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PNSWSH

TECHNICAL INFORMATION NOTICE 08-19
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
330 PM EST FRI MAR 7 2008

TO:      NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE /NWS/ OFFICES
         FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION /FAA/ USERS
         FAMILY OF SERVICES /FOS/ SUBSCRIBERS
         OTHER USERS OF NWS AVIATION FORECASTS

FROM:    KEVIN L. JOHNSTON
         CHIEF...AVIATION SERVICES BRANCH 
     
SUBJECT: TEST TAFS TO ENSURE PROPER DECODING OF 30-HOUR TAF FORMAT
         TEST DATE SCHEDULED: MARCH 26 2008   

REFER TO SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE /SCN/ 08-15.

A MONTHLY TEST TAF WILL BE PROVIDED FOR USERS TO CHECK AND 
EVALUATE THEIR ABILITY TO DECODE THE NEW DATE AND TIME FORMAT.  
GENERALLY TEST TAF PRODUCTS WITH THE 30-HOUR TAF FORMAT WILL BE 
PRODUCED THE LAST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH THROUGH OCTOBER 2008 AT 
1400 UNIVERSAL COORDINATED TIME /UTC/. 

REMINDERS OF THE TEST TAF WILL BE PROVIDED 3 DAYS BEFORE THE 
SCHEDULED TEST DAY. IF CRITICAL WEATHER OCCURS ON THE TEST 
DAY...THE TEST WILL BE POSTPONED UNITL THE NEXT NON-CRITICAL 
WEATHER DAY.

A LINK TO THE TAF TESTBED AND TAF FORMAT EXAMPLES IS AVAILABLE AT 
/USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:

     HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/AVIATION/TAF_TESTBED.SHTML

THE 30 HOUR TEST TAF FOR MARCH SHOULD LOOK LIKE THE FOLLOWING TAF. 

FTUS90 KWBC 061754
TAF KABC 261128Z 2612/2718 14005KT P6SM SCT025 OVC040
     TEMPO 2612/2616 OVC025
     FM261600 13015G23KT P6SM OVC015
     FM262100 13015G22KT P6SM OVC008
     TEMPO 2621/2701 1SM -SN
     FM270100 09015KT 3SM BR OVC006
     TEMPO 2701/2705 2SM -SN BLSN
     FM271500 01015KT 5SM BR OVC006= 


IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS TECHNICAL INFORMATION 
NOTICE PLEASE REFER TO SCN 08-15 OR CONTACT:

    MICHAEL GRAF
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
    SSMC-2 STATION 13314
    1325 EAST-WEST HIGHWAY
    SILVER SPRING MD 20910 
    PHONE:301-713-1726 X 117 
    EMAIL:MICHAEL.GRAF@NOAA.GOV

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

    HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIF.HTM

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