GFS And NAM Abbreviations

• DT = The day of the month, denoted by the standard three or four letter abbreviation
• HR = Hour of the day in UTC time. This is the hour at which the forecast is valid, or if the forecast is valid for a period, the end of the forecast period.
• N/X = nighttime minimum/daytime maximum surface temperatures.
• TMP = surface temperature valid at that hour.
• DPT = surface dewpoint valid at that hour.
• CLD = forecast categories of total sky cover valid at that hour.
  • CL - clear;
  • FW - > 0 to 2 octas of total sky cover;
  • SC - > 2 to 4 octas of total sky cover;
  • BK - > 4 to < 8 octas of total sky cover;
  • OV - 8 octas of total sky cover or totally obscured.
• WDR = forecasts of the 10-meter wind direction at the hour, given in tens of degrees.
• WSP = forecasts of the 10-meter wind speed at the hour, given in knots.
• P06 = probability of precipitation (PoP) during a 6-h period ending at that time.
• P12 = PoP during a 12-h period ending at that time.
• Q06 = quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF) category for liquid equivalent precipitation amount during a 6-h period ending at that time.
  • 0 = no precipitation expected;
  • 1 = 0.01 - 0.09 inches;
  • 2 = 0.10 - 0.24 inches;
  • 3 = 0.25 - 0.49 inches;
  • 4 = 0.50 - 0.99 inches;
  • 5 = > 1.00 inches.
  • Missing forecasts are denoted by 9.
• Q12 = QPF category for liquid equivalent precipitation amount during a 12-h period ending at the indicated time.
  • 0 = no precipitation expected;
  • 1 = 0.01 - 0.09 inches;
  • 2 = 0.10 - 0.24 inches;
  • 3 = 0.25 - 0.49 inches;
  • 4 = 0.50 - 0.99 inches;
  • 5 = 1.00 - 1.99 inches;
  • 6 = > 2.00 inches.
  • Missing forecasts are denoted by 9.
• SNW = snowfall categorical forecasts during a 24-h period ending at the indicated time.
  • 0 = no snow or a trace expected;
  • 1 = > a trace to < 2 inches expected;
  • 2 = 2 to < 4 inches;
  • 4 = > 4 to < 6 inches;
  • 6 = > 6 to < 8 inches;
  • 8 = > 8 inches.
  • A missing forecast is denoted by 9; forecasts are disseminated only for the period of September 1 - May 31.
• T06 = probability of thunderstorms/conditional probability of severe thunderstorms during the 6-hr period ending at the indicated time.
• T12 = probability of thunderstorms/conditional probability of severe thunderstorms during the 12-hr period ending at the indicated time.
• POZ = conditional probability of freezing pcp occurring at the hour.
• POS = conditional probability of snow occurring at the hour.
• TYP = conditional precipitation type at the hour.
  • S = pure snow or snow grains
  • Z = freezing rain/drizzle, ice pellets, or anything mixed with freezing precip
  • R = pure rain/drizzle or rain mixed with snow
• CIG = ceiling height categorical forecasts at the hour.
  • 1 = ceiling height of < 200 feet;
  • 2 = ceiling height of 200 - 400 feet;
  • 3 = ceiling height of 500 - 900 feet;
  • 4 = ceiling height of 1000 - 1900 feet;
  • 5 = ceiling height of 2000 - 3000 feet;
  • 6 = ceiling height of 3100 - 6500 feet;
  • 7 = ceiling height of 6600 - 12,000 feet;
  • 8 = ceiling height of > 12,000 feet or unlimited ceiling.
• VIS = visibility categorical forecasts at the hour.
  • 1 = visibility of < 1/2 mi;
  • 2 = visibility of 1/2 - < 1 mi;
  • 3 = visibility of 1 to < 2 mi;
  • 4 = visibility of 2 to < 3 mi;
  • 5 = visibility of 3 to 5 mi;
  • 6 = visibility of 6 mi;
  • 7 = visibility of > 6 mi.
• OBV = obstruction to vision categorical forecasts at the hour.
  • N = none of the following;
  • HZ = haze, smoke, dust;
  • BR = mist (fog with visibility > 5/8 mi);
  • FG = fog or ground fog (visibility < 5/8 mi);
  • BL = blowing dust, sand, snow.

