Using the Web and NWS
for Weather Information
Philip Schumacher
National Weather Service
Sioux Falls
March 10, 2012
Overview
What you can find on the web
Observations
Forecasts
What the NWS can and cannot provide
www.weather.gov
A portal to weather information
• Starts with a map of the
United States
• Color coded for statements
in effect across the country
• From the Hazardous
Weather Outlook to
Tornado Warnings.
• Click on the area of the
country you want more
information.
Local Weather Service Office Homepage
http://www.weather.gov/siouxfalls
What can you find here
National Forecasts
Current weather conditions
Satellite pictures
Local Forecasts
Point Forecasts
Radar
http://www.weather.gov/siouxfalls
Watches, warnings and advisories
National Overview
Click to get the current
weather map.
http://www.weather.gov/siouxfalls
Current Weather Map
http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/noaa/noaa.gif
More National Forecasts
http://www.weather.gov/siouxfalls
Forecast graphics
Access to:
•Local graphical forecasts
•National Forecast maps
http://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/fsd.php
Forecast weather maps
Each map below is clickable for
larger view.
Links to:
Current weather map
Weather maps from 12-48 h in the
future
Weather maps for 3-7 days out.
Expected 24-h precipitation 1 to 3
days out.
www.nws.noaa.gov/outlook_tab.php
Forecast weather maps
Clicking on Graphical Forecasts will
take you to the national graphical
forecast page and not where you
started:
www.nws.noaa.gov/outlook_tab.php
To get back to local homepage,
Click on the map above in the area
you are interested.
Satellite
http://www.weather.gov/siouxfalls
Satellite page
Visible satellite
picture is the default
Click on image to
open a new window
for a 6 hour satellite
loop.
Click to get different
types of satellite
imagery.
Click to get different
parts of the country.
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/crh/satellite/satellitessd.php?site=fsd
Local Radar
http://www.weather.gov/siouxfalls
Local Radar page
Change to an adjacent radar.
Return to local homepage.
Examine a radar loop (1 h).
Look at a different radar picture
•Base – Lowest elevation angle
of radar
•Composite – Highest reflectivity
seen by radar at any elevation.
Add/subtract background maps.
Regional radar pictures and
loops.
http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=fsd
Local Weather Conditions and
Forecast
Click anywhere on
the map to get the
current conditions
and weather
forecast for the
area you are
interested in.
http://www.weather.gov/siouxfalls
Local forecast and conditions (Part I)
Forecast overview
Text forecast:
Sky, temperature,
winds, precipitation
chances, expected
rainfall.
Current conditions
Link to area
weather conditions
and weather
conditions the last 3
days.
Link to radar
Link to satellite
Map of where
forecast is for
3- Day History
Conditions across the area
Local Forecasts (Part II)
Access to more specific information
Forecast Discussion-Aviation
http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=FSD&product=AFD&form
at=CI&version=1&glossary=1
Local Forecasts (Part II)
Access to more specific information
Hourly Weather Graph
Includes hourly
conditions for:
•Temperature
•Dew Point
•Wind and Wind Gust
•% Sky Cover (not cloud
base though)
•Probability of
Precipitation
•Relative Humidity
Local Forecasts (Part II)
Access to more specific information
Tabular Forecast
Local Forecasts (Part II)
Access to more specific information
Surface Observations
Temperature (F)- upper
left hand corner
Weather symbol- center
left hand site
Dew point (F) – lower left
hand corner
Cloud cover – center
circle
Wind direction and speedbarb extending from circle
Atmospheric pressure (SL
to nearest tenth of
millibar)- upper right hand
corner
METAR KMSN 111453Z AUTO
13014KT 4SM BR BKN015 18/14
A2961 RMK AO2 SLP027 T01780144
L
Observations
http://www.aviationweather.gov/adds/data/metars/sfc_pir.gif
H
Local Graphical Forecast
http://www.weather.gov/siouxfalls
Forecast graphics
Access to:
•Local graphical forecasts
•National Forecast maps
http://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/fsd.php
Forecast graphics
Areal depiction of:
•Maximum Temperature
•Minimum Temperature
•12-h Probability of
Preciptiation
•6-h Snowfall and Rainfall
•The following every 3 h:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Wind Chill/Heat Index
Wind Speed and Gust
Temperature
Dew Point
% Sky Cover
Weather Conditions
http://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/fsd.php
Activity Planner
http://www.weather.gov/siouxfalls
Activity Planner
Enter desired conditions
and Click on the map for
the location.
