Forecaster Winter Weather Jobsheets

Using the Zorro Tool to Create Hazard Events

Purpose:

This jobsheet uses the Zorro tool to create a hazard from a GFE edit area

Tasks:

Using the Zorro Tool to create a hazard event

Setup

  1. Ensure the Zorro tool has been configured via the DescriptorDictionary.py file
  2. Have SnowAmt, IceAccum, Wx, etc. grids loaded with canned data, if possible.
  3. Launch Hazard Services with the NPW Settings file.

 

Creating a hazard event from a predefined edit area using the Zorro Tool 

  1. From the Tools pull-down menu, select the Zorro Tool.

     
    1. It will launch and will look like this:

       
  2. Ensure Use Predefined Edit Area/Location Descriptor and Create Hazard from Edit Area are selected
  3.  From the pull-down menu select one of the available predefined edit areas.
  4. Select Run.
    1. An undefined hazard will be created, as shown                 

       
  5. Select the undefined hazard from the Console (it will highlight blue) to activate the HID

  6. Choose the hazard type (e.g. Dense Fog Advisory (FG.Y)) and adjust the time range and HID selections, as needed

    1. Note that the location descriptor in the HID populated with the information from the Zorro tool

  7. Select Propose
    1. Verify a GFE Hazards grid populated over the edit area for the time range
  8. Click Preview
    1. Verify the correct Location Descriptor in the Summary Headline and What bullet:

  9. In the Product Editor, select Dismiss.
  10. In the Console, right click on the hazard event and select Delete This --> Yes.

 

Creating a hazard event using the active edit area in GFE

Method 1 - Use an existing edit area from the Edit Areas menu

  1. Click the Edit Areas menu in GFE to bring up the list of configured edit areas for your site and select one to load
  2. Run the Zorro Tool.
    1. On the Hazard Services toolbar, select the Zorro Tool from the Tools pull-down menu
    2. In the resulting Zorro Tool dialog box, enable Use Active Edit Area and Location Descriptor.
      1. Edit the Descriptor text field as shown. Do not forget the connector wording such as for, as appropriate.
      2. Click Run. An undefined hazard will be created.
  3. Select the undefined hazard from the Console (it will highlight blue) to activate the HID

  4. Choose the Hazard type and adjust the time range, as needed

    1. Note that the location descriptor in the HID populated with the information from the Zorro tool

  5. Select Propose
    1. Verify a GFE Hazards grid populated over the edit area
  6. Click Preview
    1. Verify the correct Location Descriptor in the Summary Headline and What bullet:

  7. In the Product Editor, select Dismiss.
  8. In the Console, right click on the hazard event and select Delete This --> Yes.

 

Method 2 - hand draw an edit area

  1. Select the Draw Edit Area Tool  icon on the GFE toolbar.
    1. Note the Draw Edit Area Tool icon is activated and drawing in Hazard Services is disabled.
  2. Draw a free-hand edit area on the Spatial Display.                                                                                

  3. Run the Zorro Tool.
    1. On the Hazard Services toolbar, select the Zorro Tool from the Tools pull-down menu
    2. In the resulting Zorro Tool dialog box, enable Use Active Edit Area and Location Descriptor.
    3. Edit the Descriptor text field as shown. Do not forget the connector wording such as for, as appropriate.

    4. Select Run. An undefined hazard will be created.
  4. Select the undefined hazard from the Console (it will highlight blue) to activate the HID

  5. Choose the Hazard type (e.g. Dense Smoke Advisory (SM.Y)) and adjust the time range, as needed

    1. Note that the location descriptor in the HID populated with the information from the Zorro tool

  6. Select Propose
    1. Verify a GFE Hazards grid populated over the edit area for the correct time range
  7. Click Preview
    1. Verify the correct Location Descriptor in the Summary Headline and What bullet:

  8. In the Product Editor, select Dismiss.
  9. In the Console, right click on the hazard event and select Delete This --> Yes.
     

Method 3 - use the query tool to create an edit area

  1. Select the Query Tool   icon on the GFE toolbar.
  2. The Edit Area and Query interface will appear. Choose an element and threshold from which to create a query.
    1. Click Convert To Location to ensure Hazard Services can handle the area
       
  3. Once you have an edit area generated, run the Zorro Tool.
  4. On the Hazard Services toolbar, select the Zorro Tool from the Tools pull-down menu
    1. In the resulting Zorro Tool dialog box, enable Use Active Edit Area and Location Descriptor.
    2. Edit the Descriptor text field as shown. Do not forget the connector wording such as for, as appropriate. 

    3. Select Run. An undefined hazard will be created.
  5. Select the undefined hazard from the Console (it will highlight blue) to activate the HID

  6. Choose the Hazard type (e.g. Dense Fog Advisory (FG.Y)) and adjust the time range and HID selections, as needed

    1. Note that the location descriptor in the HID populated with the information from the Zorro tool

  7. Select Propose
    1. Verify a GFE Hazards grid populated over the edit area for the correct time range
  8. Click Preview
    1. Verify the correct Location Descriptor in the Summary Headline and What bullet:

  9. In the Product Editor, select Dismiss.
  10. In the Console, right click on the hazard event and select Delete This --> Yes.
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