NOAA/National Weather Service's Warning Decision Training BranchUnited States Department of Commerce
Commerce Learning Center

FY25 WOC Severe Track Will Open Soon

The FY25 version of the WOC Severe Track is now available. If you want to sign up for the next available WOC Severe, please complete the WOC Severe Registration Form. Note: You should coordinate with your local training facilitators (e.g., SOO) before completing this form.

Training Events Planning Calendar
Residence/Virtual Courses
Web-Based Training Release Dates

Warning Decision Training Division

Office of Chief Learning Officer

Warning Operations Course (WOC): Severe Track

How to Register?

The FY25 version of the severe track of the Warning Operations Course is now available. If you want to sign up for the next available WOC Severe, please complete the WOC Severe Registration Form. Note: You should coordinate with your local training facilitators (e.g., SOO) before completing this form.

Course Description

The Warning Operations Course Severe Track (WOC Severe) is designed to improve the performance of NWS offices during severe and near-severe weather (i.e. severe thunderstorms and tornadoes). The course that consists of approximately 25-30 hours of training material on topics that are relevant to severe weather warning decision-making. Required elements include:

  • Distance modules
  • Forecast Challenge
  • Live, instructor-led webinars
  • WES simulation

WOC Severe modules include a combination of learning technologies including web-based recorded modules, live instructor-led webinars, and Weather Event Simulator 2 (WES-2) simulations. The course is designed to allow NWS staff to participate with the assistance of an on-site training facilitator (SOO, DOH, or locally appointed training officer). Instructional components for NWS employees are tracked by the training facilitator using the NOAA Learning Management System.

Course Outline

Click on the panels below to access the content for each topic of the course. For most lessons, there will be two ways to access the training materials:

  • Web Version - Lesson streams from the WDTD web server, accessible to all, and doesn't require login
  • LMS Version - Lessons link to NWS Learning Center (aka: LMS), where NOAA employees can obtain and track completion credit; login is required to access.

The lesson content is the same for each link. All recorded web modules are available online, but the live instructor-led webinars, forecast challenge, and WES-2 simulation are only available to NOAA employees. NWS employees enrolled in WOC Severe should already have all of the WOC course content provided in a curriculum on their personal transcript. However, you can also use the LMS link from this website to access the content and ensure you receive completion credit.

WOC Severe Orientation
Mesoanalysis
Model-Based Information
Storm Structures and Hazards
Data Fusion
Warning Methodology
Climatology and Verification
Severe Weather Operations
Live Instructor-Led Webinar (Requirement: Attend 1)
Forecast Challenge
WES Simulation

Other Documentation