Content of the Time-Section Plots

These are real time time-section plots produced by the 12km NAM Model. Here is a sample plot:

VARIABLES FOUND ON THE FORECAST TIME-SECTION PLOTS:

CLOUD WATER MIXING RATIO: Scaled values of kg/kg in the green/yellow/red colors. The scale is shown at the bottom.

CLOUD ICE MIXING RATIO: Scaled values of kg/kg in the blue/purple colors. The scale is shown at the bottom.

TEMPERATURE: The 0 degree Celsius isotherm is depicted with a solid black line, while the -15 degree C isotherm is a dashed black line.

WINDS: Vertical profiles of forecast winds are shown in KNOTS. TERRAIN: The terrain is shown in brown at the bottom of the plot. Surface pressure can be determined by using the pressure axis on the left side of the plot.

NOTICE THE TIME AXIS ON THE BOTTOM. THESE PLOTS GO BACKWARD IN TIME AS REQUESTED BY THE FIELD TO ASSESS THE "UPSTREAM CONDITIONS." AS YOU EXAMINE THE PLOTS, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE EARLIEST FORECAST TIMES ARE ON THE RIGHT. THIS IS NOT THE CASE FOR THE SURFACE METEOGRAMS.

Information on obtaining and unpacking hourly model forecasts in BUFR:

These plots are produced from hourly forecast files that have been converted from BUFR into GEMPAK. Information on obtaining these BUFR files for individual stations can be found here .