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Kevin McGrath

Programmer/Research Associate IV

kevin.m.mcgrath@noaa.gov
Mailing Address:
1375-C20 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1375-C20
  • Office Location:
    Madison, Alabama
    • Phone:
  • 256-886-8896
About Me:
  • Lead software developer of the AWS-based Whole Story Uncertainty & Probabilities (WSUP) web application (https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/wsup). This responsive GIS tool provides forecasters with over 700 National Blend of Models (NBM), Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS), National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD), Real-Time Mesoscale Analysis (RTMA), and Unrestricted Mesoscale Analysis (URMA) elements in real-time utilizing various technologies including MapServer, OpenLayers, Bootstrap, jQuery, Python, PHP, JavaScript, and AWS cloud technologies (EC2, S3, load balancers, Lambda, etc.). Features include displaying how forecasts have evolved over time (dProg/dt mode), comparing forecast values with min/max station records, an animation download tool, user-selectable color tables, cursor sampling, and an auto-updating mode to always display the latest data.
  • Architect and manage real-time processing of NBM, GEFS, NDFD, RTMA, and URMA data on the Linux-based NWS supercomputer (WCOSS) with output disseminated by the WSUP Viewer and NOAA Open Data Dissemination S3 buckets in various formats (GRIB, TIF, GeoJSON, etc.). The processing uses a combination of Python, Bash, and the PBS HPC job scheduler. A Rocoto-based workflow management solution defines, launches, and tracks over 500 hourly tasks and their associated dependencies.
  • Experienced installing and configuring the ELK stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana) for ingesting and displaying data from real-time Apache and web app logs

Recent Publications

  • Molthan, A. L., L. A. Schultz, K. M. McGrath, J. E. Burks, J. P. Camp, K. Angle, J. R. Bell, and G. J. Jedlovec, 2020: Incorporation and Use of Earth Remote Sensing Imagery within the NOAA/NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 101, E323–E340, https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-19-0097.1.
  • Shrestha, S., K. M. McGrath, G. T. Stano, C. J. Schultz, P. J. Meyer, 2019: Real-Time Data Management and Visualization for Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) in ArcGIS Platform. 99th Annual Meeting, Amer. Meteor. Soc., Phoenix, Arizona.
  • McGrath, K. M., P. J. Meyer, G. J. Jedlovec, E. B. Berndt, 2018: NASA MSFC GOES-16 Receiving Station and Data Visualization. 98th Annual Meeting, Amer. Meteor. Soc., Austin, Texas.
  • McGrath, K. M., E. B. Berndt, C. M. Gravelle, L. A. Byerle, A. L. Molthan, M. R. Smith, 2018: AWIPS II Client-side RGB Product Generation in the GOES-R Era. 98th Annual Meeting, Amer. Meteor. Soc., Austin, Texas.
  • Stano, G. T., P. J. Meyer, K. M. McGrath, C. J. Schultz, 2018: Early Assessment of Geostationary Lightning Mapper Observations. 98th Annual Meeting, Amer. Meteor. Soc., Austin, Texas.
  • Schultz, L. A., A. L. Molthan, K. M. McGrath, J. E. Burks, T. A. Cole, 2017: Inclusion of Satellite Remote Sensing Imagery in the NOAA/NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit (DAT). 97th Annual Meeting, Amer. Meteor. Soc., Seattle, Washington.
  • Naeger, A. R., P. Gupta, B. Zavodsky, and K. M. McGrath, 2015: Monitoring and Tracking the Trans-Pacific Transport of Aerosols Using Multi-Satellite Aerosol Optical Depth Retrievals. Meas. Tech. Discuss., 8, 10319-10360. (http://www.atmos-meas-tech-discuss.net/8/10319/2015/amtd-8-10319-2015.html)
  • McGrath, K. M., A. L. Molthan, and J. E. Burks, 2014: Use of NASA Near Real-Time and Archived Satellite Data to Support Disaster Assessment. 94th Annual Meeting, Amer. Meteor. Soc., Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Burks, J. E., M. R. Smith, and K. M. McGrath, 2014: AWIPS II Application Development, a SPoRT Perspective. 94th Annual Meeting, Amer. Meteor. Soc., Atlanta, Georgia.