NBM v4.2 Text Bulletin Card

There are five NBM text bulletins, which cover different time scales and different elements. The products are as follows:

(*Actual forecast hours change according to cycle. Listed times are for 00Z and 12Z cycles.):

Product Name Product Type Time step Forecast Hours covered
NBH Hourly 1-Hourly Hours 1-25
NBS Short 3-Hourly Hours 6-72*
NBE Extended 12-Hourly Hours 24-192*
NBX Super-Extended 12-Hourly Hours 204-264* (continuation of NBE)
NBP Probabilistic (Extended period) 12-Hourly Hours 24-228*

Example bulletins for each of the types (NBH,NBS,NBE,NBX,NBP) are listed below. At the bottom of the page, additional stations from different locations are displayed to show expected data at different regions (and at land vs. marine stations).

The bulletins consist of the following:

  • The first line always consists of: the station call(short name), bulletin name, forecast date, and forecast cycle.
  • The following 2-3 lines show the forecast valid date/time and/or model forecast hour. All forecast dates and times are listed in UTC time.
  • The lines following the date/time consist of various weather elements. These elements vary by bulletin type, region, and sometimes cycle. 
  • Large values: any value which would be printed as >998 will be printed as 998 (except MSLP: see element description below for details)
  • Large negative values:  Any element with a displayed value < -98 will be displayed as -98.

Missing Data:


For all Elements, a value of -99 indicates missing data. If data are missing for all forecast hours, the line for that element will not be printed. 

Changes from NBM v4.1 Text Bulletins

Users should take note of the following changes from the NBM v4.1 products:

  • Deterministic 10-m wind speed and 10-m wind gust replaced with the mean of the distribution of probabilistic wind speed/gust calculated from the quantile mapping technique.
  • Station IDs and locations have been updated (see NBM v4.2 station table: https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/mdl/nbm-stations-v4.2 )

For additional information about NBM weather elements, see the Element Key

NBH

NBH Example Bulletin (CONUS, land station)

    NBH Bulletin Example

Data Key

Date/time lines

  • UTC = forcast valid hour (in UTC) (date as in line 1, unless past 23Z - then the following date is valid)

Elements

  • TMP = temperature, degrees F
  • TSD = standard deviation of temperature, degrees F
  • DPT = dew point temperature, degrees F
  • DSD = dew point temperature standard deviation, degrees F
  • SKY = sky cover, percent
  • SSD = sky cover standard deviation, percent
  • WDR = wind direction, nearest tens degrees (northerly=36; easterly=9; calm=00)
    • oceanic-only stations only have WDR for cycles=0,7,12,19
  • WSP = wind speed, knots (note: processes are slightly different between CONUS and other regions)
  • WSD = wind speed standard deviation, knots
  • GST = wind gust, knots (note: processes are slightly different between CONUS and other regions)
  • GSD = wind gust standard deviation, knots 
  • P01 = 1-hour PoP, percent
  • P06 = 6-hour PoP, percent
  • Q01 = 1-hour QPF, 1/100 inches
  • T01 = 1-hour thunderstorm probability, percent
  • PZR = conditional probability of freezing rain, percent
  • PSN = conditional probability of snow, percent
  • PPL = conditional probability of sleet / ice pellets, percent
  • PRA = conditional probability of rain, percent
  • S01 = 1-hour snow amount, 1/10 inches
  • SLV = snow level, 100s feet MSL
  • I01 = 1-hour ice amount, 1/100 inches
  • CIG = ceiling height, 100s feet  (>5000 ft reported to the nearest 1000 ft; -88=unlimited)
  • MVC = probability of ceiling MVFR flight conditions (ceiling <= 3000 ft), percent
  • IFC = probability of ceiling IFR flight conditions (ceiling < 1000 ft), percent
  • LIC = probability of ceiling LIFR flight conditions (ceiling < 500 ft), percent
  • LCB = lowest cloud base, 100s feet (>5000 ft reported to the nearest 1000 ft; -88=unlimited)
  • VIS = visibility, 1/10th miles (rounded to nearest mile for values >= 1 mile) [Note: values before approx. 2019-06-01 are in full miles]
  • MVV = probability of visibility MVFR flight conditions (visibility <= 5 miles), percent
  • IFV = probability of visibility IFR flight conditions (visibility < 3 miles), percent
  • LIV = probability of visibility LIFR flight conditions (visibility < 1 mile), percent
  • MHT = mixing height, 100s feet AGL
  • TWD = transport wind direction, nearest tens degrees (northerly=36; easterly=9; calm=00)
  • TWS = transport wind speed, knots (<0.5 knots will be listed as 0 (calm))
  • HID = Haines Index (unitless)
  • SOL = instantaneous solar radiation, 10s W/m2 (ex: 8=80 W/m2; non-zero values < 10 = 1) 

