Skip Navigation Links weather.gov 
NOAA logo-Select to go to the NOAA homepage National Weather Service   NWS logo - Select to go to the NWS homepage
Meteorological Development Laboratory
 
 
    

Description of the GFS MOS MEX Alphanumeric Message


The extended-range GFS-Based MOS (MEX) guidance is generated from the 0000 and 1200 UTC cycles of NCEP's Global Forecast System (GFS) Model. This guidance is valid for stations in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For the most recent station list click here. Forecast elements are valid from 24 to 192 hours in advance.


Sample Message

 IAD   GFSX MOS GUIDANCE   3/05/2013  0000 UTC                       
 FHR  24| 36  48| 60  72| 84  96|108 120|132 144|156 168|180 192      
 TUE  05| WED 06| THU 07| FRI 08| SAT 09| SUN 10| MON 11| TUE 12 CLIMO
 X/N  47| 34  42| 32  44| 29  45| 32  50| 33  57| 38  58| 40  54 29 53
 TMP  42| 36  39| 34  39| 32  41| 34  44| 37  50| 42  52| 43  47      
 DPT  23| 26  28| 24  29| 24  25| 25  29| 30  34| 34  38| 34  28      
 CLD  OV| OV  OV| OV  PC| CL  PC| CL  CL| PC  OV| OV  OV| OV  PC      
 WND   5| 18  20| 20  16| 13  22| 14   8|  5   8|  5  10| 18  14      
 P12  36| 99  93| 36   5|  0   7|  5   5|  7  17| 30  35| 31  24 24 24
 P24    |    100|     36|      7|      6|     19|     53|     46    34
 Q12   0|  5   5|  0   0|  0   0|  0   0|  0   0|  1    |             
 Q24    |      5|      0|      0|      0|      0|       |             
 T12   1|  1   7|  2   1|  0   1|  1   1|  1   2|  1   5|  4   6      
 T24    |  1    |  9    |  2    |  1    |  1    |  2    |  6          
 PZP  13| 27   4| 13   9|  6   6| 17  13|  6   5|  4   4|  4   5      
 PSN  25|  4  28| 16  45| 64  52| 32  24| 16   2|  3   4|  4  21      
 PRS  28| 47  29| 45  26| 16  15| 18   8|  3   4|  4   3|  9  14      
 TYP  RS|  Z  RS| RS   S|  S   S|  S  RS|  R   R|  R   R|  R   R      
 SNW    |      4|      0|      0|      0|      0|       |             


  • FHR = Forecast hour, i.e. how many hours from the model run time
  • X/N = daytime max/nightime min temperatures
  • TMP = temperature valid at that hour
  • DPT = dewpoint valid at that hour
  • CLD = mean total sky cover over the 12-hr period ending at that time
  • WND = maximum sustained surface wind (WND) during a 12-h period
  • P12 = 12-hr probability of precipitation (PoP) ending at that time
  • P24 = 24-hr PoP ending at that time
  • Q12 = 12-hr quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF) ending at that time
  • Q24 = 24-hr QPF ending at that time
  • T12 = 12-hr probability of thunderstorm ending at that time
  • T24 = 24-hr probability of thunderstorm for the 1200-1200 UTC time period ending at that time
  • PZP = conditional probability of freezing pcp occurring for the 12-hr period ending at that time
  • PSN = conditional probability of snow occurring for the 12-hr period ending at that time
  • PRS = conditional probability of rain/snow mix occurring for the 12-hr period ending at that time
  • TYP = conditional precipitation type for the 12-hr period ending at that time
  • SNW = snow fall categorical forecasts during a 24-h period ending at the indicated time.

  • CLIMO = for information on climatology, please click here.

Definitions of Categorical Elements

MEX QPF Categories
0 no precipitation
1 0.01 to 0.09 inches
2 0.10 to 0.24 inches
3 0.25 to 0.49 inches
4 0.50 to 0.99 inches
5 1.00 to 1.99 inches
6 2.00 inches or greater


MEX Snow Fall Amount Categories
0 no snow or a trace expected
1 > a trace to < 2 inches
2 2 to < 4 inches
4 4 to < 6 inches
6 6 to < 8 inches
8 >= 8 inches
MEX Cloud (CLD) Categories
CL mostly clear                  
PC partly cloudy
OV mostly cloudy


MEX Precipitation Type (TYP) Categories
S pure snow or snow grains
Z freezing rain/drizzle, ice pellets, or
anything mixed with freezing precip
RS rain/drizzle and snow mixed
R pure rain/drizzle

National Weather Service
Office Of Science and Technology
Meteorological Development Laboratory
Statistical Modeling Branch
1325 East West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Page Author: MOS Web Team
Disclaimer
Information Quality
Credits
Glossary
Privacy Policy
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
About Us
Career Opportunities
Page last Modified: Tuesday, 30 July 2013 19:51 UTC