Forecast Briefing
for Weather at KGEG
(Spokane International Airport, WA)
on Day, Date, Year of the forecast
Your Name
METR 104
Today’s date
0. Overview
Start with a large-scale overview of current conditions, using items linked below:
 visible and infrared satellite images
 a composite surface weather map
 a composite map for conditions aloft
 a jet stream map
Then address one or more selected items of the forecasting assignment by inserting or
editing template text as needed (e.g., from the latest NWS point forecast), a discussion,
and the forecast itself.
2. 12Z Temperature
Links:
 Latest available meteogram
(Drag and drop a copy of the meteogram here, and rescale it to a smaller size.)
 Next-latest available meteogram
(Drag and drop a copy of the meteogram here, below the link [putting both on
a new page if necessary], and rescale it to a smaller size)
 Latest NWS Point Forecast:
[Copy and paste text from that forecast relevant to 12Z tomorrow. For example:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low
around 57. South southeast wind around 6 mph. ]

Latest computer model (NAM) forecast of winds and temperatures at
12Z tomorrow (eastern Washington/northern Idaho)
(Drag and drop a copy of the NAM forecast map here, below the link, and
rescale the map to a smaller size.)
Discussion: [Describe the part of the conceptual model of the daily
temperature cycle that provides the basis for the your forecast, then describe
how you applied the model to the available information to make your forecast.
It should be detailed enough for someone else to reproduce if necessary.]
Forecast: [Enter your forecast here, as you would at Iowa State University.]
3. Will cloudiness affect the 12Z temperature tomorrow?
Links:
 Latest NWS Point Forecast:
[Copy and paste text from that forecast relevant to 12Z tomorrow. For example:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low
around 57. South southeast wind around 6 mph. ]

wunderWiki: “Educational: Partly Cloudy” (an attempt to interpret the
language used in NWS cloudiness forecasts)
Discussion: [State the criteria for whether or not clouds will affect the 18Z
temperature. Then identify the source(s) of the information that you use to
make your forecast and the reasoning that you apply, including any
assumptions that you make.]
Forecast: [Enter your forecast here, as you would at Iowa State University.]
4. Will a front affect the 12Z temperature tomorrow?
Links:
 NWS Hydrometeorological Prediction Center Short Range Forecasts
(Drag and drop copies of the relevant “short range forecast” maps here, and
rescale them to a smaller size. Label each with the forecast time).

Verification area for fronts affecting KGEG
Discussion: [State the criteria for whether or not a front will affect the 12Z
temperature. Then identify the source(s) of the information you used to make
your forecast and the reasoning that you apply, including any assumptions that
you make. The discussion should be detailed enough for someone else to
reproduce it if necessary.]
Forecast: [Enter your forecast here, as you would at Iowa State University.]
5. Will temperature advection be significant at 12Z tomorrow?
Links:
 Latest computer model (NAM) forecast of winds and temperatures at
12Z tomorrow (eastern Washington/northern Idaho)
(Drag and drop a copy of the NAM forecast map here, below the link, and
rescale the map to a smaller size.)

Temperature Tendency Calculator [optional]
Discussion: [Enter a description of how you determined your forecast. It
should be detailed enough for someone else to reproduce it if necessary.]
Forecast: [Enter your forecast here, as you would at Iowa State University.]
6. 18Z Temperature
Links:
 Latest available meteogram
(Drag and drop a copy of the meteogram here, and rescale it to a smaller size.)
 Next-latest available meteogram
(Drag and drop a copy of the meteogram here, below the link [putting both on
a new page if necessary], and rescale it to a smaller size)
 Latest NWS Point Forecast:
[Copy and paste text from that forecast relevant to 12Z tomorrow. For example:
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 65.
Southeast wind 6 to 8 mph becoming southwest. ]

Latest computer model (NAM) forecast of winds and temperatures at
18Z tomorrow (eastern Washington/northern Idaho)
(Drag and drop a copy of the NAM forecast map here, below the link, and
rescale the map to a smaller size.)
Discussion: [Describe the part of the conceptual model of the daily
temperature cycle that provides the basis for the your forecast, then describe
how you applied the model to the available information to make your forecast.
It should be detailed enough for someone else to reproduce if necessary.]
The 18Z temperature forecasting worksheet might help here, too—copy and
paste it into your briefing document and fill it out.
Forecast: [Enter your forecast here, as you would at Iowa State University.]
7. Will cloudiness affect the 18Z temperature tomorrow?
Links:
 Latest NWS Point Forecast:
[Copy and paste text from that forecast relevant to 18Z tomorrow. For example:
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 65.
Southeast wind 6 to 8 mph becoming southwest. ]

