Monthly International Weather Briefings
The WMO Virtual Laboratory Regional Focus Group of the Americas and Caribbean conducted 2 monthly English and Spanish weather briefings (for August, and September 2010) through VISITview using GOES and POES satellite Imagery from CIRA (http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/training/rmtc/focusgroup.asp ) and voice via Yahoo Messenger. There were participants from the U.S.: CIRA, and the NWS Training Division, as well as outside the U.S.: Antigua, Argentina, Barbados, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guyana, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The participants included researchers and students as well as forecasters. The discussions were well attended with an average of 19 computer connections and multiple participants at many sites. Vilma Castro in Costa Rica led the discussion during August. Kathy-Ann Caesar in Barbados provided comments on the local indirect effects of tropical storm Danielle. Matias Bertolotti from Argentina pointed out the dry regions in South America and commented on fires and widespread smoke. This led to a broader discussion of la Niña conditions, how long they are expected to last and what countries also expect under el Niño conditions. During September, Kathy-Ann Caesar in Barbados provided comments on the tutt induced trough that formed the previous day and was producing heavy showers and thundershowers over the region from Trinidad to Dominica. This area of invest moved west in the Caribbean and became tropical storm Matthew. During both sessions, participants provided comments on local and regional current weather phenomena. (B. Connell)During the last three months, Barbados has also been conducting bi-monthly briefings for the Eastern Caribbean to introduce forecasters in training to the operational forecasters from the region. CIRA has been assisting with the logistics of the sessions and providing imagery through the RAMMB server listed above. (B. Connell)
Sharing of Imagery and Products
Imagery for Central and South America and the Caribbean can now be viewed at one location through RAMSDIS Online – look for the new 2-week archive feature (thanks Kevin!): (http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/ramsdis/online/rmtc.asp).
Look for information on our activities on the Regional Training Center web page. http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/training/rmtc/
(B. Connell, D. Coleman, D. Watson, K. Micke)