Decoder for the County Precision Agricultural Weather Forecast
(based in the NWS's County Digital Forecast)
DAY: day of the week that the below forecast variables are valid for.
HOUR: time of day (local time) that the below forecast variables are valid for. UTC=Greenwich Mean Time or Coordinated Universal Time
TEMP: temperature (degrees F) forecasted for the corresponding time of day.
DP: dewpoint temperature (degrees F) forecasted for the corresponding time of day.
WIND DIRECTION: direction from which the wind is forecasted to be coming from at the corresponding time of day.
WIND SPEED: wind speed (MPH) forecasted for the corresponding time of day.
CLOUDS: cloud cover forecast depiction for the corresponding time of day. CL=Clear, FW=Few or clear, SC=Scattered, BK=Mostly cloudy, OV=Overcast or cloudy.
POP 12HR: chances of rain and expected area coverage in the county for the corresponding 12 hour period specified in "DAY" and "HOUR".
QPF : total amount of liquid precip/rainfall forecasted to occur in the 6 hour period on the hour ending in inches. "DAY" and "HOUR"
SNOW 12HR : total amount of solid precipitation (ie inches of snowfall) forecasted to occur in the 6 hour period on the hour ending. "DAY" and "HOUR"
RAIN: chances for rain forecasted for the corresponding time of day.
RAIN SHWRS: chances for rain showers forecasted for the corresponding time of day.
TSTMS: chances for thunderstorms forecasted for the corresponding time of day.
DRIZZLE: chances for drizzle forecasted for the corresponding time of day.
SNOW: chances for snow forecasted for the corresponding time of day.
SNOW SHWRS: chances for snow showers forecasted for the corresponding time of day.
FLURRIES: chances for flurries forecasted for the corresponding time of day.
SLEET: chances for sleet forecasted for the corresponding time of day.
FRZNG RAIN: chances for freezing rain forecasted for the corresponding time of day.
FRZNG DRZL: chances for freezing drizzle forecasted for the corresponding time of day.
Agricultural Parameters--
SprayingCond.: quality of spraying conditions based only on wind speeds at corresponding time of day. Surface winds of greater than 12 mph are unfavorable for spraying. Users should also check hours favorable for precipitation concerning "risk of wetting."
DryingCond.: curing/drying conditions based on relative humidity for the corresponding time of day.
Livestock Heat Stress (LSI): Index based on air temperatures and relative humidity conditions for the corresponding time of day. Click here for more info concerning LSI.
Tob.Stripping: quality of tobacco stripping conditions based on relative humidity for the corresponding time of day.
Leaf Wettness: Hours of leaf wettness based based only on relative humidity for the corresponding time of day. This variable does NOT include risk of wetting due to rainfall.
Livestock Cold Stress : Index based on air temperatures and wind chill conditions for the corresponding time of day.
Pot Evapo = Potential Evapotranspiration : Using a modified Penman equation...Pot Evapo is the forecasted amount of water expected to be removed from the soil and a short-standing (4") grass-covered surface based on the forecasted temperature, atmospheric moisture (ie. relative humidity), sky condition, wind speed and estimated net radiation. Used to predicted irrigation needs for field crops and gardens.