wunderWiki: “Educational: Partly Cloudy” (an attempt to interpret the
languages used in NWS cloudiness forecasts)
Discussion: [State the criteria for whether or not clouds will affect the 18Z
temperature. Then identify the source(s) of the information that you use to
make your forecast and the reasoning that you apply, including any
assumptions that you make. The discussion should be detailed enough for
someone else to reproduce it if necessary.]
Forecast: [Enter your forecast here, as you would at Iowa State University.]
8. Will a front affect the 18Z temperature tomorrow?
Links:
 NWS Hydrometeorological Prediction Center Short Range Forecasts
(Drag and drop copies of the relevant “short range forecast” maps here, and
rescale them to a smaller size. Label each with the forecast time).

Verification area for fronts affecting KGEG
Discussion: [State the criteria for whether or not a front will affect the 18Z
temperature. Then identify the source(s) of the information you used to make
your forecast and the reasoning that you apply, including any assumptions that
you make. The discussion should be detailed enough for someone else to
reproduce it if necessary.]
Forecast: [Enter your forecast here, as you would at Iowa State University.]
9. Will temperature advection be significant at 18Z tomorrow?
Links:
 Latest computer model (NAM) forecast of winds and temperatures at
18Z tomorrow (eastern Washington/northern Idaho)
(Drag and drop a copy of the NAM forecast map here, below the link, and
rescale the map to a smaller size.)

Temperature Tendency Calculator [optional]
Discussion: [State the criteria for whether or not temperature advection will
affect the 12Z or 18Z temperature. Then identify the source(s) of the
information you used to make your forecast, together with the reasoning that
you apply, including any assumptions that you make. The discussion should be
detailed enough for someone else to reproduce it if necessary.]
Forecast: [Enter your forecast here, as you would at Iowa State University.]
10. What will the wind speed be at 18Z tomorrow?
Links:
 Latest NWS Point Forecast:
[Copy and paste text from that forecast relevant to 18Z tomorrow. For example:
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 65.
Southeast wind 6 to 8 mph becoming southwest. ]
Latest computer model (NAM) forecast of winds and temperatures
at 18Z tomorrow (eastern Washington/northern Idaho)
(Drag and drop a copy of the NAM forecast map here, below the link, and
rescale the map to a smaller size.)
•
Discussion: [Identify the sources of information that you use for making your
forecast, together with the analysis and reasoning that you use. In particular,
comment on the relative strengths and weaknesses of the NWS point forecast
and the NAM forecast and comment on how you factor them into your forecast,
explain how you convert wind speed in miles per hour to knots, and the results.
It should be detailed enough for someone else to reproduce it if necessary.]
Forecast: [Enter your forecast here, as you would at Iowa State University.]
11. What will the wind direction be at 18Z tomorrow?
Links:
 Latest NWS Point Forecast:
[Copy and paste text from that forecast relevant to 18Z tomorrow. For example:
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 65.
Southeast wind 6 to 8 mph becoming southwest. ]
Latest computer model (NAM) forecast of winds and temperatures
at 18Z tomorrow (Pacific Northwest)
(Drag and drop a copy of the NAM forecast map here, below the link, and
rescale the map to a smaller size.)
•
Latest computer model (NAM) forecast of winds and temperatures
at 18Z tomorrow (eastern Washington/northern Idaho)
(Drag and drop a copy of the NAM forecast map here, below the link, and
rescale the map to a smaller size.)
•
Discussion: [Identify the sources of information that you use for making your
forecast, together with the analysis and reasoning that you use. In particular,
comment on the relative strengths and weaknesses of the NWS point forecast
and the NAM forecast, and comment on how you factor them into your forecast.
It should be detailed enough for someone else to reproduce it if necessary.]
Forecast: [Enter your forecast here, as you would at Iowa State University.]
12. Will there be precipitation between 12Z tomorrow and 12Z the next day?
Links:
 NWS Hydrometeorological Prediction Center Short Range Forecasts
(Drag and drop copies of the relevant “short range forecast” maps here, and
rescale them to a smaller size. Label each with the forecast time).
 Latest NWS Point Forecast:
[Copy and paste text from that forecast relevant to 12Z tomorrow to 12Z the
next day. For example:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low
around 57. South southeast wind around 6 mph.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 65.
Southeast wind 6 to 8 mph becoming southwest. ]
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 11pm. Mostly
cloudy, with a low around 57. West southwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming
south southeast.
Discussion: [Identify your source(s) of information and explain the analysis
and reasoning that you use to make your forecast. The discussion should be detailed
enough for someone else to reproduce it if necessary.]
Forecast: [Enter your forecast here, as you would at Iowa State University.]