NWS NOAAPORT Channel Content
January 2006
NOAAPORT is divided into four channels each with different content. This document will decribe each channel and give information on the content type and data frequency
NWSTG (National Weather Service
Transmission Gateway) Channel
- Global Formatted Observations and Forecasts
Data Type
Frequency
Format
Description
Surface Observations
Hourly
METAR
Airport observations which contain hourly surface weather conditions including temperature, dewpoint, winds, cloud cover, pressure, visibility and current weather.
Synoptic Observations
3/6 hourly
SYNOP
General surface observations reported every 6 hours (some more frequent) which includes temperature, dewpoint, winds, cloud cover, pressure and climatic data. This includes land, ship, CMAN and buoy data.
Upper Air Observations
12 hourly
UA
Twice a day balloon sounding data.
Terminal Forecasts
Roughly 6 hours
TAF
Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts which gives 12-24 hour aviation forecasts at airports.
Pilot Reports
Continuous
UA/PIREP
Pilot reports give upper air information including turbulence and icing at a location and flight level.
- Domestic Formatted Observation and Forecast Data (US, Canada and some Mexican and Caribbean)
Data Type
Frequency
Format
Description
Radar Data
Hourly
MDR
Manually Digitized Radar data from Nexrad sites. This is low resolution reflectivity data for legacy systems.
Radar Data
30 minutes
RCM/GRIB
Radar Coded Messages from the Nexrad sites. This is a limited base reflectivity product with storm attribute information. There is also a GRIB mosaic.
Model Output Data
Variable / 12 hourly
Tabular
Various types of coded model output including station based foreasts (MOS), upper air, trajectory and other forecasts.
Hydrology Data
Continuous
SHEF/Text
A variety of climatic and hydrology data reported in text or SHEF format. This includes river observations, climatic precipitation and exteme temperature data, etc.
Satellite Data
Continuous
Various
A set of tabular information from the GOES and POES satellites.
- Domestic Free Text Data Products (US, Canada and some Mexican and Caribbean)
Data Type
Frequency
Format
Description
Text Forecasts
Variable
Free text
This includes state and zone forecasts issued by forecast offices. This includes NWS issued surface, upper air and recreational forecasts.
Weather Summaries
Hourly / Variable
Free Text
General weather summaries issued by forecast offices describing current weather conditions.
Climatic Data
Daily / Monthly
Free Text / CLIMAT
Climatic data issued daily or monthly which includes max/min temperatures, precipitation, snowfall, averages and deviations from normal.
Severe Weather Alerts
Variable
Free Text
Severe weather watches, warnings and advisories.
Admin Messages
Variable
Free Text
NWS administrative messages and notices
- Binary Gridded Model Output (GRIB)
Data Type
Frequency
Format
Description
NGM Model
12 hourly
GRIB
The NCEP NGM model which runs to 48 hours.
Eta Model
6 hourly
GRIB
The NCEP Eta model which runs to 72/60 hours.
Global Forecast Model (GFS)
6 hourly
GRIB The NCEP Global model which runs to 120 hours (5 days).
Global Forecast Model - Long range
Daily (00Z)
GRIB
The NCEP Global model run at 00Z to 10 days.
RUC Model
Hourly
GRIB
The NCEP Rapid Update Cycle model run hourly to 12/3 hours.
Wind Wave Model
12 Hourly
GRIB
The NCEP Ocean Wind Wave model run to 72 hours.
Sea Surface Temperature
AnalysisDaily
GRIB
ECMWF Model
Daily (12Z)
GRIB
The European Center for Medium Range Forecasting model 12Z model run that goes to 10 days.
UK Met Model
12 Hourly
GRIB
United Kingdom Met Office model run to 72 hours.
- Other Binary Data
Data Type
Frequency
Format
Description
Profiler Data
Hourly
BUFR
Wind profiler data put in one hour summary files.
