The National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) has released a new CD-ROM entitled Hourly U.S. Weather Observations (HUSWO) which contains 1990-95 hourly weather data for 262 National Weather Service locations. The CD has a map interface and station list for data selection, or the user can copy the data files directly from the CD. Weather elements in the files include total and opaque sky cover; temperature and dew point; relative humidity; station pressure; wind direction and speed; visibility; ceiling height; present weather; ASOS cloud layer data; snow depth; and hourly precipitation. Data can be output in wither english or metric units. Windows 95 users may need to reboot in DOS mode to have full usage of the CD software. The HUSWO CD-ROM can be ordered through the NCDC web interface at:
or via e-mail to:
Jack Kelly, Director of the National Weather Service, has recently named Julian (Skip) Wright as his senior advisor. Skip will be leaving his post as Director of the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology and will be replaced there by Sam Williamson.
In Skip's new post, he has been asked by Kelly to take on three critical tasks:
The Aviation weather Center (AWC) has completed the transfer of the Significant Weather Graphics Unit from Camp Springs MD to Kansas City, MO. Following the completion of the spin-up of the high level graphics unit in the summer of 1997, AWC meteorologists have concentrated on spinning up the low-level graphics unit. That unit assumed operations in October 1997.
The low level graphics product available as a facsimile chart on the Family of Services, is a forecast of aviation weather hazards primarily intended to be used as a guidance product for briefing the VFR pilot.
Previous to the transfer of this function to the AWC in Kansas City, the forecasts were hand- drawn on clear acetates overlaid on paper copies of forecast charts for which a limited amount of model guidance was available. These acetates were than traced by hand into a graphics work station. Under the new system, the forecast is completely done at computer work stations where the forecaster has access to a significantly greater amount of information. Thus the final product contains a more comprehensive integration of observational data sets including satellite and radar imagery with model diagnostics.
Microburst products derived from the GOES 8/9 sounders have been reactivated for the convective season. The products include the Wind Index (WINDEX) for both eastern and western United States, a Dry Microburst Potential Index for the western U.S. and two products for the Florida peninsula (WINDEX and Max Theta-e for Surface-300 mbs). The products are available at:
http://orbit-net.nesdis.noaa.gov/ora/fpdt1/html
If the latest image dows not show a graphic overlay, that means the product failed because of missing numerical data or unprocessed sounder data. If that happens, check an earlier time period. There is approximately a 1.5 hour delay between sounder scan start time and product availability.
RAMSDIS Online has been updated with new GOES 10 (5 minute interval) sectors covering both the eastern and western U.S. Access them at:
http://www.cira.colostate.edu/ramm/rmsdsol/main.html
