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PNSWSH

SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE 08-47
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
120 PM EDT MON JUL 21 2008

TO:       SUBSCRIBERS:
          -FAMILY OF SERVICES
          -NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE
          -EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK
          OTHER NWS PARTNERS...AND NWS EMPLOYEES

FROM:     ELI JACKS
          CHIEF...FIRE AND PUBLIC WEATHER SERVICES BRANCH 

SUBJECT:  IMPLEMENTATION OF A RECREATIONAL FORECAST AT  
          WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE IN MIDLAND/ODESSA TEXAS
          EFFECTIVE WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1 2008 

EFFECTIVE WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1 AT 1100 COORDINATED UNIVERSAL TIME 
/UTC/ THE MIDLAND/ODESSA /MAF/ TEXAS WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE 
/WFO/ WILL BEGIN ISSUING A RECREATIONAL FORECAST /REC/ FOR THE 
NATIONAL PARKS WITHIN ITS AREA OF FORECAST RESPONSIBILITY. ON THE 
ABOVE DATE THE FOLLOWING FORECAST PRODUCT WILL BE ISSUED TWICE 
DAILY /MORE FREQUENTLY AS NEEDED/ BY WFO MIDLAND/ODESSA.

PRODUCT NAME                    WMO HEADING    AWIPS IDENTIFIER

RECREATIONAL FORECAST           SXUS44 KMAF    RECMAF

PERTINENT PERSONNEL/OFFICES/AGENCIES WILL NEED TO ADD THIS 
COMMUNICATION IDENTIFIER TO THEIR COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS TO 
RECEIVE THIS NWS PRODUCT.

THE REC WILL PROVIDE A DETAILED WEATHER FORECAST IN THREE 
SEGMENTS AS FOLLOWS: 

-BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK
-CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK
-GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK.

EACH SEGMENT WILL CONTAIN DAY AND NIGHT PERIODS FOR THE 7 DAY 
FORECAST PERIOD. WEATHER ELEMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ARE:  
TEMPERATURE...SKY COVER AND WEATHER...AND SIGNIFICANT WINDS. 
AFTER THE 7 DAY FORECAST... THERE WILL BE POINT FORECASTS FOR:

  BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK VISITORS CENTER... CASTOLON...CHISOS  
  BASIN... PERSIMMON GAP...RIO GRANDE VILLAGE /BIG BEND
  NATIONAL PARK/

  CARLSBAD CAVERNS VISITORS CENTER /CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL 
  PARK/

  GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS VISITORS CENTER...DOG CANYON RANGER  
  STATION...AND MCKITTRICK CANYON TRAILHEAD /GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS 
  NATIONAL PARK/. 

RELEVANT ZONE NUMBERS WILL BE USED AND EACH FORECAST WILL CONTAIN 
A PRODUCT EXPIRATION TIME. ADDITIONAL SEGMENTS AND POINT 
FORECASTS MAY BE ADDED IN THE FUTURE.

FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS CHANGE...PLEASE CONTACT: 

  RAYMOND R. FAGEN
  METEOROLOGIST-IN-CHARGE 
  NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
  2500 CHALLENGER DRIVE
  MIDLAND TX 79706
  PHONE 432-563-5006
  EMAIL RAYMOND.FAGEN@NOAA.GOV

NWS SERVICE CHANGE NOTICES ARE ONLINE AT /USE LOWER CASE/:

  HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/NOTIF.HTM

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