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About
the Short Range Forecast (Days ½-2½)
Issuance Times
| Product |
Time |
| 6 and 12 hour forecasts |
0200Z (Night Shift) |
|
1400Z (Day Shift) |
| 18 and 24 hour forecasts |
0430Z (Night Shift) |
|
1630Z (Day Shift) |
| 30, 36, and 48 hour forecasts |
0730Z (Night Shift) |
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1930Z (Day Shift) |
| 60 hour forecast |
0800Z (Night Shift) |
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2000Z (Day Shift) |
| Discussion |
0900Z (Night Shift) |
|
2100Z (Day Shift) |
About These Products
| The short range meteorologist prepares 6 through 60 hour forecasts for
the continental U.S., southern Canada, and northern Mexico.
These products are issued twice daily using numerical model output from
the National Weather Service's (NWS) Global Forecast System (GFS) and North American
Mesoscale model (NAM), as well as guidance from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
(ECMWF), the United Kingdom's Meteorology Office (UKMET), the Meteorological Service of Canada, including ensembles.
Coordination with the surface analysis, model diagnostics, quantitative precipitation,
winter weather, and tropical forecast desks is also performed during the forecast process.
The short range forecast products include surface pressure patterns (isobars), circulation centers and fronts for
6-60 hours, and a depiction of the types and extent of precipitation that are forecast at the valid time
of the chart. The primary goal is to depict accurately the evolution of major weather systems that will
affect the continental U.S. during the next 60 hours.
In addition, discussions are written on each shift and issued with the forecast
packages that highlight the meteorological reasoning behind the forecasts and significant weather across the continental United States.
Please note that at this time isobars are not included on the 6-hour forecast and precipitation is not included on the
60-hour forecast chart.
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