11/15/2000 SURFACE HOURLY ABBREVIATED FORMAT ONE HEADER RECORD FOLLOWED BY DATA RECORDS: COLUMN DATA DESCRIPTION 01-06 STN = STATION NUMBER 08-11 CALL = CALL LETTERS 13-24 YR--MODAHRMN = YEAR-MONTH-DAY-HOUR-MINUTE 26-28 DIR = WIND DIRECTION IN COMPASS DEGREES, 990 = VARIABLE 30-36 SPD & GUS = WIND SPEED & GUST IN MPH 38-40 CLG = CLOUD CEILING--LOWEST OPAQUE LAYER WITH 5/8 OR GREATER COVERAGE, IN HUNDREDS OF FEET, 689 = UNLIMITED, 722 = UNLIMITED 42-44 SKC = SKY COVER -- CLR-CLEAR, SCT-SCATTERED-1/8 TO 4/8, BKN-BROKEN-5/8 TO 7/8, OVC-OVERCAST OBS-OBSCURED, POB-PARTIAL OBSCURATION 46-46 L = LOW CLOUD TYPE, SEE BELOW 48-48 M = MIDDLE CLOUD TYPE, SEE BELOW 50-50 H = HIGH CLOUD TYPE, SEE BELOW 52-55 VSB = VISIBILITY IN STATUTE MILES TO NEAREST TENTH 57-67 WW/WW/WW/WW = PRESENT WEATHER--LISTED BELOW 69-69 W = PAST WEATHER INDICATOR, SEE BELOW 71-79 TEMP & DEWP = TEMPERATURE & DEW POINT IN FAHRENHEIT 81-86 SLP = SEA LEVEL PRESSURE IN MILLIBARS 88-92 ALT = ALTIMETER SETTING IN INCHES & HUNDREDTHS 94-99 STP = STATION PRESSURE IN MILLIBARS 101-103 MAX = MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE IN FAHRENHEIT 105-107 MIN = MINIMUM TEMPERATURE IN FAHRENHEIT 109-113 PCP6 = 6-HOUR LIQUID PRECIP REPORT IN INCHES AND HUNDREDTHS 116-120 PCP12 = 12-HOUR LIQUID PRECIP REPORT IN INCHES AND HUNDREDTHS 123-127 PCP24 = 24-HOUR LIQUID PRECIP REPORT IN INCHES AND HUNDREDTHS T = TRACE WHEN APPEARING BESIDE PRECIP AMOUNT 130-131 SD = SNOW DEPTH IN INCHES NOTES: - *'s IN FIELD INDICATES ELEMENT NOT REPORTED. - SOME VALUES WERE CONVERTED FROM METRIC TO ENGLISH UNITS. THIS WILL OCCASIONALLY RESULT IN DIFFERENCES VS ORIGINAL DATA DUE TO ROUNDING, BUT NOT STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT. - THE RECORD LENGTH IS 131, AND THE BLOCK LENGTH FOR DATA PROVIDED ON TAPE IS 8122. - THIS FORMAT CAN BE EASILY IMPORTED INTO A SPREADSHEET OR A DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SINCE FIELDS ARE SPACE-DELIMITED. PRESENT WEATHER CODE TABLE The code that denotes a specific type of weather observed manually. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 00-49 No precipitation at the station at the time of observation ----------------------------------------------------------------- 00-19 No precipitation, fog, ice fog (except for 11 and 12), duststorm, sandstorm, drifting or blowing snow at the station at the time of observation or, except for 09 and 17, during the preceding hour ----------------------------------------------------------------- 00: Cloud development not observed or not observable 01: Clouds generally dissolving or becoming less developed 02: State of sky on the whole unchanged 03: Clouds generally forming or developing 04: Visibility reduced by smoke, e.g. veldt or forest fires, industrial smoke or volcanic ashes 05: Haze 06: Widespread dust in suspension in the air, not raised by wind at or near the station at the time of observation 07: Dust or sand raised by wind at or near the station at the time of observation, but no well-developed dust whirl(s) or sand whirl(s), and no duststorm or sandstorm seen or, in the case of ships, blowing spray at the station 08: Well developed dust whirl(s) or sand whirl(s) seen at or near the station during the preceding hour or at the time of observation, but no duststorm or sandstorm 09: Duststorm or sandstorm within sight at the time of observation, or at the station during the preceding hour 10: Mist 11: Patches of shallow fog or ice fog at the station, whether on land or sea, not deeper than about 2 meters on land or 10 meters at sea 12: More or less continuous shallow fog or ice fog at the station, whether on land or sea, not deeper than about 2 meters on land or 10 meters at sea 13: Lightning visible, no thunder heard 14: Precipitation within sight, not reaching the ground or the surface of the sea 15: Precipitation within sight, reaching the ground or the surface of the sea, but distant, i.e., estimated to be more than 5 km from the station 16: Precipitation within sight, reaching the ground or the surface of the sea, near to, but not at the station 17: Thunderstorm, but no precipitation at the time of observation 18: Squalls at or within sight of the station during the preceding hour or at the time of observation 19: Funnel cloud(s) (Tornado cloud or waterspout) at or within sight of the station during the preceding hour or at the time of observation ----------------------------------------------------------------- 20-29 Precipitation, fog, ice fog or thunderstorm at the station during the preceding hour, but not at the time of observation ----------------------------------------------------------------- 20: Drizzle (not freezing) or snow grains not falling as shower(s) 21: Rain (not freezing) not falling as shower(s) 22: Snow not falling as shower(s) 23: Rain and snow or ice pellets not falling as shower(s) 24: Freezing drizzle or freezing rain not falling as shower(s) 25: Shower(s) of rain 26: