Some Weather Guys have a sense of humor...

[vontresc]

A friend of mine just sent me a link to this discussion of the weather in IL.

http://www.weather.gov/view/prodsByState.php?state=IL&prodtype=discussion

 

[jesse]

I hate how all that crap is in CAPS. Makes it way harder to read.

 

[Ted]

I hate how all that crap is in CAPS. Makes it way harder to read.

YEAH BUT IT'S A LOT FUNNIER THAN STANDARD FORECASTS, WHICH ARE STILL IN ALL CAPS.

 

[jesse]

YEAH BUT IT'S A LOT FUNNIER THAN STANDARD FORECASTS, WHICH ARE STILL IN ALL CAPS.

Which I hate just as equally.

 

[Ted]

Which I hate just as equally.

What actually amazes me is that with all the information we have out there, METARs are still sent in code.

(and I hate the all caps stuff too)

 

[jesse]

What actually amazes me is that with all the information we have out there, METARs are still sent in code.

(and I hate the all caps stuff too)

Also very annoying.

 

[cessna182b]

YEAH BUT IT'S A LOT FUNNIER THAN STANDARD FORECASTS, WHICH ARE STILL IN ALL CAPS.

Do you suppose that they are still using Teletype Machines?

Dave

 

[gprellwitz]

Pete,
Which one did you find amusing? The 3:25PM Romeoville AFD seemed pretty typical.

Ah, headed back to 11:28AM and found this:

NOTHING LIKE A SLOPPY MIXED PRECIP EVENT TO MAKE ME LONG FOR A DAY
LIKE YESTERDAY WITH A SURPRISE LAKE RESULT SNOW EVENT!

HAVE ELECTED TO EXPAND THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY TO INCLUDE OUR
WESTERN CWA. LEAD SHORTWAVE HAS BEEN A BIT MORE GENEROUS WITH SNOW
THIS MORNING THAN ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED...BUT LOOKING AT SNOWFALL
TOTALS THAT HAVE COME IN THE SNOWS BARK HAS DEFINITELY BEEN WORSE
THAN ITS BITE. HAVE SEEN GENERALLY A HALF INCH OR LESS OF SNOWFALL
ACROSS MOST OF THE CWA...EXCEPT FAR NORTHERN COUNTIES WHERE A
BIT OVER AN INCH HAS FALLEN.

NORTH-SOUTH BAND OF LIGHT-MODERATE PRECIPITATION IS MOVING ACROSS
EASTERN IOWA AND NORTHWEST ILLINOIS NOW AND SHOULD MOVE ACROSS THE
CWA THIS AFTERNOON. PRECIPITATION DURATION/COVERAGE/INTENSITY
SHOULD BE LESS THE FARTHER SOUTH YOU GO AS YOU GET FARTHER
REMOVED FROM STRONGER FORCING WITH COMPACT VORT WHICH SHOWS UP
NICELY ON WATER VAPOR IMAGERY.

P-TYPE IS ONE GINORMOUS HEADACHE AS STRONG WARM ADVECTION
CONTINUES...AND AS HAS BEEN SUSPECTED THE PAST COUPLE DAYS MODELS
HAVE BEEN SLOW TO CATCH ONTO THE MAGNITUDE OF THE WARM AIR
ADVECTION. PRECIP HAS SWITCHED TO FREEZING RAIN AS FAR NORTH AS
THE QUAD CITIES...WITH ACARS SOUNDINGS OUT OF ORD SHOWING 1 TO
SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN 2C WARMING WITHIN THE LAYER FROM 925-750MB
BETWEEN 15-17Z. STRONG WARM AIR ADVECTION SHOULD CONTINUE THIS
AFTERNOON WITH ABOVE FREEZING LAYER EVENTUALLY DEVELOPING AND
LIKELY RESULTING IN A MIXED BAG OF PRECIP. SURFACE TEMPS HAVE
ALSO BEEN RISING FAIRLY QUICKLY WITH TEMPS OVER OUR SOUTHERN CWA
ALREADY NEARING FREEZING. CONTINUED WARM ADVECTION ON STRONG
SOUTHERLY WINDS SHOULD ALLOW TEMPS OVER AT LEAST THE SOUTHEAST 1/3
TO 1/2 OF THE CWA TO CLIMB ABOVE FREEZING...WITH P-TYPE LIKELY
BEING RAIN ONCE IT DOES START BACK UP AGAIN.

