO systems support U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) surveys, enhance EF-scale accuracy and provide decision-makers with unprecedented situational awareness during high-impact weather events.

CopterSonde data significantly improved forecast accuracy for those
in the path of the devastating EF4 tornado in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, in 2023. Scientists made enhanced predictions of the size, location, reflectivity and rotation of the tornado when assimilated into the Warn-on-Forecast System.

Meanwhile, post-storm damage assessments by uncrewed aerial systems provide critical insights previously impossible to obtain, especially in rural areas. When connected with tornado radar data used in warning decisions, these insights help reveal the complexities of tornado interactions with natural and built environments, supporting improved warning guidance.

The Tornado Probability algorithm (TORP) is a product that uses AI to quickly summarize radar data to determine the tornado potential of severe storms.

Developed by CIWRO, this innovative algorithm works by generating complex wind rotation calculations. TORP is designed to assist forecasters in making timely and accurate tornado warning decisions.

TORP tornado probabilities have been made available to U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters in real time, and have been successfully used to influence
warning decisions, letting forecasters easily pick out intensifying storms and gain confidence in their decision making.

CIWRO produces training for all 122 U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) forecast offices, providing baseline knowledge on the latest research, awareness on NWS operational considerations, and workflows designed for the pace of real-time data analysis.

CIWRO develops and maintains products to enhance the forecasting of severe weather threats up to 8 days in advance. These innovations are fully integrated in Storm Prediction Center operations and guide NWS forecasters nationwide. Sixteen CIWRO-developed tools have transitioned into SPC operations since 2021.

CIWRO researchers are on the forefront of AI advancements in the prediction of weather hazards. Warn on Forecast System - Probabilistic Hazard
Information (WoFS-PHI) updates every five minutes, meaning forecasters get rapid updates on severe-weather threats like tornadoes, hail, wind and lightning. WoFS-PHI offers forecasters probabilities that move with the storms.

In this radar image, the distinct rounded yellow polygons indicate the likelihood that an area will receive severe weather. The darker the polygon, the greater percentage chance that area will be affected. Using the PHI information, a forecaster has issued a tornado warning in red.