NOAA

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Paducah, KY

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Your Forecast Tools

PADUCAH

Spot Forecast and Hysplit Training

Spot Forecast

Hourly Weather Graph

Activity Planner

Digital Tabular Forecast

 

HYSPLIT Maps

 

Basic Instructions...

Public Safety Officials can request an All-Hazards Incident or Non-Wild Fire Spot Forecast and HYSPLIT model run from the Paducah National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office. For some additional training on Non-Wild Fire Spot Forecasts and HYSPLIT model runs, click on the "Spot Forecast and HYSPLIT Training" link above. Please note that the training module was created by the National Weather Service office in Peachtree City, Georgia. While the process is very similar for creation and dissemination of spot forecasts, HYSPLIT model output can only be sent via fax or e-mail, and cannot be displayed on our website.

• The Spot Forecast website can be accessed by clicking on the "Spot Forecast" tab above. 
• On the Paducah Spot Forecast Page, select "Submit a new Spot Request".  

Fill out the Spot Forecast Request Form, making sure to:

• Select “HAZMAT” under “Project Name” if applicable.
• Select one of the three Non-Wild Fire selections under “Reason for Spot Forecast Request”.
• Give latitude & longitude of the incident or HAZMAT location (decimal format). 
• Give fuel or chemical type.
• Provide current weather observations in the incident area if available, i.e. temperature, dewpoint, winds, etc.
• Identify the forecast elements desired.
• Provide any additional information that might influence weather elements such as the effect of terrain on wind direction.
• IMPORTANT... if you also desire the weather forecast office to run a HYSPLIT model of your incident, please request this in the "Remarks" section of the Spot Forecast Request Form (preferred method of request) or call the Paducah NWS Office on the EMA/Spotter Hotline Number.
• When you submit a Spot Forecast request, an alert message will be sent to the Paducah Forecast Office. The NWS Forecaster will immediately prepare the requested spot forecast and then submit the product to the national web server for the customer to review on the internet.
• To review your requested spot forecast... return to the "Spot Forecast" page and look for the name of your spot request. It will take on average between 15 and 30 minutes for the forecast to be created. If review on the Internet is not possible, an email, fax or official phone call can be used to pass on the forecast information.
• To review your requested "HYSPLIT" model run... at this time there is not a way for HYSPLIT model output to be viewed directly online by the requester. It is critical that fax numbers and/or e-mail addresses be given so that the model output can be sent from the Paducah NWS Office via fax or e-mail attatchment.

...On-Site Incident Weather Support is Available...

In some cases, on-site weather support can be provided at EOCs and Incident Command Posts. During large and prolonged incidents, the NWS Office in Paducah can dispatch an on-site meteorologist to provide critical wind, temperature, relative humidity, precipitation and dispersion forecasts. These on-site meteorologists are trained in the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and can deploy weather equipment at the incident location, download model and weather data on-site, and provide critical weather briefings to the command team.

Emergency Managers or other Public Safety Officials wishing to request on-site weather support during an incident, or just wanting to learn more about the on-site weather support program, should call the NWS office in Paducah, Kentucky.

 

Related Useful Links

WFO Paducah Emergency Manager Page 

Emergency Management Briefing Page

Forecast Tutorial - Instructions on different ways to view your forecast(Large PDF file).

Forecast Navigator - Guide to WFO Paducah products and services.

MDSS - NWS Mobile Decision Support Services (receive text messages and e-mail alerts).

NWSCHAT - Instant messaging program for information exchange between NWS personnel and key partners.