GIVEN THE REPORTS OF FREEZING RAIN AND POOR TRAVEL CONDITIONS TO
OUR WEST DID EXPAND THE ADVISORY TO INCLUDE WESTERN CWA. FARTHER
EAST WITH TEMPS RISING QUICKLY CONFIDENCE IN ICING IS LOWER AND
GOING TO HOLD OFF ON A HEADLINE...THOUGH IF TEMP RISE ISNT QUICK
ENOUGH CANT RULE OUT EVENTUALLY NEEDING TO EXPAND THE WSW BEFORE
THE AFTERNOON IS OVER.

PRECIP SHOULD CONTINUE INTO TONIGHT AS PRECIP FILLS IN OVER IOWA
WITH NEXT IMPULSE EVIDENT ON SATELLITE IMAGERY MOVING INTO
NORTHERN IOWA.

HAVE TRIMMED SNOWFALL AMOUNTS SLIGHTLY IN THE GRIDS OVER OUR
NORTHERN CWA...MAINLY DUE TO THE LESSER THAN EXPECTED AMOUNTS
PRIOR TO 18Z TODAY AND THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME MIXED PRECIP MAKING
IT FARTHER NORTH THAN ANTICIPATED.

GRIDS AND TEXT PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED/SENT...

 

[vontresc]

Was referring to this entry...

000
FXUS63 KLOT 171758
AFDLOT

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
1158 AM CST MON JAN 17 2011

.DISCUSSION...
1128 AM CST

NOTHING LIKE A SLOPPY MIXED PRECIP EVENT TO MAKE ME LONG FOR A DAY
LIKE YESTERDAY WITH A SURPRISE LAKE RESULT SNOW EVENT!

HAVE ELECTED TO EXPAND THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY TO INCLUDE OUR
WESTERN CWA. LEAD SHORTWAVE HAS BEEN A BIT MORE GENEROUS WITH SNOW
THIS MORNING THAN ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED...BUT LOOKING AT SNOWFALL
TOTALS THAT HAVE COME IN THE SNOWS BARK HAS DEFINITELY BEEN WORSE
THAN ITS BITE. HAVE SEEN GENERALLY A HALF INCH OR LESS OF SNOWFALL
ACROSS MOST OF THE CWA...EXCEPT FAR NORTHERN COUNTIES WHERE A
BIT OVER AN INCH HAS FALLEN.

NORTH-SOUTH BAND OF LIGHT-MODERATE PRECIPITATION IS MOVING ACROSS
EASTERN IOWA AND NORTHWEST ILLINOIS NOW AND SHOULD MOVE ACROSS THE
CWA THIS AFTERNOON. PRECIPITATION DURATION/COVERAGE/INTENSITY
SHOULD BE LESS THE FARTHER SOUTH YOU GO AS YOU GET FARTHER
REMOVED FROM STRONGER FORCING WITH COMPACT VORT WHICH SHOWS UP
NICELY ON WATER VAPOR IMAGERY.

P-TYPE IS ONE GINORMOUS HEADACHE AS STRONG WARM ADVECTION
CONTINUES...AND AS HAS BEEN SUSPECTED THE PAST COUPLE DAYS MODELS
HAVE BEEN SLOW TO CATCH ONTO THE MAGNITUDE OF THE WARM AIR
ADVECTION. PRECIP HAS SWITCHED TO FREEZING RAIN AS FAR NORTH AS
THE QUAD CITIES...WITH ACARS SOUNDINGS OUT OF ORD SHOWING 1 TO
SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN 2C WARMING WITHIN THE LAYER FROM 925-750MB
BETWEEN 15-17Z. STRONG WARM AIR ADVECTION SHOULD CONTINUE THIS
AFTERNOON WITH ABOVE FREEZING LAYER EVENTUALLY DEVELOPING AND
LIKELY RESULTING IN A MIXED BAG OF PRECIP. SURFACE TEMPS HAVE
ALSO BEEN RISING FAIRLY QUICKLY WITH TEMPS OVER OUR SOUTHERN CWA
ALREADY NEARING FREEZING. CONTINUED WARM ADVECTION ON STRONG
SOUTHERLY WINDS SHOULD ALLOW TEMPS OVER AT LEAST THE SOUTHEAST 1/3
TO 1/2 OF THE CWA TO CLIMB ABOVE FREEZING...WITH P-TYPE LIKELY
BEING RAIN ONCE IT DOES START BACK UP AGAIN.