Example:
For Surface Wind Speed:
Min: 0
Max 10
http://forecast.weather.gov/wxplanner.php?site=fsd
Activity Planner
http://forecast.weather.gov/wxplanner.php?site=fsd
How to get the Vertical Wind Profile
College of DuPage Satellite
and Radar page
Weather.cod.edu/satrad
Map of Radar sites.
Click on the radar you want.
How to get the Vertical Wind Profile
Weather.cod.edu/analysis_old/paulradar.pl?FSD
VAD Wind Profiler
Cautions:
•Data only available every 1000 ft.
• Rapid changes in speed
and direction will not be
seen.
•During clear weather, especially
in winter, there will be little data.
•Birds can affect speed and
direction of profiles.
• Especially during migration
Weather.cod.edu/analysis_old/paulradar.pl?FSD
TAFs
TAF- Terminal aerodrome
forecast
Issued for a five mile radius
area surrounding the airport
Surface wind (direction,
speed, gusts)
Visibility
Weather (if needed)
Obstruction to visibility (if
needed)
Sky cover, cloud heights
Non-convective low level wind
shear
Can give you an idea of what
to expect
TAF
KFSD 061137Z 0612/0718 03007KT 6SM BR OVC010
TEMPO 0613/0615 4SM BR OVC008
FM1900 03008KT P6SM OVC018
PROB30 0621/0624 27015G25KT 1SM TSRA
OVC008CB
FM0100 18005KT P6SM BKN050
FM0900 17005KT P6SM SCT070 WS014/21040KT=
KFSD Sioux Falls, SD
061137Z prepared on the 6th at 1137Z
0612/0718 valid period from the 6th at 1200Z until the 7th
at 1800Z
03007KT wind 030 at 7 knots
6SM visibility 6 statute miles
BR mist
OVC010 ceiling 1,000ft overcast
TEMPO 1315 temporary conditions between 1300Z and
1500Z
4SM visibility 4 statute miles
BR mist
OVC008 ceiling 800ft overcast
FM1900 From 1900Z
03008KT wind 030 at 8 knots
P6SM visibility greater than 6 miles
OVC018 ceiling, 1800ft overcast
PROB30 30 percent probability between 2100Z and
2400Z
27015G25KT westerly wind at 15 knots gusting to 25
knots
1SM visibility one statute mile
TSRA thunderstorms with moderate rain showers
OVC008CB ceiling 800ft overcast with cumulonimbus
FM0100 From 100Z
18005KT wind 060 at 5 knots
P6SM visibility greater than 6 miles
BKN050 ceiling, 5000ft broken
FM0900 From 900Z
170005KT wind 090 at 5 knots
P6SM visibility greater than 6 miles
SCT070 7000ft scattered
WS014/30030KT wind shear at 1400ft, wind at 1400ft
from 210 at 40 kts
BUFKIT
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/buf/bufkit/bufkit.html
When you call us
• Amount of time dependent upon ongoing conditions.
• Ongoing convection, especially severe convection, limits available
time to examine data and brief.
• Expected duties can also affect briefings.
• TAFs issued around 11:30 am/pm CST (1230 am/pm CDT) and
5:30 am/pm CST (6:30 am/pm CDT)
• We typically take 30-60 minutes to prepare TAFs.
• Shift change can also have an effect
• New aviation forecaster comes in around 7 am LT, 3 pm LT, and
11 pm LT
• During good flying weather, the shift briefing includes expected
conditions for ballooning in the next 24 hours.
More on what we do
Our forecast is based upon latest observations, model
information and radar information.
What we struggle with:
Timing of when fog will dissipate.
Evolution of mid-level convection – especially in the early morning.
We do well with surface-based and strongly forced convection.
Exact strength of the low level jet – especially in the early morning
when our radar is not detecting winds above the surface
Wind direction (and speed) near high pressure center.
We can be pretty certain it will be less than 10 kits but direction
becomes driven by subtle terrain features.
Our forecasters
They hate being wrong.
They take their briefings seriously.
Thy don’t want someone experiencing conditions we did not
forecast.
They try to give the best forecast without overpromising
They will provide information on possible risks so you can make an
informed decision.
In most cases the best we can do is +/-2 or 3 mph and +/- 1 h–
especially in the evening when winds are decreasing as
temperatures cool.
Because we lack observations, we may not be aware of conditions
away from the observation (such as Sioux Falls airport).
If you are frustrated with a forecast going bad, so are we.
Thanks for inviting me! Questions?