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Part
I
-
Mission
Connection
a.
Description
of
Product
-
The
National
Weather
Services
(NWS)
Graphical
Forecast
Table
provides
a
graphical
representation
of
digital/tabular
forecasts
of
maximum
temperature,
minimum
temperature,
probability
of
precipitation,
3-
hourly
temperatures,
dewpoint
temperatures,
relative
humidity,
sky
condition,
wind
direction
and
speed,
obstruction
to
visibility,
and
precipitation
type.
b.
Purpose
-
The
Graphical
Forecast
Table
is
derived
from
forecast
weather
parameters
found
in
the
Area
Forecast
Matrix
(AFM).
The
AFM
is
primarily
intended
for
use
by
large
volume
users
of
NWS
forecast
information
and
for
automated
retrieval
of
forecast
parameters.
This
format
may
be
difficult
for
much
of
the
general
public
to
read
and
interpret.
Therefore,
in
an
effort
to
support
NWS
Strategic
Plan
and
its
goal
to
provide
graphical
weather
products,
the
AFM
has
been
reformatted
into
a
graphical
product
that
is
easier
to
interpret
and
understand.
c.
Intended
Audience
-The
target
audience
for
this
experimental
graphical
product
is
the
general
public.
The
product
is
available
to
anyone
who
has
an
Internet
connection.
Since
this
product
is
in
the
public
domain,
it
can
be
acquired
by
intermediaries,
repackaged,
and
re-transmitted
in
accord
with
standard
NWS
product
use
policies.
Using
advances
in
computer
capabilities,
as
well
as
scientific
advances
to
create
customer-based
products
and
services,
the
National
Weather
Service,
through
the
Graphical
Forecast
Table,
strives
toward
the
following
goals:
<
provide
customers
with
forecast
information
that
is
easy
to
interpret
and
understand
<
provide
timely
and
readily
accessible
forecast
information
<
improve
and
standardize
the
graphical
presentation
format
of
public
weather
forecast
information
d.
Presentation
Method
-
The
Graphical
Forecast
Table
is
a
web
based
graphical
product
displayed
as
a
series
of
tables
composed
of
iconic
images
and
alphanumeric
weather
forecast
data.
e.
Feedback
Mechanism
-
We
are
always
seeking
to
improve
our
products
based
on
user
feedback.
An
OMB
approved
form
may
be
used
to
submit
comments
about
this
new
product.
It
is
available
on
or
within
the
web
site
containing
the
experimental
product.
Part
II
-
Technical
Description
a.
Format
&
Science
Basis
-
The
Graphical
Forecast
Table
is
composed
of
forecast
information
in
digital
form
and
iconic
images
displaying
forecast
parameters
for
maximum
temperature,
minimum
temperature,
probability
of
precipitation,
3-
hourly
temperatures,
dewpoint
temperatures,
relative
humidity,
sky
condition,
wind
direction
and
speed,
obstruction
to
visibility,
and
precipitation
type.
A
sample
portion
of
this
product
is
shown
in
Figure
1.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890
Product
Format
Description
of
Entry
FOaaii
cccc
ddhhmm
(WMO
Heading)
AFMxxx
(AWIPS
ID)
AREA
FORECAST
MATRICES
(MND
-
NWS
Product
Name)
NATIONAL
WEATHER
SERVICE
city
state
(Issuing
Office)
400
AM
EST
MON
FEB
12
2001
(Issuance
Time/Date)
stZ###-###>###-ddhhmm-
(
UGC
Type:
Zone)-(Exp.
Time)
county
st-county
st-county
st
(Included
County/State)
400
AM
EST
MON
FEB
12
2001
(Issuance
Time/Date)
...HIGH
WIND
WATCH
TUE
AFTERNOON...
(Headline
if
applicable)
DATE
MON
02/12/01
TUE
02/13/01
WED
02/14/01
UTC
3HRLY
08
11
14
17
20
23
02
05
08
11
14
17
20
23
02
05
08
11
14
17
20
23
EST
3HRLY
03
06
09
12
15
18
21
00
03
06
09
12
15
18
21
00
03
06
09
12
15
18
MAX/MIN
51
36
38
39
55
56
60
45
49
50
52
TEMP
33
39
45
46
45
43
41
39
41
45
49
50
49
49
50
48
46
47
47
49
47
DEWPT
15
17
20
22
25
29
33
34
36
38
40
42
42
43
44
44
44
46
46
43
39
RH
47
40
36
38
45
57
72
82
82
76
70
73
76
79
79
85
92
96
96
79
73
WIND
DIR
NW
NW
W
W
SW
SW
W
W
S
S
S
S
S
S
SW
SW
S
SE
SE
SE
SE
WIND
SPD
5
8
8
8
8
8
5
2
10
14
28
36
26
22
10
8
5
2
2
5
8
WIND
GUST
22
25
42
56
52
34
20
CLOUDS
OV
OV
OV
OV
BK
BK
SC
BK
BK
BK
BK
BK
OV
OV
OV
OV
OV
OV
BK
BK
BK
POP
12HR
10
10
20
70
50
QPF
12HR
0
0
0
.25-.49
.10-.24
MAX
QPF
0
0
0
.25-.49
.10-.24
SNOW
12HR
00-00
00-00
00-00
RAIN
S
C
C
L
L
L
L
C
OBVIS
K
K
F
F
F
F
F
WIND
CHILL
6HR
30
30
MIN
CHILL
24
HIGH
WIND
A
A
DATE
THU
02/15/01
FRI
02/16/01
SAT
02/17/01
SUN
02/18/01
UTC
6HRLY
05
11
17
23
05
11
17
23
05
11
17
23
05
11
17
23
05
EST
6HRLY
00
06
12
18
00
06
12
18
00
06
12
18
00
06
12
18
00
MAX/MIN
35
46
34
41
24
33
18
30
TEMP
41
39
44
43
40
36
39
34
29
24
29
26
22
19
28
24
DEWPT
38
36
36
38
37
34
34
32
26
22
21
18
16
16
20
21
PWIND
DIR
SE
S
SW
NW
N
N
SE
SE
WIND
CHAR
LT
LT
LT
LT
BZ
WY
LT
LT
AVG
CLOUDS
BK
OV
BK
BK
FW
CL
FW
SC
POP
12HR
30
40
40
30
20
20
40
60
RAIN
C
C
L
RAIN
SHWRS
C
$$
Figure
2.
Area
Forecast
Matrices
Product
Prototype.
b.
Product
Availability
-
The
AFM
is
routinely
issued
within
30
minutes
of
the
two
c.
Other
Details
-
(2)
Refer
to
NWSI
10-503,
WFO
Public
Weather
Forecast
Products
mandatory
forecast
packages
produced
between
1:30
and
5:30
am/pm
local
time.
However,
updates
may
be
issued
at
any
time
as
conditions
warrant.
When
the
AFM
is
issued,
a
local
application
program
runs
automatically
which
reformats
the
AFM
into
hypertext
markup
language
(HTML).
The
product
is
then
transmitted
automatically
to
the
Internet
server
hosting
the
local
NWS
home
page.
When
displayed
with
an
Internet
browser,
graphical
forecasts
for
up
to
seven
days
in
advance
can
be
viewed.
These
products
are
compliant
with
the
1998
Amendment
to
Section
508
of
the
Rehabilitation
Act.
(1)
The
Graphical
Forecast
Table
was
created
by
Carin
Goodall,
WFO
Newport/Morehead
City,
NC
Specification
for
a
technical
description
of
the
Area
Forecast
Matrices
(AFM)
product.