GIVEN THE REPORTS OF FREEZING RAIN AND POOR TRAVEL CONDITIONS TO
OUR WEST DID EXPAND THE ADVISORY TO INCLUDE WESTERN CWA. FARTHER
EAST WITH TEMPS RISING QUICKLY CONFIDENCE IN ICING IS LOWER AND
GOING TO HOLD OFF ON A HEADLINE...THOUGH IF TEMP RISE ISNT QUICK
ENOUGH CANT RULE OUT EVENTUALLY NEEDING TO EXPAND THE WSW BEFORE
THE AFTERNOON IS OVER.

PRECIP SHOULD CONTINUE INTO TONIGHT AS PRECIP FILLS IN OVER IOWA
WITH NEXT IMPULSE EVIDENT ON SATELLITE IMAGERY MOVING INTO
NORTHERN IOWA.

HAVE TRIMMED SNOWFALL AMOUNTS SLIGHTLY IN THE GRIDS OVER OUR
NORTHERN CWA...MAINLY DUE TO THE LESSER THAN EXPECTED AMOUNTS
PRIOR TO 18Z TODAY AND THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME MIXED PRECIP MAKING
IT FARTHER NORTH THAN ANTICIPATED.

GRIDS AND TEXT PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED/SENT...

IZZI

 

[Richard]

I happen to like the METAR/TAF code. I get to use my piloty knowledge and it helps me feel good about the boatload of money it took to get that knowledge. Plus it impresses the hell outta chicks...if I could just meet any.

Mebbe Jesse would prefer this: NoRT-SoUtLL BND PwNeD lIGiggityHT2MODERATE PrCIp...h2O vAPoR ImaGERY.

 

[dmccormack]

Plus it impresses the hell outta chicks...

Really? You've met someone impressed by METAR decoding?

I need to get out more...

 

[ajstoner21]

Plus it impresses the hell outta chicks...if I could just meet any.

That is a style of pickup line I have not thought of. Maybe I should try it.

"Hey babe, check this out. This is a METAR, This says there is an overcast cloud layer, why don't we simulate that with a blanket later tonight?"

 

[Cap'n Jack]

What actually amazes me is that with all the information we have out there, METARs are still sent in code.

(and I hate the all caps stuff too)

It is compact to read.

 

[fgcason]

What actually amazes me is that with all the information we have out there, METARs are still sent in code.

(and I hate the all caps stuff too)

It's just another language like any other. Once you learn it and quit translating, it's no more difficult than your default language (english, french, russian, greek, italian or whatever)

Besides, it's easy, quick, short and to the point. No mindless blithering for pages to say "breezy and some clouds." One short half line of text and you've got everything you need to know. Do that a few lines in a row one after another and you can see a weather trend developing in the text very easily.

 

[RyanShort1]

It is compact to read.

Thus efficient.

Ryan

 

[Pilawt]

What actually amazes me is that with all the information we have out there, METARs are still sent in code.

Hey, code is cool. I still use the old sky cover symbols [ O, (|), (||), (+) ] in my shorthand.

 

[Everskyward]

Hey, code is cool. I still use the old sky cover symbols [ O, (|), (||), (+) ] in my shorthand.

Haha, I do too. That's what I put on the TOLD card when I get the ATIS. I'm surprised no one has ever asked me about it, even the young guys.

 

[oldShar]

Hey, code is cool. I still use the old sky cover symbols [ O, (|), (||), (+) ] in my shorthand.

sept the sequences are missing symbol for "few"

 

[SkyHog]

Seriously, for those saying that METARs would be too long if they weren't in code:
KINT 201654Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 06/M02 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP186 T00561022

or
KINT 1/20/11 1654Z - Wind Variable @ 3 Knots, Visibility > 10SM, Skies Clear, Temp 06, Dew Point -2, Altimeter 3007.

One line. In this case, remarks are pretty much useless anyway. For super complex METARs, you'd have maybe 2 lines (which you can get in abbreviated format anyway). Its 2011. No need, I think, to abbreviate anymore.