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NBS

NBS Example Bulletin (CONUS, land station)

    NBS Bulletin Example

Data Key

Date/time lines

  • DT (or blank) = forcast valid date (in UTC)
  • UTC = forcast valid hour (in UTC)
  • FHR = model forecast hour (number of hours forward from forecast date/cycle)

Elements

  • TXN = 18-hour maximum and minimum temperatures, degrees F.
    • Min is between 00Z-18Z and reported at 12Z (except Guam)
    • Max is between 12z(current day)-06Z(next day) and reported at 00z(following day) (except Guam)
    • Guam stations report Tmax at 12z and Tmin at 00z.
  • XND = standard deviation of maximum or minimum temperature, degrees F 
  • TMP = temperature, degrees F
  • TSD = standard deviation of temperature, degrees F
  • DPT = dew point temperature, degrees F
  • DSD = dew point temperature standard deviation, degrees F
  • SKY = sky cover, percent
  • SSD = sky cover standard deviation, percent
  • WDR = wind direction, nearest tens degrees (northerly=36; easterly=9; calm=00)
    • oceanic-only stations only have WDR for cycles=0,7,12,19
  • WSP = wind speed, knots (<0.5 knots will be listed as 0 (calm))
  • WSD = wind speed standard deviation, knots
  • GST = wind gust, knots
  • GSD = wind gust standard deviation, knots 
  • P06 = 6-hour PoP, percent
  • P12 = 12-hour PoP, percent
  • Q06 = 6-hour QPF, 1/100 inches 
  • Q12 = 12-hour QPF, 1/100 inches 
  • DUR = Duration of precipitation, hours
  • T03 = 3-hour thunderstorm probability, percent
  • T06 = 6-hour thunderstorm probability, percent
  • T12 = 12-hour thunderstorm probability, percent
  • PZR = conditional probability of freezing rain, percent
  • PSN = conditional probability of snow, percent
  • PPL = conditional probability of sleet / ice pellets, percent
  • PRA = conditional probability of rain, percent
  • S06 = 6-hour snow amount, 1/10 inches
  • SLV = snow level, 100s feet MSL (rounded to nearest 1000 ft for values > 10,000 ft)
  • I06 = 6-hour ice amount, 1/100 inches
  • CIG = ceiling height, 100s feet (>5000 ft reported to the nearest 1000 ft; -88=unlimited)
  • IFC = probability of ceiling IFR flight conditions (ceiling < 1000 ft), percent
  • LCB = lowest cloud base, 100s feet (>5000 ft reported to the nearest 1000 ft; -88=unlimited)
  • VIS = visibility, 1/10th miles up to 10 miles (rounded to nearest mile for values >= 1 mile; VIS > 10 miles = 100) 
  • IFV = probability of visibility IFR flight conditions (visibility < 3 miles), percent
  • MHT = mixing height, 100s feet AGL
  • TWD = transport wind direction, nearest tens degrees (northerly=36; easterly=9; calm=00)
  • TWS = transport wind speed, knots (<0.5 knots will be listed as 0 (calm))
  • HID = Haines Index (unitless)
  • SOL = instantaneous solar radiation, 10s W/m2 (ex: 8=80 W/m2; non-zero values < 10 = 1) 
  • SWH = significant wave height, feet (marine and some near-water stations only)

(For additional information about NBM weather elements, see the Element Key)

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NBE

NBE Example Bulletin (CONUS, land station)

    NBE Bulletin Example

Data Key

Date/time lines

  • (second line) = forcast valid dates (in UTC)
  • UTC = forcast valid hour (in UTC)
  • FHR = model forecast hour (number of hours forward from forecast date/cycle)

