Amanda Graning Meteorologist/Forecaster

Amanda GraningMeteorologist/Forecaster

Matt TaraldsenSaint Cloud State UniversityMeteorology-Communications Student

Pete BoulayMN State Climatologist

Dr. Anthony HansenEarth and Atmospheric Sciences, SCSU

Dr. Suzanne Stangl-ErkensCommunication Studies, SCSU

MNgage

http://climate.umn.edu/

Background

2007 March 1st Blizzard Survey created through SCSU (.edu) Utilizes Online Survey Methods Became operational March 1st 2008, will continue

through winter 2010

“Need a process by which WFO [Weather Forecast Offices] can systematically gather local customer input and local research

results … and turn that information into improved products and services” Ray Wolf – Science and Operations Officer

(SOO) WFO Davenport, IA

Goals

Improve communication of winter weather hazards/warnings.

Gain insight into decision making related to hazardous weather

Not a critique of the forecast accuracy Available through variety of outlets Survey Results Available to all partners Goal for next season: Expand Availability. More Partners!

Creating the Survey Utilized Range of Departments at SCSU

Statistics, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Communication Studies, Technology

Created to follow Online Surveying Methods Questions were formulated similar to previous surveys

on parallel topics Developed Post Storm Survey Homepage through

SCSU where survey will be available Surveys Conducted Following Winter Storms that

require a Warning to be issued by the local NWS

View Post Storm Survey Home Page

Putting the Survey online

http://studentweb.stcloudstate.edu/tama0502/poststormsurvey.html

http://studentweb.stcloudstate.edu/tama0502/poststormsurvey.html

After a Storm Warning Expires Short event specific survey available to take on the PSS site

for 3 days Multiple survey links in case of multiple/overlapping events Continuous Updates to the PSS Web Site

Multiple Locations NWS “News of the Day” Section of Participating Offices MN State Climatologist Web Page Survey Link Distributed through MN Hidden Program SCSU Meteorology Dept. Web Page

MORE PARTNERS!

Posting the Online Survey

Test Season March-April 2008

Proposed for Winter Events Requiring a “Warning.” Didn’t quite work that way…

Not all Warning Events Late Season, but winter did arrive 3 good cases, over 500 responses

Wide Array of Events (All Affected NE Minnesota & NW Wisconsin) Blizzard of April 11th

Winter Storm of April 6th Snow Event of March 18th

Test Season EventsSnowfall Amounts20080 March 18th

Test Season Survey Results

Data went into an interactive web based interface Analyzed by Matt Taraldsen Presented Test Season Results:

Partners and Faculty at SCSU Presented at Northern Plains Winter Storm Conference

2008 Will be some minor adjustments to questions for

2008-2009 season

The Questions

Questions

Questions

Survey Responses and Results

Blizzard of April 11th 303 Respondents

Winter Storm of April 6th 103 Respondents Snow Event of March 18th 100 Respondents ---------------------- 503 total respondents

Where do you get your weather informationon a regular basis? (Select all that apply)

( Combined responses from all 3 events)

0.4% 2.2%

7.8%

30.2%

13.1%

4.8% 5.2% 3.5%

9.2%

23.2%

0.3%0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

Telepho

ne

Cell Pho

ne

NOAA Wx R

adio

NWS W

ebpa

ge

Other W

ebpag

e

Friends

Newspap

er

Radio

Cable T

V

Loca

l TV

Own Obs

ervatio

n

Responses

During this storm, where did you get your weather information? (Select All that Apply)

( Combined responses from all 3 events)