 

[RyanShort1]

Seriously, for those saying that METARs would be too long if they weren't in code:
KINT 201654Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 06/M02 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP186 T00561022

or
KINT 1/20/11 1654Z - Wind Variable @ 3 Knots, Visibility > 10SM, Skies Clear, Temp 06, Dew Point -2, Altimeter 3007.

One line. In this case, remarks are pretty much useless anyway. For super complex METARs, you'd have maybe 2 lines (which you can get in abbreviated format anyway). Its 2011. No need, I think, to abbreviate anymore.

Ah, but you forget, it's now cool to be "green" and just think of all the ink, electrons, and paper you'll save by still abbreviating.
On a more serious note, I am not opposed to progress, I just think it's still OK to have the codes. Also, I use those same kinds of codes when copying a METAR or TAF in flight, and it's nice to have some common shorthand to teach a student.

Ryan

 

[Ken Ibold]

On a more serious note, I am not opposed to progress, I just think it's still OK to have the codes. Also, I use those same kinds of codes when copying a METAR or TAF in flight, and it's nice to have some common shorthand to teach a student.

Afterall, if we don't have a secret handshake, no telling what kind of riffraff will find their way in. :wink2:

 

[azure]

Try this one...

KBWI 240354Z 16011KT 3/4SM R10/2600VP6000FT +TSRA BR FEW002 BKN033 OVC042CB 14/14 A2985 RMK AO2 TSB27RAB27 SLP106 FRQ LTGICCCCG OHD TS OHD MOV E P0035 T01440144

Hmm... KBWI, 24th of the month at 0354Z, wind 160 at 11kt, visibility 3/4 statute mile, rwy 10 RVR variable from 2600ft to >6000ft, thunderstorm with heavy rain, mist, few clouds at 200 feet, 3300 broken, overcast 4200 cumulonimbus, temp 14C dew point 14C, altimeter 2985, remarks: some kind of automated station (precip discriminator?), thunderstorm began 0327, rain began 0327, sea level pressure 1010.6, frequent lightning in cloud overhead, cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground, thunderstorm overhead moving east, 0.35 inches precip, temp 14.4C dew point 14.4C.

Some of those are guesses. I admit I looked up P0035 but forgot to look up A02, too lazy right now to go back and do it.

 

[SkyHog]

Try this one...

KBWI 240354Z 16011KT 3/4SM R10/2600VP6000FT +TSRA BR FEW002 BKN033 OVC042CB 14/14 A2985 RMK AO2 TSB27RAB27 SLP106 FRQ LTGICCCCG OHD TS OHD MOV E P0035 T01440144

k.

KBWI 1/24/11 0354Z. Wind 160@11 knots, Visibility 3/4sm with RVR10 @ 2600 something 6000FT, Heavy Thunderstorms, rain, and mist. Few 200, broken 3300, overcast 4200. Temp 14, Dewpoint 14. Altimeter 29.85. Frequent lightning, storm moving east.


Or, even better, if you just get rid of the superfluous information in that METAR:

KBWI 1/24/11 at 0354Z. Wind 160@11, Visibility 3/4sm with RVR10 @2600 something 6000ft. Few 200, Broken 3300, Overcast 4200. Temp 14, Dewpoint 14, Altimeter 29.85.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

k.

KBWI 1/24/11 0354Z. Wind 160@11 knots, Visibility 3/4sm with RVR10 @ 2600 something 6000FT, Heavy Thunderstorms, rain, and mist. Few 200, broken 3300, overcast 4200. Temp 14, Dewpoint 14. Altimeter 29.85. Frequent lightning, storm moving east.


Or, even better, if you just get rid of the superfluous information in that METAR:

KBWI 1/24/11 at 0354Z. Wind 160@11, Visibility 3/4sm with RVR10 @2600 something 6000ft. Few 200, Broken 3300, Overcast 4200. Temp 14, Dewpoint 14, Altimeter 29.85.

Heavy thunderstorms are superfluous?

 

[SkyHog]

Heavy thunderstorms are superfluous?

If you rely on METARs for thunderstorms, yes. But either way, adding them or not, its still not more than 1 line (or just over)

 

[Ted]

Thunderstorms aren't superfluous, especially since thunderstorms can be concentrated over an airport, or just far enough off to the side that you can land (had both happen).

