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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
757 PM EDT Tue May 6 2025

To:  Subscribers:
  -NOAA Weather Wire Service
  -Emergency Managers Weather Information Network
  -NOAAPORT
  Other NWS Partners and Employees

From:Brian Haines, Meteorologist in Charge
        WFO Charleston, SC

Subject:  WFO Charleston to test backup capabilities of new warning
          generation software.

On Monday, May 19, 2025 at 900 AM EDT (1300 UTC) the Weather
Forecast Office (WFO) in Charleston, SC, will conduct a test
of service backup capabilities using new warning generation
software known called Convective Hazard Services. The purpose of
this test is to evaluate how the current AWIPS warning software
utilized at NWS Weather Forecast Offices across the country will
follow-up warnings issued by Convective Hazard Services. A backup
date of Wednesday, May 21, 2025 will be used if hazardous weather
is ongoing on May 19 or if a Critical Weather Day is declared.

The test will involve three Weather Forecast Offices; the primary
warning office WFO Charleston, SC, and its primary and secondary
backup offices WFOs Wilmington, NC, and Columbia, SC. The Special
Marine Warning and its follow-up product, the Marine Weather
Statement, will be utilized during the test.

Products To Be Tested             AWIPS PIL      WMO ID
-----------------------           ---------      -----------
Special Marine Warning             SMWCHS        WHUS52 KCHS
Marine Weather Statement           MWSCHS        FZUS72 KCHS

All test messages issued during the exercise will be clearly
identified as a TEST in the Mass New Disseminator (MND) heading and
throughout the text of the product. In addition, the MND will
include the name of the primary or secondary WFO when test products
are issued from those offices in a backup capacity.

A Valid Time Event Code (VTEC) Product Class of "T" indicating a
TEST message will be utilized along with a Phenomena of "MA" (Marine)
and Significance of "W" (Warning) in all products that are issued.

The TEST Special Marine Warning will be issued for the coastal
marine zone Edisto Beach, SC to Savannah, GA out 20 to 40 NM. This
zone was selected given this area usually has little direct
impact to boat traffic into and out of the Ports of Charleston and
Savannah should the test products be misinterpreted as an
actual warning.

Marine Zone Impacted                 UGC Code
-----------------------------        --------
Waters from Edisto Beach, SC         AMZ372
to Savannah, GA extending from
20 to 40 NM.

Testing procedure (all times listed are approximate):

* 900-915 AM EDT (1300-1315 UTC): WFO Charleston issues a TEST
  Special Marine Warning for AMZ372.
* 915-930 AM EDT (1315-1330 UTC): WFO Wilmington issues a TEST
  Marine Weather Statement (in a backup capacity to WFO Charleston)
  as follow-up to the TEST Special Marine Warning.
* 930-945 AM EDT (1330-1345 UTC: WFO Columbia issues a TEST Marine
  Weather Statement (in a backup capacity to WFO Charleston) to
  cancel the TEST Special Marine Warning.

Times listed above may be modified during the test. The test should
conclude by 1000 AM EDT (1400 UTC).

If you have questions or comments, please contact:

 Steven Taylor
 Hazard Services Program Lead
 WFO Charleston, SC
 steven.taylor@noaa.gov
 843-747-5860

 or

 Ron Morales
 Warning Coordination Meteorologist
 WFO Charleston, SC
 ron.morarles@noaa.gov
 843-744-1436

$$