Data Requirements and Definitions: AFPS Forecast Preparation System

Table of Contents

2.1 Agriculture Forecast (AGF)(1)
2.1.1 Description
2.1.2 Product Parameters
2.1.2.1 Synopsis
2.1.2.2 Wind Direction
2.1.2.3 Wind Speed
2.1.2.4 Cloud Coverage
2.1.2.5 Precipitation Probability
2.1.2.6 Precipitation Type
2.1.2.7 Precipitation Amount
2.1.2.8 Maximum Temperature
2.1.2.9 Minimum Temperature
2.1.2.10 Maximum Relative Humidity
2.1.2.11 Minimum Relative Humidity
2.1.2.12 Dew Intensities or Dew Formation
2.1.2.13 Dew Dryoff Time or Dew Duration
2.1.2.14 Sunshine
2.1.2.15 Drying Conditions
2.1.2.16 Frost/Freeze Advisory Headline
2.1.2.17 Livestock Heat Stress Index
2.2 Fruit Frost Forecast (FRF)(3)
2.2.1 Description
2.2.2 Product Parameters
2.2.2.1 Synopsis
2.2.2.2 Wind Direction
2.2.2.3 Wind Speed
2.2.2.4 Sky Cover
2.2.2.5 Precipitation Probability
2.2.2.6 Precipitation Type
2.2.2.7 Maximum and Minimum Temperature
2.2.2.8 Temperature
2.2.2.9 Relative Humidity and Dew Point Temperature
2.2.2.10 Inversion Layer Type
2.2.2.11 Freezing Level
2.2.2.12 Low Temperature Duration
2.2.2.13 Dew Point Trend
2.2.2.14 Sky Cover Trend
2.2.2.15 Precipitation Trend
2.2.2.16 Wind Trend

3.1 Aerodrome Forecast (TAF)(1)
3.1.1 Description
3.1.2 Product Parameters
3.1.2.1 Surface Wind
3.1.2.2 Visibility
3.1.2.3 Significant Weather
3.1.2.4 Cloud Amount
3.1.2.5 Height of Cloud Base
3.1.2.6 Cloud Type
3.1.2.7 Vertical Visibility
3.1.2.8 Surface Temperature
3.1.2.9 Probability Indicator
3.1.2.10 Variability Indicators
3.1.2.11 Forecast Change Indicators
3.2 TWEB Route Forecast (TWB)(2)
3.2.1 Description
3.2.2 Product Parameters
3.2.2.1 Surface Wind
3.2.2.2 Surface Visibility
3.2.2.3 Weather and Obstruction to Vision
3.2.2.4 Cloud Cover
3.2.2.5 Cloud Bases or Ceiling
3.2.2.6 Remarks
3.2.2.7 Cloud Tops
3.2.2.8 Conditional Terms
3.2.2.9 Synopsis

4.1 River Recreation Statement (RVR)
4.2 Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts (QPF)(1)
4.2.1 Description
4.2.2 Product Parameters
4.2.2.1 Probabilistic Quantitative Precipitation - Probability A(2)
4.2.2.2 Probabilistic Quantitative Precipitation - Probability B
4.2.2.3 Probabilistic Quantitative Precipitation - Probability C

