30 March 2007 - Now Available: Update 2.1.2.2e

WRF EMS: What is it?

The SOO/STRC WRF EMS is a complete, full-physics, numerical weather prediction (NWP) package that incorporates dynamical cores from both the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Advanced Research WRF (ARW) and the National Center for Environmental Predictions' (NCEP) Non-hydrostatic Mesoscale Model (NMM-WRF) releases into a single end-to-end forecasting system. Nearly all the capabilities of the individual NCEP and NCAR packages are retained within the STRC EMS; however, installation, configuration, and running of the NCEP and NCAR versions has been greatly simplified to encourage its use by NWS forecast offices and the University community. No compilers are necessary as statically-linked x32 and x64 binaries are provided for both distributed and shared memory Linux systems. The SOO/STRC WRF EMS is easy to run on most Linux workstations; it should be possible for those with limited modeling experience to have the system installed and running in less than 1 hour.

Why should you care?

The NWS SOO Science and Training Resource Center version of the WRF modeling package was developed to promote the local use of numerical weather prediction models in the Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) and to achieve the following goals set by the SOO Science and Training Resource Coordinator (SOO STRC):

1. To improve the knowledge and use of NWP forecast models and issues at the local level

2. To advance the forecasting process through an improved understanding of mesoscale atmospheric processes and the use of non-traditional diagnostic tools

3. To increase participation among the WFOs and other agencies in developing and executing NWP studies to examine local forecast problems

Running the WRF EMS locally at the WFOs will serve to provide:

1) NWP guidance to WFO and River Forecast Center (RFC) forecasters at temporal and spatial scales not available from operational data sources,

2) a powerful tool for studying local forecast problems and historically significant weather events,

3) an alternative to the configuration and physics of operational systems,

4) a means to develop and test new diagnostic forecast techniques, and

5) a method of training forecasters on NWP-related issues.

What if I need help?

The SOO/STRC WRF EMS modeling package is fully supported by the NWS Science and Training Resource Coordinator. I will assist your office in any aspect of setting up and running the model and getting data to the forecasters. Binaries are provided for those who don't have a compiler. Note that the package is always under development, so please feel free to send me you suggestions for improvement. Support is also available to other government agencies upon request. Non-governmental agencies, such as the academic and commercial sectors are also welcome to use the WRF EMS; however, support will be limited and up to the discretion of the STRC.

How do I get it?

The SOO/STRC WRF EMS is available on DVD upon request from the SOO STRC. If you have any questions regarding installation please see the Users Guide or just call me.