Either way, simple enough to send.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

Hmm... KBWI, 24th of the month at 0354Z, wind 160 at 11kt, visibility 3/4 statute mile, rwy 10 RVR variable from 2600ft to >6000ft, thunderstorm with heavy rain, mist, few clouds at 200 feet, 3300 broken, overcast 4200 cumulonimbus, temp 14C dew point 14C, altimeter 2985, remarks: some kind of automated station (precip discriminator?), thunderstorm began 0327, rain began 0327, sea level pressure 1010.6, frequent lightning in cloud overhead, cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground, thunderstorm overhead moving east, 0.35 inches precip, temp 14.4C dew point 14.4C.

Some of those are guesses. I admit I looked up P0035 but forgot to look up A02, too lazy right now to go back and do it.

You got WAY more than I would have without pulling out the secret decoder ring.

You are right on A02, that one I know.

 

[gprellwitz]

k.

KBWI 1/24/11 0354Z. Wind 160@11 knots, Visibility 3/4sm with RVR10 @ 2600 something 6000FT, Heavy Thunderstorms, rain, and mist. Few 200, broken 3300, overcast 4200. Temp 14, Dewpoint 14. Altimeter 29.85. Frequent lightning, storm moving east.


Or, even better, if you just get rid of the superfluous information in that METAR:

KBWI 1/24/11 at 0354Z. Wind 160@11, Visibility 3/4sm with RVR10 @2600 something 6000ft. Few 200, Broken 3300, Overcast 4200. Temp 14, Dewpoint 14, Altimeter 29.85.

Kent and Scott already commented on thunderstorms with heavy rain, and I'll add that it's pretty important that the overcast layer at 4200 is cumulonimbus (CB). That's not superfluous at all!

Kent was also way better than I at decoding that frequent lightning modifier.

 

[fiid.]

There was some fun stuff in our discussion (Monterey, CA) a month or so ago......

ITS ONLY TUESDAY SO WILL TRY TO KEEP THE HYPE METER IN CHECK...AS
ITS OFTEN HARD TO LIVE UP TO EXPECTATIONS ONCE THE BALL GETS ROLLING.
LAST DECEMBER AROUND THIS SAME TIME WE HAD A WEEK OF VERY STRONG COLD
FRONTAL PASSAGES THAT BROUGHT HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS...ON A TIME
SCALE OF ABOUT EVERY 24 HOURS. HOWEVER THE FRONTAL PASSAGES WERE
OCCURRING DURING THE OVERNIGHT/PRE-DAWN HOURS WITH PARTLY CLOUDY
AFTERNOONS SO THE IMPACTS WERE LESS THAN FOLKS SEEMED TO HAVE
EXPECTED. IF THESE STORMS TIME OUT ON A SIMILAR SCALE WITH THE
150 KT JET...IT COULD BE SIMILAR WITH MAIN FRONTAL PASSAGES
OCCURRING VERY EARLY IN THE DAY (FRIDAY MORNING/SATURDAY MORNING AND
MONDAY MORNING PER THE LATEST ECMWF).

NONETHELESS POTENTIAL APPEARS VERY REAL TO SEE 5-10 INCHES OF
RAINFALL BY EARLY NEXT WEEK...ESPECIALLY FOR THE SANTA CRUZ AND SANTA
LUCIA MOUNTAINS PER CURRENT MODEL SOLUTION FROM THE GEM/ECMWF/GFS AND
THESE NUMBERS COULD BE UNDERSTATED. NO DOUBT WE`LL SEE SIGNIFICANT
RISES ON THE LARGE STEM RIVERS WITH RELATIVELY HIGH SNOW LEVELS
ACROSS THE STATE. URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING SEEMS LIKELY AS
WELL WITH WIND DAMAGE AND ASSOCIATED POWER OUTAGES AND DOWNED TREES
ALL BEING LIKELY OUTCOMES BY EARLY NEXT WEEK. HAZARDOUS WEATHER
OUTLOOK HAS BEEN FRESHENED UP. AS TODAY`S RAIN EVENT WINDS DOWN WE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO FINE TUNE SOME OF THE UPCOMING IMPACTS THAT WILL
AFFECT THE DISTRICT OVER THE WEEKEND.