Description of the MRF MEX MOS Alphanumeric Message

The MRF-Based MOS MEX guidance is generated from the 0000 UTC run of the Medium-Range Forecast (MRF) run of NCEP's Global Spectral Model. This guidance is valid for stations in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For the most recent station list click here. Forecast elements are valid from 24 to 192 hours in advance.

Sample Message

KDCA MRF MOS GUIDANCE 9/19/2002 0000 UTC FHR 24| 36 48| 60 72| 84 96|108 120|132 144|156 168|180 192 THU 19| FRI 20| SAT 21| SUN 22| MON 23| TUE 24| WED 25| THU 26 CLIMO X/N 81| 66 82| 68 84| 68 80| 63 76| 59 75| 59 75| 59 75 60 77 TMP 74| 67 75| 69 75| 69 72| 64 68| 61 68| 61 68| 61 68 DPT 64| 64 67| 67 70| 67 66| 59 57| 54 56| 55 54| 55 56 CLD PC| CL PC| PC OV| OV OV| OV OV| CL OV| CL CL| CL PC WND 10| 10 11| 10 13| 9 12| 12 14| 9 13| 11 13| 10 12 P12 7| 3 7| 11 27| 42 48| 44 24| 26 18| 22 14| 26 23 17 17 P24 | 7| 28| 55| 44| 37| 25| 34 24 Q12 0| 0 0| 0 0| 3 5| 4 0| 3 0| 0 | Q24 | 0| 0| 4| 3| 4| | T12 0| 0 0| 5 12| 18 20| 20 4| 5 5| 5 6| 8 6 T24 | 0 | 5 | 24 | 30 | 10 | 9 | 12 PZP 0| 0 0| 0 0| 0 2| 0 0| 0 2| 0 1| 1 2 PSN 0| 0 0| 0 0| 0 1| 0 0| 0 1| 0 1| 0 0 PRS 0| 0 0| 0 0| 0 0| 0 0| 0 2| 1 0| 1 1 TYP R| R R| R R| R R| R R| R R| R R| R R

FHR = Forecast hour, i.e. how many hours from the model run time

X/N = daytime max/nightime min temperatures

TMP = temperature valid at that hour

DPT = dewpoint valid at that hour

CLD = mean total sky cover over the 12-hr period ending at that time

WND = maximum sustained surface wind (WND) during a 12-h period

P12 = 12-hr probability of precipitation (PoP) ending at that time

P24 = 24-hr PoP ending at that time

Q12 = 12-hr quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF) ending at that time

Q24 = 24-hr QPF ending at that time

T12 = 12-hr probability of thunderstorm ending at that time

T24 = 24-hr probability of thunderstorm for the 1200-1200 UTC time period ending at that time

PZP = conditional probability of freezing pcp occurring for the 12-hr period ending at that time

PSN = conditional probability of snow occurring for the 12-hr period ending at that time

PRS = conditional probability of rain/snow mix occurring for the 12-hr period ending at that time

TYP = conditional precipitation type for the 12-hr period ending at that time

CLIMO = for information on climatology, please click here.

Definitions of Categorical Elements

MEX QPF Categories

0	no precipitation
1	0.01 to 0.09 inches
2	0.10 to 0.24 inches
3	0.25 to 0.49 inches
4	0.50 to 0.99 inches
5	1.00 to 1.99 inches
6	2.00 inches or greater

MEX Cloud (CLD) Categories

CL	mostly clear
PC	partly cloudy
OV	mostly cloudy

MEX Precipitation Type (TYP) Categories

S	pure snow or snow grains
Z	freezing rain/drizzle, ice pellets, or
Z	anything mixed with freezing precip
RS	rain/drizzle and snow mixed
R	pure rain/drizzle

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Last Updated September 19, 2002