Improving Local Drought Awareness and Messaging Using New NWS Drought Information Statements
NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) recently developed a modernized Drought Information Statement (DGT), a product issued by NWS Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) that synthesizes local drought conditions, impacts, and outlooks. On September 1, 2023, NWS launched an experimental implementation of the modernized DGT, based on a pre-populated Google Slides template that incorporates graphics and enables collaboration between neighboring WFOs.
This webinar, co-hosted by NWS and NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), reviewed the DGT modernization effort, showcased the new DGT template and format, outlined the expectations for DGT authors, and shared examples of the modernized DGT that were developed during a recent beta test with selected WFOs.
Sharing local drought impacts and mitigation actions with stakeholders, particularly in the water resources and agriculture sectors, is an important component of the DGT. During this webinar, Dr. Kelly Helm Smith from the National Drought Mitigation Center reviewed sources of drought impact information, including Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and the Drought Impact Reporter.
August 28 Webinar Details
Date/Time: August 28, 2023 from 3–4 pm EDT
Agenda:
- Overview of the new DGT template and instructions for WFO staff
- Case studies from local offices
- Q&A on new DGT template
- Accessing impact information: Overview of key national to local drought impact resources
2023–2024 NWS-NIDIS Webinar Series: Strengthening the NWS Drought Toolbox
The August 28 webinar is part of the NWS-NIDIS Webinar Series: Strengthening the NWS Drought Toolbox. NWS and NIDIS are jointly hosting this webinar series, which will enable NWS field office staff, and operational meteorologists and climatologists, to embed new drought tools, products and insights into local and regional drought services.
Future webinars in this series will focus on:
- Monitoring, Predicting, and Communicating Flash Drought in Your Region (October 17, 2023)
- Assessing Drought in a Changing Climate (December 6, 2023)
- Identifying Key Drought Indicators for Your Location and Application (TBD 2024)
- Understanding, Translating, and Messaging Drought Conditions: Providing Guidance to Stakeholders During a Drought (TBD 2024)
For more information, please contact Maggie Hurwitz (margaret.hurwitz@noaa.gov) or Meredith Muth (meredith.f.muth@noaa.gov).
