NOUS41 KWBC 111520
PNSWSH

SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE 08-18
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
1120 AM EDT DAY MAR 11 2008

TO:	     SUBSCRIBERS:
             -FAMILY OF SERVICES
             -NOAA 	WEATHER WIRE SERVICE 
             -EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK 
             OTHER NWS PARTNERS...AND NWS EMPLOYEES
		
FROM:	     THERESE Z. PIERCE
	     CHIEF...MARINE AND COASTAL SERVICES BRANCH

SUBJECT:     ENHANCEMENT TO THE TEMPDROP MESSAGE:
             EFFECTIVE MAY 15 2008 

THE TEMPDROP MESSAGE PROVIDES REAL-TIME OBSERVATIONS FROM 
DROPWINDSONDES RELEASED IN AND AROUND TROPICAL CYCLONES. THE 
CURRENT MESSAGE FORMAT PROVIDES INSUFFICIENT LOCATION PRECISION 
FOR CERTAIN DROPWINDSONDES RELEASED IN VERY STRONG WINDS CLOSE TO 
THE CENTER OF CIRCULATION.

EFFECTIVE MAY 15 2008 THE FOLLOWING CHANGES WILL BE MADE TO THE 
62626 NATIONALLY-DEVELOPED CODE GROUP IN THE TEMPDROP MESSAGE:

1. ADDITION OF A RELEASE LOCATION/TIME DESIGNATOR...CODED /REL/
2. ADDITION OF A NEW SPLASH LOCATION/TIME DESIGNATOR...CODED /SPG/

NOTE: THE FORMER SPLASH/LOCATION TIME DESIGNATOR...CODED 
SPL...WILL BE RETAINED BUT LIKELY NOT BE USED.

AN EXAMPLE OF THE NEW 62626 CODE GROUP FOLLOWS:

62626 REL XXXXNXXXXXW HHMMSS SPG XXXXNXXXXXW HHMMSS 

COMPLETE TEMPDROP MESSAGE FORMATS ARE PROVIDED IN THE NHOP. SEE 
TABLE G-6. THE NHOP IS PROVIDED ONLINE AT /USE LOWER CASE 
LETTERS/:

	HTTP://WWW.OFCM.GOV/HOMEPAGE/TEXT/PUBS.HTM

THE 2007 NHOP IS NOW POSTED ON THE INTERNET AND THE 2008 NHOP 
WILL BE POSTED BY JUNE 1 2008.
                       
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS...PLEASE CONTACT

     JAMES FRANKLIN
     TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER
     NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER 
     11691 SW 17TH STREET
     MIAMI FLORIDA  33165
     PHONE 305-229-4475

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

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

$$
NNNN