The National Weather Service Techniques Development Lab (TDL) conducts applied research for the improvement of weather forecasting and product generation. Products include future and planned statistical guidance tools. The TDL Internet home page provides access to the statistical guidance as well as local support application computer programs for the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing Program. Much of the software in C format is downloadable. Point to:
Winds from GOES 10 became available at 00 GMT July 24, 1998.
WMO Headings for NCEP Operational Notices will change effective 1500 UTC 11 August, 1998. AT that time NOUS42 KWBC will become NOUS42 KWNO and KNXX10 KWBC will become KNX10 KWNO.
This notice and other important notice changes scheduled for mid August are posted on the Systems Operations Center Change Notice Web page at:
In a response to requests from users, the Tropical Prediction Center (TPC) has introduced four new graphics on their web home page covering the Pacific Ocean. The graphics are similar to current graphics posted for the Atlantic and include; Coastal watches and Warnings, Cumulative wind distribution, Wind speed forecast and probability chart, and a Wind Speed Probability Table. The TPC will make available a strike probabilities graphic after development work is complete. The graphics are available whenever an organized tropical storm is present. The home page is http://www.nhc.noaa.gov.
Tropical cyclone names are available for the Atlantic and Pacific at:
Forecasters have documented and reported to NCEP several recent episodes of poor moisture forecasts from the NCEP models. NCEP modelers have investigated the problem and believe they have a fix.
Apparently there is a check in the new 3DVAR analysis code on moisture observations that throws out any observation that deviates from the first guess by more than 60% relative humidity. Because the change in the moisture profile was both large and sudden (not picked up by the first guess very well), nearly the whole moisture profile at all the radiosonde sights in the southwest US was thrown out and the analysis did not correct for the large error in moisture.
Moisture data are extremely difficult to quality control. The old Operator Interface analysis had many data selection strategies but no rejection of RAOB moisture. The 3DVAR uses all data all the time. So there was a need for a sanity check and this check was set initially for large (60% RH) values of the difference between the first guess and the observed RH. However instead of 60% as a definition of large, NCEP has reset the value to 85-90%. This effectively says that the check will not throw out much data at all. For the moisture parameter, this strategy provides a more reasonable moisture profile. The change occurred on July 16, 1998.
KOCW - Washington, North Carolina, AWOS station is now available on the Domestic Data Service.
| Latitude | 3534" North |
| Longitude | 77o 03" West |
| Elevation | 12o meters |
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