Elements

  • TXN = 18-hour maximum and minimum temperatures, degrees F.
    • Min is between 00Z-18Z and reported at 12Z (except Guam)
    • Max is between 12z(current day)-06Z(next day) and reported at 00z(following day) (except Guam)
    • Guam stations report Tmax at 12z and Tmin at 00z.
  • XND = standard deviation of maximum or minimum temperature, degrees F 
  • TMP = temperature, degrees F
  • TSD = standard deviation of temperature, degrees F
  • DPT = dew point temperature, degrees F
  • DSD = dew point temperature standard deviation, degrees F
  • SKY = sky cover, percent
  • SSD = sky cover standard deviation, percent
  • WDR = wind direction, nearest tens degrees (northerly=36; easterly=9; calm=00)
    • oceanic-only stations only have WDR for cycles=0,7,12,19
  • WSP = wind speed, knots (<0.5 knots will be listed as 0 (calm))
  • WSD = wind speed standard deviation, knots
  • GST = wind gust, knots
  • GSD = wind gust standard deviation, knots 
  • P12 = 12-hour PoP, percent
  • Q12 = 12-hour QPF, 1/100 inches
  • Q24 = 24-hour QPF, 1/100 inches
  • DUR = Duration of precipitation, hours (CONUS only) 
  • T12 = 12-hour thunderstorm probability, percent
  • PZR = conditional probability of freezing rain, percent
  • PSN = conditional probability of snow, percent
  • PPL = conditional probability of sleet / ice pellets, percent
  • PRA = conditional probability of rain, percent
  • S12 = 12-hour snow amount, 1/10 inches
  • SLV = snow level, 100s feet MSL
  • I12 = 12-hour ice amount, 1/100 inches
  • S24 = 24-hour snow amount, 1/10 inches
  • SOL = 12-hour mean++ solar radiation, 10s W/m2 (++for hours in period with sunlight present)
  • SWH = significant wave height, feet (marine and some near-water stations only)

(For additional information about NBM weather elements, see the Element Key)

CLIMO

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NBX

NBX Example Bulletin (CONUS, land station)

    NBX Bulletin Example

Data Key

Date/time lines

  • (second line) = forcast valid dates (in UTC)
  • UTC = forcast valid hour (in UTC)
  • FHR = model forecast hour (number of hours forward from forecast date/cycle)

Elements

  • TXN = 18-hour maximum and minimum temperatures, degrees F.
    • Min is between 00Z-18Z and reported at 12Z (except Guam)
    • Max is between 12z(current day)-06Z(next day) and reported at 00z(following day) (except Guam)
    • Guam stations report Tmax at 12z and Tmin at 00z.
  • XND = standard deviation of maximum or minimum temperature, degrees F 
  • TMP = temperature, degrees F
  • TSD = standard deviation of temperature, degrees F
  • DPT = dew point temperature, degrees F
  • DSD = dew point temperature standard deviation, degrees F
  • SKY = sky cover, percent
  • SSD = sky cover standard deviation, percent
  • WDR = wind direction, nearest tens degrees (northerly=36; easterly=9; calm=00)
    • oceanic-only stations only have WDR for cycles=0,7,12,19
  • WSP = wind speed, knots (<0.5 knots will be listed as 0 (calm))
  • WSD = wind speed standard deviation, knots
  • GST = wind gust, knots
  • GSD = wind gust standard deviation, knots 
  • P12 = 12-hour PoP, percent
  • P24 * = 24-hour PoP, percent (13Z only) 
    • For 13Z only: extended P24 displayed for hours ~264-370
  • Q12 = 12-hour QPF, 1/100 inches
  • Q24 = 24-hour QPF, 1/100 inches
    • For 13Z only: extended QPF from QMD Mean 24-hour QPF displayed for hours ~264-370
  • DUR = Duration of precipitation, hours (CONUS only for NBX)
  • PZR = conditional probability of freezing rain, percent
  • PSN = conditional probability of snow, percent
  • PPL = conditional probability of sleet / ice pellets, percent
  • PRA = conditional probability of rain, percent
  • S12 = 12-hour snow amount, 1/10 inches
  • SLV = snow level, 100s feet MSL
  • I12 = 12-hour ice amount, 1/100 inches
  • S24 = 24-hour snow amount, 1/10 inches
  • SOL = 12-hour mean++ solar radiation, 10s W/m2 (++for hours in period with sunlight present) 
  • SWH = significant wave height, feet (marine and some near-water stations only)
    • SWH is only available in NBX for the following cycles: 0,1,2,6,7,8,12,13,14,18,19,20

(For additional information about NBM weather elements, see the Element Key)

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NBP

Note on NBP Data Availability

Data for all elements in NBP is not available for all cycles. All elements are available for 01z, 07z, 13z and 19z.  Some data is available for 00z and 12z. All other cycles data is limited. See entries below for more details.