GOES Sounder Data
BUFR
Model Output Data
12 Hourly
BUFR
BUFR encoded MOS data
Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts
GRIB
Flash Flood Guidance
GRIB
- NIDS Radar Data
Data Type
Frequency
Format
Description
Base reflectivity
6/10 minutes
NIDS
Base reflectivity (prod 19) at 4 tilts and prod 20
Composite reflectivity
6/10 minutes
NIDS
Composite reflectivity (prod 37)
Velocity
6/10 minutes
NIDS
Base velocity (prod 27) and storm relative velocity (prod 56)
VIL
6/10 minutes
NIDS
Vertically Integrated Liquid (prod 57)
Echo Tops
6/10 minutes
NIDS
Echo tops (prod 41)
Vertical Wind Profile
6/10 minutes
NIDS
Profiler data (prod 48)
Precipitation
6/10 minutes
NIDS
One hour and storm total precipitation (prod 78 and 80)
plus digital precip array (prod 81).
Admin Messages
Variable
NIDS/Text
General Status Messages and Free Text Messages
- Lightning Data
Data Type
Frequency
Format
Description
NLDN
1 minute
Proprietary
Lightning Detection Network data
- Graphics Data
Data Type
Frequency
Format
Description
Redbook
Variable
Redbook
Various Fax like charts encoded in Redbook format
Images
6/10 minutes
NIDS
Composite reflectivity (prod 37)
NWSTG2 Channel
- Binary Gridded Model Output (GRIB)
Data Type
Frequency
Format
Description
Eta Model
6 hourly
GRIB2
The NCEP Eta model which runs to 72/60 hours.
Global Forecast Model (GFS)
6 hourly
GRIB2 The NCEP Global model which runs to 120 hours (5 days).
DGEX Model
6
GRIB2
The Downscaled GFS with Eta eXtensions (out to 192 hours) .
NDFD Data
12 Hourly
GRIB2
National Digital Forecast Database.
- Other Binary Data
Data Type
Frequency
Format
Description
Various BUFR Products
Various
BUFR
GOES Channel
- Satellite Data
Data Type
Frequency
Format
Description
East CONUS Satellite
15 minutes
GINI
East CONUS view from GOES East which includes 5 channels (Vis, IR 3.4, 6.7, 11, 12 micron) at 1 and 4 km resolution
West CONUS Satellite
15 minutes
GINI
West CONUS view from GOES West which includes 5 channels (Vis, IR 3.4, 6.7, 11, 12 micron) at 1 and 4 km resolution
National Composite
30 minutes
GINI
Composite of GOES East and West including all 5 channels at 8 km resolution for CONUS regions.
Northern Hemisphere Composite
30 minutes
GINI
Composite of GOES East and West including all 5 channels at 24 km resolution covering the northern/western hemisphere
OCONUS Channel
- Text Data
Data Type
Frequency
Format
Description
Surface Hydrology
Continous
Various/SHEF
- Model Data
Data Type
Frequency
Format
Description
Eta Model
6 hourly
GRIB
The NCEP Eta model which runs to 72/60 hours over Alaska.
Global Forecast Model (GFS)
6 hourly
GRIB The NCEP Global model which runs to 120 hours (5 days) over Pacific and Alaska.
- Satellite Data
Data Type
Frequency
Format
Description
Northern Hemisphere Composite (5 Sat)
3 hourly
GINI
Composite of five geostationary satellite including 3 channels at 24 km resolution covering the northern hemisphere.
Alaska Satellite
15 minutes
GINI
GOES West view over Alaska inculding all 5 channels at 1 and 4 km resolution.
Alaska National
15 minutes
GINI
GOES West view over Alaska inculding 3 channels at 8 km resolution.
Hawaii Satellite
15 minutes
GINI
GOES West view over Hawaii inculding all 5 channels at 1 and 4 km resolution.
Hawaii National
15 minutes
GINI
GOES West view over Hawaii inculding 3 channels at 8 km resolution.
Puerto Rico Satellite
15 minutes
GINI
GOES East view over Puerto Rico inculding all 5 channels at 1 and 4 km resolution.
Puerto Rico National
15 minutes
GINI
GOES East view over Puerto Rico including 3 channels at 8 km resolution.
- Graphics Data
Data Type
Frequency
Format
Description
Redbook
Variable
Redbook
Various Fax like charts encoded in Redbook format