George, Washington

Subject: experimental use of bulleted winter storm /WSW/
         and non precipitation /npw/ watch... warning and advisory
         products

Beginning today... December 8 2009... and ending may 29 2010... the
National Weather Service /NWS/ Spokane /otx/ weather forecast office
/WFO/ will issue winter weather /WSW/ and non precipitation /npw/
watch... warning and advisory products using an experimental bullet
format. The experimental bullet format is similar to the current
format for severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings. It is
easier for users to read and to quickly gather vital information
during hazardous winter and non-precipitation events. During the
test period... the Spokane WFO may temporarily revert back to the
current... non-bullet format... to maintain mission critical warning
services.

A product description document /pdd/ for these experimental
products... which includes a listing of other affected wfos and
examples of bullet formatted WSW and npw products... is available
at /use lowercase/:

http://products.Weather.Gov/viewliste.Php

Public comments are requested through may 29 2010 at /use lowercase/:

http://www.Weather.Gov/survey/NWS-survey.Php?Code=wswnpw

Upon the completion of this experimental period... the NWS will
evaluate all received comments to determine whether or not to
proceed with a National implementation of bulleted WSW/npw products.

If you have any comments or questions regarding this public
information statement... please contact:

   John Livingston
   meteorologist in charge
   National Weather Service Spokane weather forecast office
   509-244-0110
   John.Livingston@noaa.Gov