FAQ's of weather

[phlwx]

Links to models:

E-Wall (has almost everything): http://www.meteo.psu...mski/ewall.html

Twisterdata (has all sorts of good stuff): http://www.twisterdata.com/

PA-centric NAM from PSU E-Wall:

http://www.meteo.psu...0z/etaloop.html (0z)

http://www.meteo.psu...6z/etaloop.html (6z)

http://www.meteo.psu...2z/etaloop.html (12z)

http://www.meteo.psu.edu/~gadomski/ETAPA_18z/etaloop.html (18z)

When does the next run of (insert model) come out?

0z models -- typically run between 9 PM (NAM ) and 1 AM (Euro) EST

6z models -- typically run between 3 AM (NAM) and 5 AM (GFS) EST

12z models -- typically run between 9 AM (NAM) and 1 PM (Euro) EST

18z models -- typically run between 3 PM (NAM) and 5 PM (GFS) EST

*add an hour when in daylight savings time

Ask a pro met thread: http://www.americanw...-ask-a-pro-met/

Everything you ever needed to know about the NWS: http://www.weather.gov/om/guide/

How does one properly measure snow: http://www.americanw...measuring-tips/

(feel free to add more stuff...this is just a starting point)

[am19psu]

I'm going to pin this for now and then consolidate it into one post after we've had some back and forth.

To focus the questions here, this thread shouldn't have questions about the actual science of meteorology - use the Ask a Pro Met thread for that. This thread should contain simple questions that can be answered in one line like "what are the METAR code symbols?" (answer) or "where can I get MOS output?" (answer).

[tombo82685]

Here's one i see a lot. When during storms, like when the storm is occuring. The model qpf output from 0-6 hrs you take half or majority of that precip has already fallen. To see how much is being forecasted for the remainder of the event look at the hrs 3 or 6 on depending on the site. Some sites have 3 hr intervals of the gfs.... Reason being, when the model specifically the gfs. Its initialized around 7pm, but doesn't come out till 1030, so you have to take into account those 3.5 hrs of precip that have already fallen.

[phlwx]

Here's one i see a lot. When during storms, like when the storm is occuring. The model qpf output from 0-6 hrs you take half or majority of that precip has already fallen. To see how much is being forecasted for the remainder of the event look at the hrs 3 or 6 on depending on the site. Some sites have 3 hr intervals of the gfs.... Reason being, when the model specifically the gfs. Its initialized around 7pm, but doesn't come out till 1030, so you have to take into account those 3.5 hrs of precip that have already fallen.

I just knowing that the QPF is for the prior 6 hours and not falling at that point is progress enough for some.

[am19psu]

For those of you who want to see what the Euro West Coast Bias looks like, take a look at the 240 hr chart from 2/10 0z run and compare to the GFS and CMC in that time range. THAT'S the bias of the European model.

[DerekZ]

Does HPC have any medium range discussions available?

Right now, I see the Short Range Forecast Discussion VALID 12Z FRI MAR 04 2011 - 12Z SUN MAR 06 2011 and the Preliminary Extended Forecast Discussion VALID 12Z TUE MAR 08 2011 - 12Z FRI MAR 11 2011

What about the period from 12z Sunday through 12z Tuesday? Where is that covered? I know local AFD's and the HPC Excessive Rainfall discussion cover some of the medium range but is there a specific product for this time period?

Thanks.

[phlwx]

http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/discuss.shtml

(third one down -- the "final" extended range discussion...covers the gap between short term and prelim)