Responses

1.1% 2.6%6.0%

31.7%

11.6%

4.6%2.5%

6.3%9.9%

23.1%

0.7%0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

Telepho

ne

Cell Pho

ne

NOAA Wx R

adio

NWS W

ebpa

ge

Other W

ebpag

e

Friends

Newspap

er

Radio

Cable T

V

Loca

l TV

Own Obs

ervatio

n

1.1% 2.6%6.0%

31.7%

11.6%

4.6%2.5%

6.3%9.9%

23.1%

0.7%0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

Telepho

ne

Cell Pho

ne

NOAA Wx R

adio

NWS W

ebpa

ge

Other W

ebpag

e

Friends

Newspap

er

Radio

Cable T

V

Loca

l TV

Own Obs

ervatio

n

0.4% 2.2%

7.8%

30.2%

13.1%

4.8% 5.2% 3.5%

9.2%

23.2%

0.3%0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

Telepho

ne

Cell Pho

ne

NOAA Wx R

adio

NWS W

ebpa

ge

Other W

ebpag

e

Friends

Newspap

er

Radio

Cable T

V

Loca

l TV

Own Obs

ervatio

n

Normally

During Storm

2.8%

27.5%

2.8%

23.7%

1.4% 0.5%

25.1%

11.4%

0.5%4.3%

0.0%5.0%

10.0%15.0%20.0%

25.0%30.0%

Emergenc

y Sur

vival

Kit

Extra F

ood/W

ater

Filled P

resc

riptio

nGas

Salt/S

hove

l

Genera

tor

Incre

ased

Com

munica

tion

NoneOthe

r

Extra T

ime f

or D

riving

Based on the forecast, what special preparations did you take for this storm? (select all that apply)

Blizzard2008 April 11th


1.5%

10.6%

2.3%

16.7%

3.0% 0.8%

21.2%

37.1%

2.3% 4.5%

0.0%5.0%

10.0%15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%

Emergenc

y Sur

vival

Kit

Extra F

ood/W

ater

Filled P

resc

riptio

nGas

Salt/S

hove

l

Genera

tor

Incre

ased

Com

munica

tion

NoneOthe

r

Extra T

ime f

or D

riving

Winter Storm2008 April 6th


0.3% 3.7% 0.3%

16.8%

1.7% 0.3%

12.8%

59.4%

0.9% 4.0%0.0%

10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%

Emerge

ncy S

urviv

al Kit

Extra F

ood/W

ater

Filled p

resc

riptio

nGas

Salt/S

hove

l

Genera

tor

Increa

sed C

ommun

icatio

nNon

eOthe

r

Extra T

ime f

or Driv

ing

Snow Event2008 March 18th

Based on the forecast, what special preparations did you take for this storm?

Blizzard

Food and Water: 28%

Gas: 24%

Increased Communication: 25%

Nothing: 11% Extra Driving Time: 4%

Winter Storm

Food and Water: 11%

Gas: 17%



Snow Event Food and Water: 4%

Gas: 17%



Results

Snow Advisory 2008 March 18th

Why Did You Alter Your Routine?

41.5%

18.1%

4.3%1.1% 1.1%

7.4%

0.0%5.0%

10.0%15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%45.0%

poor travel hazard consistency offorecast

snowed in work/schoolclosed

other

Why did you NOT Alter Your Routine?

0.5% 0.0%

37.3%

7.7% 5.7% 4.8%7.2%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

40.0%

had truck did nothave togo tow ork

stormw as not

bad

forecastw as notaccurate

did nothaveplans

temps. stormnormalfor MN

(Open Response)

Winter Storm2008 April 6th


34.1%

0.0%

17.1%

7.3%

0.0%0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

40.0%

poor travel hazard (blizzardconditions)

consistency snowed in work/schoolclosed

Why Did You NOT Alter Your Routine?

4.8%

0.0%

22.6%

4.8%

16.1%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

normal for MN did not have to goto work

storm was notbad

forecast was notaccurate

did not haveplans

(Open Response)


48.0% 45.3%

9.3%

21.3%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

poor travel hazard (blizzardconditions)

consistency work/school closed

Why Did You NOT Alter Your Routine?

8.0%

12.0% 12.0% 12.0%

20.0%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

had truck did not have to goto work

storm was notbad

forecast was notaccurate

did not haveplans

Blizzard2008 April 11th

(Open Response)

Interesting perception…

“I live in Northern MN, a snow storm with 25” is not a big deal.”

Conclusions

Significant number of respondents stated they altered their routine because concerned about road conditions/travel.

People did not react as much to meteorlogic terminology such as sleet and freezing rain; not a direct impact?

There was an increase in preparedness (gas, food water, communication) with highly anticipated blizzard versus low end snow event

Climatology plays major factor….what is viewed as “normal Minnesota”? A new question?

Expand Availability More PARTNERS!

Media Other Weather Related Outlets Universities

The Future

How to get involved? Survey results will be updated as new cases

are explored. If you are interested in becoming a partner,

and hosting a link to the Post Storm Survey on your website,

please send an email to

[email protected]

Thank You!

[email protected]

Matt TaraldsenSaint Cloud State UniversityMeteorology-Communications Student

Documents

Amanda Graning Meteorologist/Forecaster