Last Updated : January 25, 2011
www.ofcm.gov
NATIONAL SEVERE LOCAL STORMS OPERATIONS PLAN

FCM-P11-2010

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In 1967, the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research received an interagency request to develop the first National Severe Local Storms Operations Plan (NSLSOP). This plan is the 26th version of the NSLSOP and is one of several operations plans produced under the auspices of the Federal Coordinator. This plan supersedes the 2001 version and incorporates significant revisions and changes recommended by the participating agencies through their representatives on the Joint Action Group for Severe Local Storms Operations (JAG/SLSO) of the interagency Committee for Environmental Services, Operations, and Research Needs (C/ESORN).

Because of their intensity, small spatial scale, and tendency for rapid development, severe local storms present a great challenge to both the science of meteorology and to the interagency cooperation required to disseminate warning information rapidly. This plan outlines the responsibilities of the various U.S. Federal agencies that provide meteorological services in observing, forecasting, and warning of severe local storms. It also defines meteorological terms used by the agencies preparing severe local storms forecasts and warnings; identifies operational warning criteria and procedures; and discusses communications, observations, and some public release aspects of warnings for severe local storms.
The Entire Plan - (FCM-P11-2010) (.pdf - 2.2MB)
  • Cover, Foreword, Table of Contents
 (.pdf - 949kb)
  • Chapter 1 - RESPONSIBILITIES OF COOPERATING AGENCIES
 (.pdf - 49kb)
  • Chapter 2 - DEFINITIONS AND CRITERIA
 (.pdf - 223kb)
  • Chapter 3 - GENERAL OPERATIONS AND PROCEDURES
 (.pdf - 192kb)
  • Chapter 4 - COMMUNICATIONS
 (.pdf - 806kb)
  • Chapter 5 - OBSERVATIONS
 (.pdf - 173kb)
  • Chapter 6 - PUBLICITY
 (.pdf - 20kb)
  • Appendix A - Text Product Examples
 (.pdf - 53kb)
  • Appendix B - CONUS Military Bases and Corresponding Weather Forecast Offices
 (.pdf - 36kb)
  • Appendix C - Contingency Backup Operations
 (.pdf - 36kb)
  • Appendix D - State Contacts for NAWAS Network
 (.pdf - 40kb)
  • Appendix E - Abbreviation and Acronyms
 (.pdf - 42kb)
  • Appendix F - Members of the Joint Action Group for Severe Local Storms Operations
 (.pdf - 19kb)