Shower(s) of snow or of rain and snow 27: Shower(s) of hail (Hail, small hail, snow pellets), or rain and hail 28: Fog or ice fog 29: Thunderstorm (with or without precipitation) ----------------------------------------------------------------- 30-39 Duststorm, sandstorm, or blowing snow ----------------------------------------------------------------- 30: Slight or moderate duststorm or sandstorm has decreased during the preceding hour 31: Slight or moderate duststorm or sandstorm no appreciable change during the preceding hour 32: Slight or moderate duststorm or sandstorm has begun or has increased during the preceding hour 33: Severe duststorm or sandstorm has decreased during the preceding hour 34: Severe duststorm or sandstorm no appreciable change during the preceding hour 35: Severe duststorm or sandstorm has begun or has increased during the preceding hour 36: Slight or moderate drifting snow generally low (below eye level) 37: Heavy drifting snow generally low (below eye level) 38: Slight or moderate blowing snow generally high (above eye level) 39: Heavy blowing snow generally high (above eye level) ----------------------------------------------------------------- 40-49 Fog or ice fog at the time of observation ----------------------------------------------------------------- 40: Fog or ice fog at a distance at the time of observation, but not at the station during the preceding hour, the fog or ice fog extending to a level above that of the observer 41: Fog or ice fog in patches 42: Fog or ice fog, sky visible, has become thinner during the preceding hour 43: Fog or ice fog, sky invisible, has become thinner during the preceding hour 44: Fog or ice fog, sky visible, no appreciable change during the preceding hour 45: Fog or ice fog, sky invisible, no appreciable change during the preceding hour 46: Fog or ice fog, sky invisible, has begun or has become thicker during the preceding hour 47: Fog or ice fog, sky invisible, has begun or has become thicker during the preceding hour 48: Fog, depositing rime, sky visible 49: Fog, depositing rime, sky invisible ----------------------------------------------------------------- 50-99 Precipitation at the station at the time of observation ----------------------------------------------------------------- 50-59 Drizzle ----------------------------------------------------------------- 50: Drizzle, not freezing, intermittent, slight at time of observation 51: Drizzle, not freezing, continuous, slight at time of observation 52: Drizzle, not freezing, intermittent, moderate at time of observation 53: Drizzle, not freezing, continuous, moderate at time of observation 54: Drizzle, not freezing, intermittent, heavy (dense) at time of observation 55: Drizzle, not freezing, continuous, heavy (dense) at time of observation 56: Drizzle, freezing, slight 57: Drizzle, freezing, moderate or heavy (dense) 58: Drizzle and rain, slight 59: Drizzle and rain, moderate or heavy ----------------------------------------------------------------- 60-69 Rain ----------------------------------------------------------------- 60: Rain, not freezing, intermittent, slight at time of observation 61: Rain, not freezing, continuous, slight at time of observation 62: Rain, not freezing, intermittent, moderate at time of observation 63: Rain, not freezing, continuous, moderate at time of observation 64: Rain, not freezing, intermittent, heavy at time of observation 65: Rain, not freezing, continuous, heavy at time of observation 66: Rain, freezing, slight 67: Rain, freezing, moderate or heavy 68: Rain or drizzle and snow, slight 69: Rain or drizzle and snow, moderate or heavy ----------------------------------------------------------------- 70-79 Solid precipitation not in showers ----------------------------------------------------------------- 70: Intermittent fall of snowflakes, slight at time of observation 71: Continuous fall of snowflakes, slight at time of observation 72: Intermittent fall of snowflakes, moderate at time of observation 73: Continuous fall of snowflakes, moderate at time of observation 74: Intermittent fall of snowflakes, heavy at time of observation 75: Continuous fall of snowflakes, heavy at time of observation 76: Diamond dust (with or without fog) 77: Snow grains (with or without fog) 78: Isolated star-like snow crystals (with or without fog) 79: Ice pellets ----------------------------------------------------------------- 80-99 Showery precipitation, or precipitation with current or recent thunderstorm ----------------------------------------------------------------- 80: Rain shower(s), slight 81: Rain shower(s), moderate or heavy 82: Rain shower(s), violent 83: Shower(s) of rain and snow mixed, slight 84: Shower(s) of rain and snow mixed, moderate or heavy 85: Show shower(s), slight 86: Snow shower(s), moderate or heavy 87: Shower(s) of snow pellets or small hail, with or without rain or rain and snow mixed, slight 88: Shower(s) of