5.1 Coastal Marine Forecast (CWF)
5.1.1 Description
5.1.2 Product Parameters for the CWF
5.1.2.1 Synopsis
5.1.2.2 Advisory / Watch / Warning Headlines
5.1.2.3 Wind Direction
5.1.2.4 Wind Speed
5.1.2.5 Wave Height
5.1.2.6 Swell Height
5.1.2.7 Swell Direction
5.1.2.8 Significant Weather
5.1.2.9 Precipitation Intensity
5.1.2.10 Probability of Precipitation
5.1.2.11 Visibility
5.1.2.12 Obstructions to Vision
5.1.2.13 Coastal/Lakeshore Flooding
5.1.2.14 Heavy Surf
5.1.2.15 Beach Erosion
5.1.2.16 Tidal Anomalies
5.1.2.17 Superstructure Icing
5.1.2.18 Sea Ice
5.1.2.19 Additional Information
5.1.2.20 Outlook
5.2 Great Lakes Forecast (GLF)
5.2.1 Description
5.2.2 Product Parameters for the Great Lakes Forecasts
5.2.2.1 Synopsis
5.2.2.2 Watch / Warning Headline
5.2.2.3 Wind Direction
5.2.2.4 Wind Speed
5.2.2.5 Wave Height
5.2.2.6 Significant weather
5.2.2.7 Precipitation Intensity
5.2.2.8 Probability of Precipitation
5.2.2.9 Visibility
5.2.2.10 Obstructions to Vision
5.2.2.11 Superstructure Icing
5.3 Great Lakes Nearshore Marine Forecast (NSH)
5.3.1 Description
5.3.2 Product Parameters for the Nearshore Forecast
5.3.2.1 Synopsis
5.3.2.2 Advisory/Watch/Warning Headline
5.3.2.3 Wind Direction
5.3.2.4 Wind Speed
5.3.2.5 Wave Height
5.3.2.6 Significant Weather
5.3.2.7 Sky Cover
5.3.2.8 Precipitation Intensity
5.3.2.9 Probability of Precipitation
5.3.2.10 Visibility
5.3.2.11 Obstructions to Vision
5.3.2.12 Coastal/Lakeshore Flooding
5.3.2.13 Additional information
5.4 Local Marine Forecast(2)
5.4.1 Description
5.4.2 Product Parameters for the Local Marine Forecast
5.4.2.1 Advisory / Watch / Warning Headlines
5.4.2.2 Wind Direction
5.4.2.3 Wind Speed
5.4.2.4 Sea State
5.4.2.5 Significant Weather
5.4.2.6 Precipitation Intensity
5.4.2.7 Probability of Precipitation
5.4.2.8 Visibility
5.4.2.9 Obstructions to Vision
5.4.2.10 Coastal/Lakeshore Flooding
5.4.2.11 Tidal Anomalies
5.4.2.12 Other Forecast Elements
5.5 Alaska Coastal Marine Forecast(3)
5.5.1 Description
5.5.2 Product Parameters
5.5.2.1 Synopsis
5.5.2.2 Advisory / Watch / Warning Headlines
5.5.2.3 Wind Direction (10 meter)
5.5.2.4 Wind Speed (10 meter)
5.5.2.5 Sea State
5.5.2.6 Significant Weather
5.5.2.7 Precipitation Intensity
5.5.2.8 Probability of Precipitation
5.5.2.9 Visibility
5.5.2.10 Obstructions to Vision
5.5.2.11 Coastal Flooding
5.5.2.12 Heavy Surf, Beach Erosion
5.5.2.13 Tidal Anomalies
5.5.2.14 Icing
5.5.2.15 Sea Ice
5.5.2.16 Temperature
5.5.2.17 Coastal Forecast Summary Table
5.5.2.18 Outlook
5.6 Offshore Forecast(4)
5.6.1 Description
5.6.2 Product Parameters
5.6.2.1 Synopsis
5.6.2.2 Advisory / Watch / Warning Headlines
5.6.2.3 Wind Direction (Sustained)
5.6.2.4 Wind Speed (Sustained)
5.6.2.5 Sea State
5.6.2.6 Significant Weather
5.6.2.7 Precipitation Intensity
5.6.2.8 Probability of Precipitation
5.6.2.9 Visibility
5.6.2.10 Obstructions to Vision
5.6.2.11 Icing
5.6.2.12 Sea Ice
5.6.2.13 Temperature
5.6.2.14 Outlook