NBP Example Bulletin (CONUS, land station)

    NBP Bulletin Example

Data Key

Date/time lines

  • (second line) = forcast valid dates (in UTC)
  • UTC = forcast valid hour (in UTC)
  • FHR = model forecast hour (number of hours forward from forecast date/cycle)

Elements

About Probabilistic Elements

The weather elements for NBP are probabilistic percentiles. For X percentile, there is an X% probability that the weather element will be EQUAL TO or BELOW the value listed (or a (100-X) % chance the value will be above what is listed). So for 10th percentile, there is a 10% chance the value will be at or below the number listed, and a 90% chance it will be above. For additional information about NBM weather elements, see the Element Key

Begin Key

  • TXNMN = QMD Mean  minimum/maximum temperature, F. Minimum is listed at 12z, and Maximum is listed at 00z.
  • TXNSD = QMD Standard Deviation minimum/maximum temperature, F. Minimum is listed at 12z, and Maximum is listed at 00z.
  • TXNP1 = QMD 10th percentile minimum/maximum temperature, F. Minimum is listed at 12z, and Maximum is listed at 00z.
  • TXNP2 = QMD 25th percentile minimum/maximum temperature, F. Minimum is listed at 12z, and Maximum is listed at 00z.
  • TXNP5 = QMD 50th percentile minimum/maximum temperature, F. Minimum is listed at 12z, and Maximum is listed at 00z.
  • TXNP7 = QMD 75th percentile minimum/maximum temperature, F. Minimum is listed at 12z, and Maximum is listed at 00z.
  • TXNP9 = QMD 90th percentile minimum/maximum temperature, F. Minimum is listed at 12z, and Maximum is listed at 00z.
    • QMD Temperature data is currently only available for CONUS and Alaska domains.
  • WSPP1 = 10th percentile wind speed, knots.
  • WSPP2 = 25th percentile wind speed, knots.
  • WSPP5 = 50th percentile wind speed, knots.
  • WSPP7 = 75th percentile wind speed, knots.
  • WSPP9 = 90th percentile wind speed, knots.
  • W24P1 * = 10th percentile 24-hour maximum sustained wind speed exceedance, knots.
  • W24P2 * = 25th percentile 24-hour maximum sustained wind speed exceedance, knots.
  • W24P5 * = 50th percentile 24-hour maximum sustained wind speed exceedance, knots.
  • W24P7 * = 75th percentile 24-hour maximum sustained wind speed exceedance, knots.
  • W24P9 * = 90th percentile 24-hour maximum sustained wind speed exceedance, knots.
    • 24-hour Max Wind data is currently only available for CONUS domain.
  • G24P1 * = 10th percentile 24-hour wind gust exceedance, knots.
  • G24P2 * = 25th percentile 24-hour wind gust exceedance, knots.
  • G24P5 * = 50th percentile 24-hour wind gust exceedance, knots.
  • G24P7 * = 75th percentile 24-hour wind gust exceedance, knots.
  • G24P9 * = 90th percentile 24-hour wind gust exceedance, knots.
    • 24-hour Wind Gust data is currently only available for CONUS domain.
  • Q24P1 = 10th percentile 24-hour QPF, 1/100 inch.
  • Q24P2 = 25th percentile 24-hour QPF, 1/100 inch.
  • Q24P5 = 50th percentile 24-hour QPF, 1/100 inch.
  • Q24P7 = 75th percentile 24-hour QPF, 1/100 inch.
  • Q24P9 = 90th percentile 24-hour QPF, 1/100 inch.
  • S24P1 = 10th percentile 24-hour snowfall accumulation, 1/10 inch.
  • S24P2 = 25th percentile 24-hour snowfall accumulation, 1/10 inch.
  • S24P5 = 50th percentile 24-hour snowfall accumulation, 1/10 inch.
  • S24P7 = 75th percentile 24-hour snowfall accumulation, 1/10 inch.
  • S24P9 = 90th percentile 24-hour snowfall accumulation, 1/10 inch.
  • I24P1 = 10th percentile 24-hour flat ice accumulation, 1/100 inch.
  • I24P2 = 25th percentile 24-hour flat ice accumulation, 1/100 inch.
  • I24P5 = 50th percentile 24-hour flat ice accumulation, 1/100 inch.
  • I24P7 = 75th percentile 24-hour flat ice accumulation, 1/100 inch.
  • I24P9 = 90th percentile 24-hour flat ice accumulation, 1/100 inch.
  • SLPP1 = 10th percentile mean sea level pressure, mb.
  • SLPP2 = 25th percentile mean sea level pressure, mb.
  • SLPP5 = 50th percentile mean sea level pressure, mb.
  • SLPP7 = 75th percentile mean sea level pressure, mb.
  • SLPP9 = 90th percentile mean sea level pressure, mb.
    • Any SLP value 1000 mb or higher does not show the thousands value. (ex: 1000 mb = 000; 987 mb = 987).

(For additional information about NBM weather elements, see the Element Key)

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NBM