Communications - Total Operational Weather Readiness - Satellites (TOWR-S)
April Newsletter
Quick Hits (Key Updates At-a-Glance)
- Update on TOWR-S Communications: This month’s newsletter will be the final Communications Newsletter for the foreseeable future. Please note that the Satellite Book Club Series will continue as usual. For ongoing questions regarding TOWR-S communications, VLab updates, or related activities, please contact Derek VanPelt.
ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
MTG Product Prioritization Effort Underway
NWS is gathering input to help prioritize Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) instruments and data products for potential integration into operational workflows. MTG, operated by EUMETSAT, is expected to support NOAA operations including tropical storm tracking, improved measurement of Atlantic sea surface temperatures, and enhanced guidance for global forecasting.
In coordination with NCCF, a working spreadsheet has been developed to capture product needs and preferences across field offices where MTG provides data. This input will help inform and refine the formal NWS data request and guide future implementation planning.
VLab Site and Product Baseline Refresh Underway
The TOWR-S Communications team has conducted a refresh of the VLab sites and the product baseline list to improve overall usability and content quality. These updates are ongoing and focused on archiving outdated or redundant information, elevating clear and mission-critical content for easier access, and ensuring that all pages, links, and resources remain accurate and fully functional.
As this effort progresses, users may notice updates to page content, structure, and available datasets across VLab. This work is intended to create a more streamlined and reliable experience for operational users.
If you encounter any issues, inconsistencies, or have questions during this process, please reach out to Derek VanPelt.
ASOS SCP Update
A routine quarterly SCP update was completed this month, reflecting standard maintenance and data quality adjustments. A summary of changes can be found here.
Satellite Book Club
The SBC Seminar Series convenes weekly in 2026 on Thursdays at 1:00 PM ET, providing a forum for forecasters and scientists across NWS and the broader NOAA satellite community to share topics of interest. Discussions include operational applications of satellite data, updates to polar and geostationary satellite programs, and other satellite-related developments relevant to the field. Past seminars can be found on this YouTube page.
If you would like to receive information on upcoming presentations, posted recordings, and other updates for the SBC Seminar Series, you can subscribe using the form linked here. SBC sessions are held via Google Meet, and the meeting room can be found here.
Recent and Upcoming Sessions
- April 23, 2026
The SPoRT Lightning Safety Product | Chris Schultz (NASA SPoRT) - April 30, 2026
Establishing an Embedded Meteorologist at a County Emergency Operations Center: A model for the future of NWS support | Linda Engebretson (DLH) - May 7, 2026
Geostationary Lightning Mapper in Aviation Weather Services | Scott Rudlosky (NESDIS/STAR) - May 14, 2026
Dec 2021 Great Plains and Midwest Severe Weather Event Review | Amanda Wekesser (OAX) - May 21, 2026
Unique Observational Challenges of Pago Pago, American Samoa, and How Satellites Fill That Niche | Tim Wagner (CIMSS) - May 28, 2026
Recent Advances in NOAA’s Satellite-Based Land Product Suite | Peng Yu (CISESS / University of Maryland) - June 4, 2026
The Microwave Data Intercomparison Project | Galina Chirokova & Mark DeMaria (CIRA)
If you have a question, would like to submit a request or suggest an edit to our existing pages, please use this short form. Submissions are anonymous unless an email is optionally provided.
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