6.1 Fire Weather Presuppression Forecast (FWF)(1)
6.1.1 Description
6.1.2 Product Parameters
6.1.2.1 Synopsis
6.1.2.2 Sky and Weather
6.1.2.3 Probability of Precipitation
6.1.2.4 Quantitative Precipitation
6.1.2.5 Chance of Wetting Rain
6.1.2.6 Lightning Activity Level
6.1.2.7 Precipitation Duration
6.1.2.8 10-Hour Time-lag Fuel Moisture
6.1.2.9 Wind Direction at 7 Meters
6.1.2.10 Wind Speed at 7 Meters
6.1.2.11 Wind Gust at 7 Meters
6.1.2.12 Free Air Wind
6.1.2.13 Wind Shift
6.1.2.14 Maximum and Minimum Temperature
6.1.2.15 Maximum and Minimum Relative Humidity
6.1.2.16 Haines Index
6.2 National Fire Danger Rating System Forecast (FWM)(2)
6.2.1 Description
6.2.2 Product Parameters
6.2.2.1 Weather Code
6.2.2.2 Lightning Activity Level
6.2.2.3 Precipitation Duration
6.2.2.4 10-Hour Time-lag Fuel Moisture
6.2.2.5 Wind Direction and Speed at 7 meters
6.2.2.6 Maximum and Minimum Temperature
6.2.2.7 Maximum and Minimum Relative Humidity
6.2.2.8 Temperature
6.2.2.9 Relative Humidity
6.2.2.10 Trends
6.3 Land Management Forecast (FWL)
6.3.1 Description
6.3.2 Product Parameters
6.3.2.1 Synopsis
6.3.2.2 Sky and Weather
6.3.2.3 Probability of Precipitation
6.3.2.4 Quantitative Precipitation
6.3.2.5 Chance of Wetting Rain
6.3.2.6 Lightning Activity Level
6.3.2.7 Precipitation Duration
6.3.2.8 10-Hour Time-lag Fuel Moisture
6.3.2.9 Wind Direction at 7 Meters
6.3.2.10 Wind Speed at 7 Meters
6.3.2.11 Wind Gust at 7 Meters
6.3.2.12 Free Air Wind
6.3.2.13 Wind Shift
6.3.2.14 Maximum and Minimum Temperature
6.3.2.15 Maximum and Minimum Relative Humidity
6.3.2.16 Inversions
6.3.2.17 Freezing Level of the Free Air
6.3.2.18 Haines Index
6.4 Smoke Management Forecast (SMF)
6.4.1 Description
6.4.2 Product Parameters
6.4.2.1 Synopsis
6.4.2.2 Inversions
6.4.2.3 Freezing Level of the Free Air
6.4.2.4 Maximum and Minimum Transport Winds
6.4.2.5 Maximum and Minimum Mixing Depth
6.4.2.6 Maximum and Minimum Stability
6.5 Fire Suppression Forecast (FWS)(3)
6.5.1 Description
6.5.2 Product Parameters
6.5.2.1 Synopsis
6.5.2.2 Sky and Weather
6.5.2.3 Probability of Precipitation
6.5.2.4 Quantitative Precipitation
6.5.2.5 Chance of Wetting Rain
6.5.2.6 Lightning Activity Level
6.5.2.7 Precipitation Duration
6.5.2.8 10-Hour Time-lag Fuel Moisture
6.5.2.9 Wind Direction at 7 Meters
6.5.2.10 Wind Speed at 7 Meters
6.5.2.11 Wind Gust at 7 Meters
6.5.2.12 Free Air Wind
6.5.2.13 Wind Shift
6.5.2.14 Maximum and Minimum Temperature
6.5.2.15 Maximum and Minimum Relative Humidity
6.5.2.16 Haines Index
6.5.2.17 Inversions

