2.1    Mesoscale Modeling at NCEP: Where We Are and Where We're     Going

DiMego, Geoff, NWS/NCEP/EMC and Janjic, Zavisa, NWS/NCEP/EMC and Pyle, Matthew, NWS/NCEP/EMC and Chuang, Hui-Ya, NWS/NCEP/EMC,  and Rogers, Eric, NWS/NCEP/EMC, and Black, Tom, NWS/NCEP/EMC, and Wu, Wan-Shu, NWS/NCEP/EMC, and Parrish, David, NWS/NCEP/EMC, Lin, Ying, NWS/NCEP/EMC, and Ferrier, Brad, IMSG

This talk will describe the recent implementations that have occurred in NCEP operations and to highlight those involving WRF model, initialization and post processing components.  The systems will include: 1) the HiResWindow which consists of runs of both WRF-ARW and WRF-NMM at convection-allowing resolutions; 2) North American Mesoscale (NAM) which now runs in the Nonhydrostatic Multiscale Model on B-grid (NMMB) in NOAA Environmental Modeling System (NEMS) and includes four fixed nests in 3-6km and a single placeable ultrafine 1.33-1.5km nest; and 3) Short Range Ensemble Forecasts (SREF).  System descriptions, verification statistics and lessons learned will be presented for each.  A discussion of our future roadmap which points towards a Weather-Ready Nation and Warn-on-Forecast will conclude the presentation.