NBH Abbreviations

• UTC = forcast valid hour (in UTC) (date as in line 1, unless past 23Z - then the following date is valid)
• TMP = temperature, degrees F
• TSD* = standard deviation of temperature, degrees F
• DPT = dew point temperature, degrees F
• DSD* = dew point temperature standard deviation, degrees F
• WBG* = wet bulb globe temperature.
• SKY = sky cover, percent
• SSD* = sky cover standard deviation, percent
• WDR = wind direction, nearest tens degrees (northerly=36; easterly=9; calm=00)
  • oceanic-only stations only have WDR for cycles=0,7,12,19
• WSP = wind speed, knots
• WSD* = wind speed standard deviation, knots
• GST = wind gust, knots
• GSD* = wind gust standard deviation, knots
• P01 = 1-hour PoP, percent
• P06 = 6-hour PoP, percent
• Q01 = 1-hour QPF, 1/100 inches
• T01 = 1-hour thunderstorm probability, percent
• PZR = conditional probability of freezing rain, percent
• PSN = conditional probability of snow, percent
• PPL = conditional probability of sleet / ice pellets, percent
• PRA = conditional probability of rain, percent
• S01 = 1-hour snow amount, 1/10 inches
• SLV = snow level, 100s feet MSL
• I01 = 1-hour ice amount, 1/100 inches
• CIG* = ceiling height, 100s feet (>5000 ft reported to the nearest 1000 ft; -88=unlimited)
• MVC* = probability of ceiling MVFR flight conditions (ceiling <= 3000 ft), percent
• IFC* = probability of ceiling IFR flight conditions (ceiling < 1000 ft), percent
• LIC* = probability of ceiling LIFR flight conditions (ceiling < 500 ft), percent
• LCB** = lowest cloud base, 100s feet (>5000 ft reported to the nearest 1000 ft; -88=unlimited)
• VIS = visibility, 1/10th miles (rounded to nearest mile for values >= 1 mile) [Note: values before approx. 2019-06-01 are in full miles]
• MVV* = probability of visibility MVFR flight conditions (visibility <= 5 miles), percent
• IFV* = probability of visibility IFR flight conditions (visibility < 3 miles), percent
• LIV* = probability of visibility LIFR flight conditions (visibility < 1 mile), percent
• MHT = mixing height, 100s feet MSL
• TWD = transport wind direction, nearest tens degrees (northerly=36; easterly=9; calm=00)
• TWS = transport wind speed, knots (<0.5 knots will be listed as 0 (calm))
• SOL** = instantaneous solar radiation, 10s W/m2 (ex: 8=80 W/m2; non-zero values < 10=1)

NBS Abbreviations

• DT (or blank) = forcast valid date (in UTC)
• UTC = forcast valid hour (in UTC)
• FHR = model forecast hour (number of hours forward from forecast date/cycle)
• TXN** = (formerly X/N or N/X) = 18-hour maximum and minimum temperatures, degrees F.
  • Min is between 00Z-18Z and reported at 12Z (except Guam)
  • Max is between 12z(current day)-06Z(next day) and reported at 00z(following day) (except Guam)
  • Guam stations report Tmax at 12z and Tmin at 00z.
• XND* = standard deviation of maximum or minimum temperature, degrees F
• TMP = temperature, degrees F
• TSD* = standard deviation of temperature, degrees F
• DPT = dew point temperature, degrees F
• DSD* = dew point temperature standard deviation, degrees F
• WBG* = wet bulb globe temperature.
• SKY = sky cover, percent
• SSD* = sky cover standard deviation, percent
• WDR = wind direction, nearest tens degrees (northerly=36; easterly=9; calm=00)
  • oceanic-only stations only have WDR for cycles=0,7,12,19
• WSP = wind speed, knots (<0.5 knots will be listed as 0 (calm))
• WSD* = wind speed standard deviation, knots
• GST = wind gust, knots
• GSD* = wind gust standard deviation, knots
• P06 = 6-hour PoP, percent
• P12 = 12-hour PoP, percent
• Q06 = 6-hour QPF, 1/100 inches
• Q12 = 12-hour QPF, 1/100 inches
• DUR = Duration of precipitation, hours
• T03 = 3-hour thunderstorm probability, percent
• T06* = 6-hour thunderstorm probability, percent
• T12 = 12-hour thunderstorm probability, percent
• PZR = conditional probability of freezing rain, percent
• PSN = conditional probability of snow, percent
• PPL = conditional probability of sleet / ice pellets, percent
• PRA = conditional probability of rain, percent
• S06 = 6-hour snow amount, 1/10 inches
• SLV** = snow level, 100s feet MSL (rounded to nearest 1000 ft for values > 10,000 ft)
• I06 = 6-hour ice amount, 1/100 inches
• CIG** = ceiling height, 100s feet (>5000 ft reported to the nearest 1000 ft; -88=unlimited)
• IFC* = probability of ceiling IFR flight conditions (ceiling < 1000 ft), percent
• LCB** = lowest cloud base, 100s feet (>5000 ft reported to the nearest 1000 ft; -88=unlimited)
• VIS** = visibility, 1/10th miles up to 10 miles (rounded to nearest mile for values >= 1 mile; VIS > 10 miles = 100)
• IFV* = probability of visibility IFR flight conditions (visibility < 3 miles), percent
• MHT = mixing height, 100s feet MSL
• TWD = transport wind direction, nearest tens degrees (northerly=36; easterly=9; calm=00)
• TWS = transport wind speed, knots (<0.5 knots will be listed as 0 (calm))
• SOL** = instantaneous solar radiation, 10s W/m2 (ex: 8=80 W/m2; non-zero values < 10 = 1)
• SWH = significant wave height, feet (marine and some near-water stations only)

Notes for National Blend of Models Reports

• New elements have been added. New elements are marked with an asterisk (*).
• Some elements have changed format, position, and/or name. These elements are marked with a double asterisk(**).

LAMP Abbreviations