Part I - Mission Connection
a. Description of Product - The National Weather Service’s (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.

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.