Space Weather Prediction Testbed 2026
Bulk Electric System Exercise
Agenda
Day 1 (Tuesday, August 18th and 25th)
Arrive
08:00 - 08:30 Arrive NOAA David Skaggs Research Center
Introductions
08:30 - 08:40 Welcome and Introductions (Clinton Wallace, NOAA SWPC)
08:40 - 08:45 Logistics (Denise Miller, NOAA SWPC)
08:45 - 08:55 Round the Room Introductions (Hazel Bain, NOAA SWPC)
Scene Setting
09:00 - 09:30 NOAA SWPC Forecast Office (Rob Steenburgh, NOAA SWPC)
09:35 - 09:45 FERC (Joe McClelland, FERC)
09:45 - 10:00 NERC (Bill Graham/Mark Olson, NERC)
10:00 - 10:30 Break (30 mins)
Product Previews
10:30 - 10:45 Exercise Objectives (Hazel Bain, NOAA SWPC)
10:45 - 11:00 Space Weather Product Ladder Transformation (Bri Muhlestein, NOAA SWPC)
11:00 - 11:15 NOAA/SWPC Geoelectric Field Project (Jordan Guerra, CIRES/SWPC)
11:15 - 11:30 Space Weather Scales Revision (Bill Murtagh, Lynker/SWPC)
11:30 - 12:00 Split Into Working Groups & Introductions
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch (60 mins)
13:00 - 13:05 Afternoon Objectives (Hazel Bain, NOAA/SWPC)
13:05 - 13:20 March 1989 Space Weather Summary (David Boteler, NRCan)
Exercise Begins - Event #1
13:20 - 14:30 March 1989 Storm - Simulation Start
Working Group Discussions
- Integration of Space Weather Information Into BES Industry Tools
- Evaluation of Geoelectric Field Products
14:30 - 15:00 Working Group Report Outs and Discussion
15:00 - 15:30 Break (30 mins)
15:30 - 16:30
Full Group Discussion
- Validation Studies
- Forecast Potential for Geoelectric Field Models
Wrap Up
16:30 - 17:00 Wrap Up
18:00 - 20:00 Social at Pattern Break Brewing
Day 2 (Wednesday, August 19th and 26th)
Event #2
08:00 - 08:30 Arrive NOAA David Skaggs Research Center
08:30 - 08:45 Day 2 Welcome (Hazel Bain)
Exercise Begins - Event #2
08:45 - 09:00 Space Weather Activity Briefing (Rob Steenburgh/Shawn Dahl, NOAA/SWPC)
09:00 - 10:10 Gannon Storm - Simulation Start
Working Group Discussions
- Newly Proposed Space Weather Statement
- Forecaster Analysis Process
- WSA-ENLIL + CME Arrival Time Ensembles
- Updated Space Weather Statement
10:10 - 10:30 Working Group Report Outs and Discussion
10:30 - 11:00 Break (30 mins)
11:00 - 11:40 Gannon Storm - Simulation Resumes
Working Group Discussions
- Newly Proposed Space Weather Watch
- Partner Email Briefing
11:40 - 12:00 Working Group Report Outs and Discussion
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch/Group Picture (60 mins)
13:00 - 13:05 Space Weather Activity Update (Rob Steenburgh/Shawn Dahl, NOAA/SWPC)
13:05 - 14:10 Gannon Storm - Simulation Resumes
Working Group Discussions
- Newly Proposed Space Weather Warning
- Alerts vs Updated Warnings
14:10 - 14:30 Working Group Report Outs and Discussion
14:30 - 15:00 Break (30 mins)
15:00 - 16:30 Gannon Storm - Simulation Resumes
- Communication of Storm Severity and Duration
- Storm Termination Products
Wrap Up
16:30 - 17:00 Wrap Up
Day 3 (Thursday, August 20th and 27th)
08:00 - 08:30 Arrive NOAA David Skaggs Research Center
08:30 - 09:30 Debrief Exercise Events
09:30 - 09:45 Break (15 mins)
09:45 - 11:15 Extreme Event Discussion
- DHS Benchmarking Activities
- BES Response to 1-in-100 Year Storm
- Ability to Forecast 1-in-100 Year Storm
11:15 - 11:30 Summary of Product Improvement Needs (Clinton Wallace, NOAA/SWPC)
11:30 - 11:45 Summary of Scientific Needs (Shawn Britton/Alex Fletcher, NASA)
11:45 - 11:55 Next Steps (Hazel Bain, NOAA/SWPC)
11:55 - 12:00 Wrap Up (Clinton Wallace, NOAA/SWPC)