snow pellets or small hail, with or without rain or rain and snow mixed, moderate or heavy 89: Shower(s) of hail (hail, small hail, snow pellets) , with or without rain or rain and snow mixed, not associated with thunder, slight 90: Shower(s) of hail (hail, small hail, snow pellets), with or without rain or rain and snow mixed, not associated with thunder, moderate or heavy 91: Slight rain at time of observation, thunderstorm during the preceding hour but not at time of observation 92: Moderate or heavy rain at time of observation, thunderstorm during the preceding hour but not at time of observation 93: Slight snow, or rain and snow mixed or hail (Hail, small hail, snow pellets), at time of observation, thunderstorm during the preceding hour but not at time of observation 94: Moderate or heavy snow, or rain and snow mixed or hail(Hail, small hail, snow pellets) at time of observation, thunderstorm during the preceding hour but not at time of observation 95: Thunderstorm, slight or moderate, without hail (Hail, small hail, snow pellets), but with rain and/or snow at time of observation, thunderstorm at time of observation 96: Thunderstorm, slight or moderate, with hail (hail, small hail, snow pellets) at time of observation, thunderstorm at time of observation 97: Thunderstorm, heavy, without hail (Hail, small hail, snow pellets), but with rain and/or snow at time of observation, thunderstorm at time of observation 98: Thunderstorm combined with duststorm or sandstorm at time of observation, thunderstorm at time of observation 99: Thunderstorm, heavy, with hail (Hail, small hail, snow pellets) at time of observation, thunderstorm at time of observation PAST WEATHER CODE TABLE The code that denotes a specific type of past weather observed manually. 0: Cloud covering 1/2 or less of the sky throughout the appropriate period 1: Cloud covering more than 1/2 of the sky during part of the appropriate period and covering 1/2 or less during part of the period 2: Cloud covering more than 1/2 of the sky throughout the appropriate period 3: Sandstorm, duststorm or blowing snow 4: Fog or ice fog or thick haze 5: Drizzle 6: Rain 7: Snow, or rain and snow mixed 8: Shower(s) 9: Thunderstorm(s) with or without precipitation LOW CLOUD TYPE 00: No low clouds 01: Cumulus humulis or Cumulus fractus other than of bad weather or both 02: Cumulus mediocris or congestus, with or without Cumulus of species fractus or humulis or Stratocumulus all having bases at the same level 03: Cumulonimbus calvus, with or without Cumulus, Stratocumulus or Stratus 04: Stratocumulus cumulogenitus 05: Stratocumulus other than Stratocumulus cumulogenitus 06: Stratus nebulosus or Stratus fractus other than of bad weather, or both 07: Stratus fractus or Cumulus fractus of bad weather, or both (pannus) usually below Altostratus or Nimbostratus 08: Cumulus and Stratocumulus other than Stratocumulus cumulogenitus, with bases at different levels 09: Cumulonimbus capillatus (often with an anvil), with or without Cumulonimbus calvus, Cumulus, Stratocumulus, Stratus or pannus MIDDLE CLOUD TYPE 00: No middle clouds 01: Altostratus translucidus 02: Altostratus opacus or Nimbostratus 03: Altocumulus translucidus at a single level 04: Patches (often lenticular) of Altocumulus translucidus, continually changing and occurring at one or more levels 05: Altocumulus translucidus in bands, or one or more layers of Altocumulus translucidus or opacus, progressively invading the sky; these Altocumulus clouds generally thicken as a whole 06: Altocumulus cumulogentis (or cumulonimbogentus) 07: Altocumulus translucidus or opacus in two or more layers, or Altocumulus opacus in a single layer, not progressively invading the sky, or Altocumulus with Altostratus or Nimbostratus 08: Altocumulus castellanus or floccus 09: Altocumulus of a chaotic sky; generally at several levels HIGH CLOUD TYPE 00: No High Clouds 01: Cirrus fibratus, sometimes uncinus, not progressively invading the sky 02: Cirrus spissatus, in patches or entangled sheaves, which usually do not increase and sometimes seem to be the remains of the upper part of a Cumulonimbus; or Cirrus castellanus or floccus 03: Cirrus spissatus cumulonimbogenitus 04: Cirrus unicinus or fibratus, or both, progressively invading the sky; they generally thicken as a whole 05: Cirrus (often in bands) and Cirrostratus, or Cirrostratus alone, progressively invading the sky; they generally thicken as a whole, but the continuous veil does not reach 45 degrees above the horizon 06: Cirrus (often in bands) and Cirrostratus, or Cirrostratus alone, progressively invading the sky; they generally thicken as a whole; the continuous veil extends more than 45 degrees above the horizon, without the sky being totally covered 07: Cirrostratus covering the whole sky 08: Cirrostratus not progressively invading the sky and not entirely covering it 09: Cirrocumulus alone, or Cirrocumulus predominant among the High clouds