Department of Commerce • National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration • National Weather Service NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INSTRUCTION 10-1605 MARCH 23, 2016 Operations and Services Performance, NWSPD 10-16 STORM DATA PREPARATION NOTICE: This publication is available at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/directives/. OPR: W/COO11 (B. MacAloney) Certified by: W/COO1 (C. Woods) Certified by: OS5 (W. Lerner) Type of Issuance: Routine SUMMARY OF REVISIONS: This Directive supersedes National Weather Service Instruction (NWSI) 10-1605, dated August 17, 2007. The following changes were made: Changes made to reflect the NWS Headquarters reorganization effective April 1, 2015. Several new events were introduced: Marine Dense Fog, Marine Heavy Freezing Spray, Marine Hurricane/Typhoon, Marine Lightning, Marine Tropical Depression, Marine Tropical Storm, and Sneaker Wave. Addition of an “EF-scale Unknown” rating option for observed tornadoes without visible damage evidence. Use of the phrase “widespread or localized” was replaced with this phrase: If the event that occurred is considered significant, even though it affected a small area, it should be entered into Storm Data. Maximum span of days of events within an episode was changed from 3 to 5 days. References to urban/small stream flooding were moved from the Heavy Rain event to the Flooding event. Use of Doppler wind estimates in determining the EF-rating of a tornado or value of thunderstorm wind gusts has been disallowed. Sections concerning Weekly Warning Reports, Outstanding Storms of the Month, and Appendix B: Property Damage Estimates were removed. Guidance was added to the High Wind and tropical events for handling tropical systems that maintain an identity well inland. -signed- March 9, 2016 John D. Murphy Date Chief Operating Officer NWSI 10-1605 MARCH 23, 2016 Storm Data Preparation Table of Contents: Page 1. Storm Data Disclaimer ............................................................................................................. 4 1.1 Local Data Retention Requirements .............................................................................................................. 5 2. Storm Data Preparation ............................................................................................................ 5 2.1 Permitted Storm Data Events...................................................................................................................... 5 2.1.1 Storm Data Event Table ......................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Aircraft/Marine Incidents ........................................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Time............................................................................................................................................................ 7 2.3.1 Winter Weather Event Times................................................................................................................. 7 2.3.2 Events that Span More than One Month ................................................................................................ 7 2.4 Location ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.5 Event Source ............................................................................................................................................... 8 2.5.1 Storm Data Event Source Table ............................................................................................................ 9 2.6 Fatalities/Injuries ........................................................................................................................................ 9 2.6.1 Direct Fatalities/Injuries ...................................................................................................................... 10 2.6.1.1 Specifying Direct Fatality Locations............................................................................................... 11 2.6.1.2 Direct Fatality Location Table ........................................................................................................ 11 2.6.2 Indirect Fatalities/Injuries .................................................................................................................... 12 2.6.3 Delayed Fatalities ................................................................................................................................ 13 2.7 Damage ..................................................................................................................................................... 13 2.7.1 Flood-Related Damage ........................................................................................................................ 14 2.7.2 Crop Damage Data............................................................................................................................... 14 2.7.3 Other Related Costs ............................................................................................................................. 14 2.7.4 Delayed Damage .................................................................................................................................. 14 2.8 Magnitude of Storm .................................................................................................................................. 15 2.9 Textual Description of Storm (Narrative) ................................................................................................. 15 2.9.1 Episode Narrative ................................................................................................................................ 15 2.9.2 Event Narrative .................................................................................................................................... 16 2.9.3 Cause of Event ..................................................................................................................................... 17 2.10 Pictures ..................................................................................................................................................... 17 3. Disposition of Storm Data...................................................................................................... 18 4. Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Confirmation Reports .................................................... 18 4.1 Table of SPC Statistical Messages ........................................................................................................... 19 5. Event Types ............................................................................................................................ 19 APPENDIX A ............................................................................................................................. A-1 1 Astronomical Low Tide (Z) ................................................................................................................... A-1 2 Avalanche (Z) ........................................................................................................................................ A-1 3 Blizzard (Z) ........................................................................................................................................... A-2 4 Coastal Flood (Z) ................................................................................................................................... A-3 5 Cold/Wind Chill (Z) .............................................................................................................................. A-4 6 Debris Flow (C) ..................................................................................................................................... A-6 7 Dense Fog (Z) ........................................................................................................................................ A-6 8 Dense Smoke (Z) ................................................................................................................................... A-7 9 Drought (Z) ............................................................................................................................................ A-8 10 Dust Devil (C) ....................................................................................................................................... A-9 11 Dust Storm (Z) ..................................................................................................................................... A-10 12 Excessive Heat (Z) .............................................................................................................................. A-11 12.1 Heat Index Table ............................................................................................................................. A-13 13 Extreme Cold/Wind Chill (Z) .............................................................................................................. A-13 13.1 Wind Chill Table ............................................................................................................................ A-15 14 Flash Flood (C) .................................................................................................................................... A-15 2 NWSI 10-1605 MARCH 23, 2016 14.1 Suggested Specific Guidelines .......................................................................................................