NOUS41 KWBC 241823
PNSWSH

TECHNICAL INFORMATION NOTICE 08-49
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
225 PM EDT THU JUL 24 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: JULY 30 2008  

REFER TO SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE /SCN/ 08-15 AND TECHNICAL 
IMPLEMENTATION NOTICE /TIN/ 08-37.

NWS WILL PROVIDE A MONTHLY TEST TAF SO USERS CAN CHECK AND 
EVALUATE THEIR ABILITY TO DECODE THE NEW DATE AND TIME FORMAT.  
GENERALLY NWS WILL PRODUCE TEST TAF PRODUCTS WITH THE 30-HOUR 
TAF FORMAT ON THE LAST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH THROUGH OCTOBER 
2008 AT 1400 UNIVERSAL COORDINATED TIME /UTC/. 

NWS WILL PROVIDE REMINDERS OF THE TEST TAF 3 DAYS BEFORE THE 
SCHEDULED TEST DAY. IF CRITICAL WEATHER OCCURS ON THE TEST 
DAY...THE TEST WILL BE POSTPONED UNTIL THE NEXT NON-CRITICAL 
WEATHER DAY. THE NEXT MONTHLY TEST WILL OCCUR JULY 30 2008.

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 MAY SHOULD LOOK AS FOLLOWS: 

FTXX90 KWBC 301400  
KABC 301400 3014/3118 00000KT 3SM BR SCT060 BKN150
    FM301430 23006KT P6SM SCT040 BKN200
    FM301800 25005KT P6SM VCTS SCT040CB
     TEMPO 3020/3024 2SM TSRA BR BKN040CB
    FM310000 VRB03KT P6SM BKN050 BKN200
    FM310600 VRB03KT 3SM BR SCT250
    FM311300 23006KT P6SM SKC
    FM311600 34008KT P6SM BKN020=

USERS WILL NEED TO CODE THEIR SYSTEMS FOR FTXX90 KWBC TO SEE 
THIS TAF.

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/:

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

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