7.1 Zone Forecast (ZFP)
7.1.1 Description
7.1.2 Product Parameters
7.1.2.1 Temperature Trends
7.1.2.2 Humid Conditions
7.1.2.3 Daytime Maximum Temperature
7.1.2.4 Nighttime Minimum Temperature
7.1.2.5 Wind Direction
7.1.2.6 Wind Speed
7.1.2.7 Wind Gusts
7.1.2.8 Precipitation Type
7.1.2.9 Probability of Precipitation
7.1.2.10 Precipitation Intensity
7.1.2.11 Sky Cover
7.1.2.12 Obstructions to Vision
7.1.2.13 Heat Index
7.1.2.14 Wind Chill Factor
7.1.2.15 Snow Accumulation
7.2 Area Forecast (AFP)(3)
7.2.1 Description
7.2.2 Product Parameters
7.2.2.1 Wind
7.2.2.2 Precipitation
7.2.2.3 Snow Accumulation
7.3 Coded Cities Forecast (CCF)(4)
7.3.1 CCF Description
7.3.2 Product Parameters
7.3.2.1 Maximum and Minimum Temperature
7.3.2.2 Probability of Precipitation
7.3.2.3 Weather Types

8.1 Product Parameter Summary

9.1 Weather Element Summary
9.2 Description of Categorical and Stepped Values

11.1 Weather Elements Initialized from MOS
11.1.1 Techniques
11.1.1.1 Station-To-Grid Mapping
11.1.1.2 Shuman Filter
11.1.1.3 Bounded Area Initialization Weather
11.1.1.4 Bounded Area Initialization Clouds
11.1.2 General Weather Elements (GWE)
11.1.2.1 Wind
11.1.2.2 Temperature, Dew Point
11.1.2.3 Probability of Precipitation
11.1.2.4 Weather
11.1.2.5 Clouds
11.1.2.6 Quantitative Precipitation Forecast
11.1.2.7 Snow Accumulation
11.1.2.8 Maximum and Minimum Temperature
11.2 Weather Elements Initialized Directly from NMC Model Grids (eta, NGM)
11.2.1 General Weather Elements (GWE)
11.2.1.1 Freezing Level
11.2.1.2 Inversion
11.2.2 Special Weather Elements - Fire Weather
11.2.2.1 Transport Wind
11.2.2.2 Free Air Wind
11.2.2.3 Haines Index
11.2.2.4 Mixing Depth
11.2.2.5 Stability
11.3 Weather Elements Initialized from Oceanographic Model Grids
11.3.1 Special Weather Elements - Marine
11.3.1.1 Swell
11.4 Weather Elements Initialized Directly from NMC MOD Grids
11.5 Weather Elements Initialized Directly from Local Model Grids (e.g., LAPS(1))
11.6 Weather Elements Initialized from Other Weather Elements
11.6.1 General Weather Elements (GWE)
11.6.1.1 Probability of Precipitation
11.6.1.2 Maximum and Minimum Temperature
11.6.1.3 Maximum and Minimum Relative Humidity
11.6.1.4 Sky Condition
11.6.1.5 Weather
11.6.2 Special Weather Elements - TAF
11.6.2.1 Prevailing Wind
11.6.2.2 Cloud
11.6.2.3 Weather
11.6.2.4 Prevailing Visibility
11.6.3 Special Weather Elements - TWEB
11.6.4 Special Weather Elements - Fire Weather
11.6.4.1 10-hour Fuel Moisture
11.6.4.2 Precipitation Duration
11.6.4.3 Lightning Activity Level
11.6.4.4 Chance of Wetting Rain
11.6.5 Special Weather Elements - Agriculture
11.6.5.1 Dew
11.6.5.2 Drying Conditions
11.6.5.3 Hours of Sunshine
11.6.5.4 Minimum Dew Point
11.6.6 Special Weather Elements - Marine
11.6.6.1 Wave Height
11.6.6.2 Superstructure Icing
11.7 Weather Elements Not Initialized

