The AFOS Program and Future Forecast Applications

Abstract

The Automation of Field Operations and Services (AFOS) program of the National Weather Service will provide a new dimension to local weather analysis and forecasting. By providing minicomputers, video displays and high-speed communications to over 200 weather stations around the country, AFOS will greatly increase the forecaster's ability to assess, process, display and disseminate meteorological information. New prediction techniques will become feasible such as automatically monitoring and updating aviation terminal forecasts, providing computer-worded objective public forecasts, and using digitized radar data to update and improve precipitation, hydrologic and thunderstorm forecasts. The progress of research projects to develop these new analysis and forecast method for local application in the AFOS system is described, and the latest status of the AFOS program is discussed.