Public Information Statement

NOUS41 KWBC 021805 CCA
PNSWSH

SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE 06-16...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
205 PM EDT TUE MAY 2 2006

TO:       FAMILY OF SERVICES /FOS/ SUBSCRIBERS...NOAA 
          WEATHER WIRE SERVICE /NWWS/ SUBSCRIBERS...
          EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION 
          NETWORK /EMWIN/ SUBSCRIBERS...NOAAPORT
          SUBSCRIBERS...OTHER NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
          /NWS/ CUSTOMERS AND PARTNERS...AND NWS EMPLOYEES

FROM:     THERESE Z. PIERCE
          CHIEF...MARINE AND COASTAL SERVICES BRANCH

SUBJECT:  CORRECTED: CHANGE TO VORTEX DATA MESSAGE PRODUCT 
          FORMAT: EFFECTIVE ON OR AFTER JUNE 1 2006 
 
CORRECTED TO CHANGE DOD WMO HEADING IN TABLE 2 FROM UPPN12 KNHC 
TO URPN12 KNHC. 

ON OR AFTER JUNE 1 2006...THE MESSAGE TITLE OF THE VORTEX DATA 
MESSAGE /VDM/ PRODUCTS WILL BE MODIFIED TO INCLUDE A CODED 
STRING/STORM NUMBER IDENTIFIER. THE CHANGE WILL FACILITATE USE OF 
THE DATA IN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE /DOD/ AND DEPARTMENT OF 
COMMERCE /DOC/ FORECAST AND DATABASE SYSTEMS. THE STORM NUMBER 
IDENTIFIER ADHERES TO A STANDARDIZED FORMAT USED IN SEVERAL OTHER 
TROPICAL CYCLONE TEXT PRODUCTS.

DOC AND DOD HURRICANE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT PROVIDE VORTEX DATA 
MESSAGES /VDM/ AS PART OF THE NATIONAL HURRICANE OPERATIONS PLAN 
/NHOP/.  THESE PRODUCTS AND ASSOCIATED HEADERS ARE PROVIDED IN 
TABLES 1 AND 2 FOR THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC HURRICANE BASINS 
RESPECTIVELY.

TABLE 1.  VDM FOR THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE BASIN

FEDERAL AGENCY           WMO HEADING
  DOC                    URNT12 KWBC
  DOD                    URNT12 KNHC

TABLE 2.  VDM FOR THE EAST...CENTRAL...AND WEST PACIFIC HURRICANE 
BASINS

FEDERAL AGENCY           WMO HEADING
  DOC                    URPN12 KWBC
  DOD                    URPN12 KNHC

THE CHANGE FOR THE DOC PRODUCTS WILL OCCUR ON JUNE 1 2006. THE 
CHANGE FOR THE DOD PRODUCTS IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR BETWEEN AUGUST 1 
2006 AND NOVEMBER 15 2006...PENDING NEW GROUNDSTATION AND 
AIRCRAFT SOFTWARE UPDATES.

AN EXAMPLE OF THE MESSAGE TITLE UNDER THE OLD FORMAT:

VORTEX DATA MESSAGE

AN EXAMPLE OF THE MESSAGE TITLE WITH STORM IDENTIFIER UNDER THE 
NEW FORMAT:

VORTEX DATA MESSAGE AL272005

STORM NUMBER IDENTIFIERS ARE FORMATTED AS BBCCYYYY WHERE:

BB IS THE OCEAN BASIN
        AL - NORTH ATLANTIC BASIN...NORTH OF THE EQUATOR
        SL - SOUTH ATLANTIC BASIN...SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR
        EP - NORTH EAST PACIFIC BASIN...EAST OF 140 WEST
        CP - NORTH CENTRAL PACIFIC BASIN...BETWEEN THE 
             INTERNATIONAL DATELINE AND 140 WEST
        WP - NORTH WEST PACIFIC BASIN...WEST OF THE     
             INTERNATIONAL DATELINE
 
CC IS THE CYCLONE NUMBER

NUMBERS 01 THROUGH 49 ARE RESERVED FOR TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL 
CYCLONES. A CYCLONE NUMBER IS ASSIGNED TO EACH TROPICAL OR 
SUBTROPICAL CYCLONE IN A BASIN AS IT DEVELOPS. NUMBERS ARE 
ASSIGNED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.

NUMBERS 50 THROUGH 79 ARE RESERVED FOR INTERNAL USE BY 
OPERATIONAL FORECAST CENTERS.

NUMBERS 80 THROUGH 89 ARE RESERVED FOR TRAINING...EXERCISES AND 
TESTING.

NUMBERS 90 THROUGH 99 ARE RESERVED FOR TROPICAL DISTURBANCES 
WHICH HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME TROPICAL OR SUBTROPICAL 
CYCLONES. THE NUMBERS ARE GENERALLY ASSIGNED SEQUENTIALLY AND MAY 
BE REUSED THROUGHOUT THE CALENDAR YEAR.

YYYY IS THE FOUR DIGIT CALENDAR YEAR. FOR THE SOUTHERN 
HEMISPHERE. THE YEAR BEGINS EFFECTIVE 1 JULY WITH CALENDAR YEAR 
PLUS ONE.

COMPLETE VDM FORMATS ARE PROVIDED IN THE NHOP APPENDIX G.  THE 
NHOP IS PROVIDED ON THE INTERNET AT /USE LOWER CASE/:

     HTTP://WWW.OFCM.GOV/NHOP

THE 2005 NHOP IS NOW POSTED ON THE INTERNET. THE 2006 NHOP WILL 
BE POSTED BY JUNE 1 2006.
                       
ALTHOUGH THE NOTIFICATION OF THE CHANGE TO THE DOC PRODUCTS 
PROVIDES LESS THAN THE REQUIRED 75 DAYS SPECIFIED IN NWSI  
10-1805...A WAIVER WAS APPROVED BECAUSE THE FORMAT OF THE CHANGES 
AND THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE /THE JUNE 1 BEGINNING OF THE ATLANTIC 
HURRICANE SEASON/ WERE AGREED UPON AND FINALIZED AT THE ANNUAL 
MULTI-FEDERAL AGENCY HURRICANE CONFERENCE HELD LAST WEEK.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS...PLEASE CONTACT

     CHRIS SISKO
     TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER
     NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER 
     11691 SW 17TH STREET
     MIAMI FLORIDA  33165

     PHONE /305/ 229 4431
 
THIS AND OTHER SERVICE CHANGE NOTICES CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT 
/USE LOWER CASE/:

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

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