Service Area

and

Organizational Directory

Service Area

The service area covered by this AOP is southeast West Virginia, which is served by the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office at Blacksburg, VA (RNK).

The forecast area is tied to the "radar umbrella" of the WSR-88D Doppler Radar. The umbrella is the area which is covered by the radar volume scan. This means that forecasts are not bound by state political borders, although county borders are generally observed. As a result of this configuration, the Monongahela National Forest, is covered by multiple National Weather Service offices. For a map of the fire weather zones in WV, see the appendix.

The RNK forecast area covers a portion of southeast West Virginia.

The West Virginia counties covered by WFO RNK (Blacksburg, VA) include:

West Virginia counties adjacent to these 4 counties are serviced by the National Weather Service Office in Charleston, WV (RLX).

National Weather Service Headquarters

NWS Headquarters, located in Silver Spring, Maryland, establishes policies and coordinates the national fire weather program. The national program manager coordinates the program with the regional program managers. The national program manager also works with the national headquarters of the Federal forestry and other natural resource management agencies and the Association of State Foresters in determining overall requirements for meteorological support. The national program manager coordinates national training in forestry and fire weather for NWS forecasters.

National Weather Service Regional Headquarters

Regional Headquarters manage the technical operational aspects of the fire weather program within each region. They also provide guidance and assistance to meteorologists-in-charge (MIC) on program operations and developing issues through Supplements to the National Directives System (NDS) and conferences. Regional Headquarters advise National Headquarters on matters pertaining to technical planning and operations. The regional program managers coordinate the regions' fire weather programs and advise the Regional Directors on the operational and administrative aspects of the regions' programs.

Weather Forecast Offices (WFO)

Weather Forecast Offices prepare and disseminate forecast products for all sectors of the population, including those for the Fire Weather program. These offices are responsible for providing forecasts for user agencies within their County Warning Area (CWA). Most offices have a designated fire weather focal point or fire weather program leader.

The National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices will provide 24-hour, 365 days a year service. The NWS WFO's can be reached at:

National Weather Service
VA Tech Corporate Research Center
1750 Forecast Drive
Blacksburg, Virginia 24060

National Weather Service
400 Parkway Road
Charleston, West Virginia 25309

NOTE: Unlisted telephone numbers used for coordination cannot be listed here. All user agencies have been or will be provided voice and fax numbers to be used for official purposes only.

Meteorologists-in-Charge (MIC)

The Meteorologists-in-Charge is responsible for the provision of adequate weather services for the offices' assigned areas of program responsibility. The MIC will ensure that the focal points or program leaders are provided adequate time for user liaison and assistance activities. MICs can be reached via email or through contact with their respective office:

Dave Wert, Blacksburg, VA

Alan Rezek, Charleston, WV

Program Leaders (or Focal Points)

Fire weather focal points and program leaders are the "customer service representatives" for the program. The focal points or program leaders, as representatives of the MIC's, are in regular contact with the partner agencies, helping them assess their meteorological needs, informing them of NWS products and services available to meet these needs, and educating them in the most effective use of the various NWS products and resources, including NOAA Weather Radio (NWR). Focal points and program leaders will work with users to utilize existing NWS products and services produced for other programs that could meet the requirements of natural resource management. The focal points and program leaders are also tasked with ensuring staff meteorologists are trained and remain proficient in preparing forecast products for support of the fire weather program. Fire Weather Program Leaders can be reached via e-mail or through contact with their respective office:

Phil Manuel (phillip.manuel@noaa.gov), Blacksburg, VA

Mark Pellerito (mark.pellerito@noaa.gov), Charleston, WV

Participating Agencies

The following agencies are participants of this operating plan:

NOAA National Weather Service

USDA Forest Service

WV Division of Forestry

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