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RAWS FAQ
There are National Weather Service (NWS) operated weather stations at all the major airport facilities across the country. Why does the wildland fire community have so many RAWS stations? Wouldn't the data from the NWS stations give the same information and save a lot of money by reducing stations?
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Per the NFDRS Weather Station Standards under Site Selection -- "Locate the station in a place that is representative of the conditions existing in the general area of concern. Consider vegetative cover type, topographic features, elevation, climate, local weather patterns, etc." More guidance on station siting is available in the Standards document. RAWS stations are located in areas representative of where the fires occur; this is not the case of NWS stations located at airports. Chuck Maxwell, formerly with the NWS and currently employed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as the Fire Weather Program Manager at the Southwest Coordination Center in Albuquerque, conducted a study on RAWS stations versus NWS sites located at airports.
I would like to establish a new weather station. Where do I get the WIMS Station Number?
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Contact the Predictive Services Unit for your Geographic Area. Additional assistance is available through the National Systems Support Desk at (800)253.5559.
I would like to establish a new RAWS station. Where do I get an ID for the GOES Satellite (NESSID)?
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Contact your agency RAWS Coordinator. You will be asked to supply specific information about the station.
- GOES assignments for USDA Forest Service, Department of Interior, and State/local goverment wildland fire agency RAWS stations are obtained through the Remote Sensing Fire Weather Support Unit RAWS helpdesk rawsdepothelp@nifc.blm.gov.
- State/local government agencies must obtain their own Satellite User Agreement with NOAA/NESDIS for the use of the satellite. An example of this document and the proper way to fill it out and process it can be obtained from the RAWS helpdesk rawsdepothelp@nifc.blm.gov.
How long are the observations from ASCADS (RAWS) data stored?
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For about a week. Data are stored in WIMS for one year, and the actual "R" to "O" observations are permanently stored in the NIFMID Library. Data from ASCADS is forwarded to the Western Regional Climate Center (WRCC), where it is permanently stored.
How do I connect to WIMS?
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Go to the National Fire and Aviation Management Web applications site: fam.nwcg.gov/fam-web/. However, you must first obtain an account and proper logon identification and password for WIMS.
How do I connect to ASCADS?
How do I connect to CMMS?
How do I find out about maintenance training sessions?
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Training sessions will be posted on our RAWS website under "Training"
Is technical approval necessary for the USFS to purchase RAWS equipment?
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In an email dated 08/09/2000, Madeline DeStefano, Portfolio Manager, PP&S Branch - Information Resources Management of the USFS said, "For purchase, support and maintenance of the RAWS equipment, no technical approval is required. For support services contracts related to moving the RAWS data into databases or applications, technical approval is required."
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For more information about the interagency RAWS program, contact USFS Program Manager Linnea Keating or BLM Remote Sensing Fire Weather Support Unit Manager Herb Arnold.
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