12.1 Product Parameter Derivation Summary
12.2 Product Parameter Derivations - General Use
12.2.1 Derive Public Heat Index
12.2.2 Derive Humid Conditions
12.2.3 Derive Wind Chill
12.2.4 Derive Minimum Wind Chill
12.2.5 Derive Weather Code
12.3 Product Parameter Derivations - Fire Weather
12.3.1 Derive 7-meter Wind Direction from Wind
12.3.2 Derive 7-meter Wind Speed from Wind
12.3.3 Derive Trend Information from Temperature
12.3.4 Derive Trend Information from Minimum Temperature
12.3.5 Derive Trend Information from Maximum Temperature
12.3.6 Derive Trend Information from Wind Speed
12.3.7 Derive Shift Information from Wind Speed and Direction
12.3.8 Derive Trend Information from Maximum Relative Humidity
12.3.9 Derive Trend Information from Minimum Relative Humidity
12.3.10 Derive Trend Information from Relative Humidity
12.3.11 Derive 10-Hour Fuel Moisture Trend
12.3.12 Derive Fire-Weather Weather Code
12.3.13 Derive Maximum Mixing Depth
12.3.14 Derive Minimum Mixing Depth
12.3.15 Derive Maximum Stability
12.3.16 Derive Minimum Stability
12.3.17 Derive Maximum Transport Wind
12.3.18 Derive Minimum Transport Wind
12.4 Product Parameter Derivations - Agriculture
12.4.1 Derive Frost/Freeze Advisory Headlines
12.4.2 Derive Ag Heat Index
12.4.3 Derive Low Temperature Duration
12.5 Product Parameter Derivations - Marine
12.5.1 Derive 60100-foot Wind Direction from Wind
12.5.2 Derive 60100-foot Wind Speed from Wind
12.5.3 Derive 10-meter Wind Direction from Wind
12.5.4 Derive 10-meter Wind Speed from Wind
12.5.5 Derive Watch/Warning Headlines

13.1 Other Data Summary
13.2 Wind Speed (7 meters)
13.3 Upper Air Soundings
13.4 Upper Air Models
13.5 Minimum Temperature
13.6 Maximum Temperature
13.7 Temperature
13.8 Dew Point
13.9 10-Hour Time-lag Fuel Moisture
13.10 Sunset/Sunrise Tables
13.11 Precipitation History
13.12 Sea Surface Temperature
13.13 Basin Information
13.14 Wave Heights
13.15 Topography Information

14.1 AWIPS Map Projections
14.1.1 Regional CONUS
14.1.2 Regional Alaska
14.1.3 Regional Puerto Rico
14.1.4 Regional Hawaii
14.2 Coordinate Conversions
14.2.1 The Lambert Conformal Projection
14.2.2 The Mercator Projection
14.2.3 The Polar Stereographic Projection
14.3 AFPS Coordinate System
14.3.1 Continuous Field Grids
14.3.2 Bounded Areas
14.3.3 Bounded Area Tag Format
14.3.3.1 Cloud GWE
14.3.3.2 Weather GWE
14.3.3.3 Inversion GWE
14.3.3.4 Sky Condition GWE
14.3.3.5 Stability - SWE Fire Weather
14.3.3.6 Lightning Activity Level - SWE Fire Weather
14.3.3.7 Dew - SWE Agriculture
14.3.3.8 Drying Conditions - SWE Agriculture
14.3.3.9 Superstructure Icing - SWE Marine
14.3.4 Stepped Tag Format
14.3.4.1 Prevailing, Chance, and Occasional Cloud - SWE TAF
14.3.4.2 Prevailing, Chance, and Occasional Weather - SWE TAF
14.3.4.3 Isolated, Local, Areas, and Widespread Cloud - SWE TWEB
14.3.4.4 Isolated, Local, Areas, and Widespread Weather - SWE TWEB
14.3.4.5 Isolated, Local, Areas, and Widespread Hazards - SWE TWEB
14.4 Database Names