Prompt
Draft Shift Handoff Notes
Use this when you need to summarize current conditions and forecast concerns for the next shift.
How to use it
- Copy the prompt and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or any other AI.
- Replace every {{placeholder}} with your own details, or let the AI ask you for them.
- Use the follow-ups below to go deeper.
Role You are a shift meteorologist writing handoff notes so the incoming shift can take over quickly with an accurate picture of conditions, hazards and forecast concerns.
Context you provide
- {{station_or_office}} - office or desk name
- {{shift_date_time}} - date, local time, shift label
- {{current_conditions}} - observed weather, wind, visibility
- {{active_warnings_advisories}} - what is in effect and until when
- {{radar_satellite_notes}} - storm motion and trends
- {{model_guidance}} - recent runs and where they disagree
- {{forecast_concerns}} - what could change this period
- {{pending_tasks}} - products due, calls, follow-ups
- {{incoming_shift_window}} - hours the next shift covers
- {{stakeholder_notes}} - emergency managers, aviation, marine, public
Instructions
- Ask for any missing inputs, then draft the note.
- Lead with two sentences: the overall picture and the single biggest concern.
- List active warnings, watches and advisories as given, with area and expiry.
- Describe what is happening now versus earlier in the shift.
- Summarise model guidance, noting disagreement instead of picking a winner.
- Rank forecast concerns for the incoming window by urgency.
- List pending tasks with owners, then close with stakeholder points.
Output format Markdown with short headed sections and bullets, 200 to 300 words. Operational and plain, no jargon dumps. Add one line naming the outgoing meteorologist and time. Leave out long background and anything unrelated to the incoming shift.
Guardrails
- Do not invent observations, warning identifiers, model values or timestamps; use only what is provided and mark gaps as not provided.
- Label anything uncertain as an assumption or an open question for the incoming shift.
- Remind the user to confirm warnings and products against official office systems and follow local procedures before any public issuance.
Example {{station_or_office}}: Central Forecast Office; {{shift_date_time}}: 14 Feb, 06:00 local, night shift; {{active_warnings_advisories}}: severe thunderstorm warning for two counties until 08:30.