1. Mesoscale WRF model from University of Washington.
WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting model) has replaced the MM5 as the preferred high resolution mesoscale model. It is initialized twice daily using GFS model’s initial conditions. WRF is run in 3 nested domains, with grid spacing at 36, 12, and 4 km. The old MM5 model is still run using NAM initial conditions, in 2 domains with 36 and 12 km grid spacing. WRF model is more complex, takes about 5 hours to run, but is generally more accurate, especially beyond the first 12 hours or so. MM5 model is simpler, takes about 2.5 hours to run, but accuracy / reliability drops off markedly after about 12 hours. Because MM5 is available much sooner, it’s a good starting point for the very short term, but for longer range it’s worth waiting for the WRF to finish.
The 36 km domain covers most of Western North America and the Eastern Pacific, while the 12 km domain covers Southern BC and the Northwestern States. The 4 km domain only covers the very southernmost part of BC, Washington State and Northern Idaho.
http://www.atmos.washington.edu/mm5rt/
Useful features for assessing forecast confidence:
2. COLA (Centre for Ocean, Land, and Atmosphere)
NAM model (every 12 hrs out to 3 days), and GFS model (0 to 6 days); also hemispheric plots of GFS output, and 31 day animation of hemispheric GFS at 500 mb – past 15 days, and 15 days into the future. This site also has a good key to help interpret their maps: click on the link for “Key to the Maps”.
http://wxmaps.org/pix/forecasts.html
NAM (North American Mesoscale) is the updated version of the former ETA model. GFS (Global Forecast System) is the updated version of the former MRF and AVN models. NAM’s performance since the upgrades has been poor. Operational forecasters now rely more on the GFS.
3. Unisys analyses and forecast maps – Various models. Longer Range.
Output from NAM, GFS (out to 10 days), and ECMWF (6 days) models (other models available, but RUC is for United States only, NGM is an antique). One of the few sites that offers ECMWF model (European Centre for Medium Range Wx Forecasting).
http://weather.unisys.com/mrf/index.html
4. FNMOC (U. S. Navy)
10 day forecasts from the Global (GFS and NOGAPS – US Navy model) and Regional (COAMPS) models. Good graphics, easy to use animations. East Pacific view (EPAC) is recommended.
https://www.fnmoc.navy.mil/wxmap_cgi/index.html
The Ensemble pages have links for Probability of Precip maps:
https://www.fnmoc.navy.mil/efs/efs.html
5. NCEP Operational Models – NAM and GFS
NAM (North American Mesoscale) is the old ETA model with some upgrades, improved physics. GFS (Global Forecast System) is the old MRF model similarly upgraded.
Both models are presented in one window for comparison. “Continental US” view is best for southern BC, “Alaska” view best for northern regions.
http://www.emc.ncep.noaa.gov/mmb/mmbpll/ncepmods/
6. GFS and NAM Models – alternate source
From Ohio State University. Graphics ok but loop controls are not user friendly (scrolling required).
http://twister.sbs.ohio-state.edu/main.php?pageloc=model&view=loops
7. Environment Canada Charts
Global (to 144 hrs) and Regional (to 48 hrs) models and Ensemble Forecasts from Canadian Meteorological Centre; some new colour charts, simple viewer with loop controls. 2 model runs per day at 00Z and 12Z. Maps of forecast freezing level heights under “Aviation Forecasts” link.
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/charts/index_e.html
8. US Naval Research Lab: Satellite images with model output overlays.
Satellite pics with various model parameters overlaid. Good tool for assessing the models’ performance. Also a good tutorial on using satellite imagery with overlaid model output.
http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/sat-bin/over.cgi
9. San Francisco State: Composite Wx maps.
IR Sat images with surface, 500 mb, and 300 mb obs and GFS model analyses overlaid
http://squall.sfsu.edu/crws/press.html
10. MJO Update from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center
http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/precip/CWlink/MJO/mjoupdate.pdf
11. ENSO Updates from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center
http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/
American version of the tephigram; good for evaluating atmospheric stability, thermodynamics and moisture profile.
12. Wyoming Weather Web. Map based interface, pick either Skew-T or Stuve plot.
http://weather.uwyo.edu/upperair/sounding.html . Follow this link for an explanation of the various stability indices listed on the plots: http://weather.uwyo.edu/upperair/indices.html
13. Ohio State University. Pick from a map of upper air stations – US or Canadian maps. (Backup source, not as good as Wyoming.)
http://asp1.sbs.ohio-state.edu/main.php?pageloc=upperair&showmap=canada#map
14. Northwestern States forecast discussions from National Weather Service.
The Western Washington and Northeastern Washington / Northern Idaho discussions are good for southern BC, and contain good synoptic descriptions, particularly during periods of southwesterly flow.
http://www.atmos.washington.edu/data/disc_report.html
15. Southeast Alaska forecast discussion from National Weather Service.
Good synoptic discussion for Alaska panhandle, relevant to some northwestern BC avalanche areas.
http://www.arh.noaa.gov/wmofcst.php?wmo=FXAK67PAJK&type=public
16. Northwest Avalanche Centre
Excellent avalanche related forecast for the Coast Range and North Cascades. Applies to more of BC during a southwesterly flow – good upstream information.
17. University of Washington; always up to date, and fast to load.
http://www.atmos.washington.edu/data/weather.html#satellite
Especially useful for the early AM briefing: 12Z IR image with overlaid fronts from analysis. It’s the last selection on UW’s satellite imagery menu (scroll down through the above site to find it).
18. Alaskan Imagery – Polar Orbiting satellites
More detailed views of high latitude areas since the instruments are looking “straight down” at the earth’s surface.
http://www.arh.noaa.gov/poes.php
19. University of Washington.
Pick Weather Loops, then Satellite Imagery. Various views and wavelengths.
http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~ovens/loops/
20. US Naval Research Lab. Java animations.
http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/java_animator/JavaAnimations25.html
21. San Francisco State University .
Smaller images, faster to load (useful if you have a slow internet connection). Colour enhanced IR images at:
http://squall.sfsu.edu/scripts/gwir2sml.html
Same format, visible images for daytime viewing at:
http://squall.sfsu.edu/scripts/gwvis2sml.html
22. University of Wisconsin. Precipitable water loop from microwave channels on polar orbiting satellites. Very useful for tracking source and trajectory of moisture plumes: http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/tropic/real-time/tpw2/global2/main.html
23. From NOAA via. University of Washington.
Lists for most WMO reporting sites, many updates. At the top of the Local Weather Data section, pick current obs and hit the Go! button. If the desired obs are missing, just go back to the previous hour’s observations. Station names need decoding.
http://www.atmos.washington.edu/data/weather.html
For decoding station names:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/tg/siteloc.shtml
Enter the 4 character wx station code (add a C in front of the 3 letter Canadian codes) to get location and description.
22. Texas A & M University; for Canadian sites, need to put a “C” in front of the 3-letter station codes (example: ZST Stewart is CZST).
http://leonardo.met.tamu.edu/Weather_Interface/
23. Environment Canada; Prince George radar now on line.
http://www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/radar/index_e.html?id=PAC
24. Intellicast.com; only valid immediately adjacent to the 49th parallel. Even then, there are some problems induced by long range from the radar site. (This page also displays data from the Spokane radar site.)
25. UBC Atmospheric Science Program.
This site is also a good source of weather maps, profiles and meteograms (under ‘Guest Products’). Also a variety of Ensemble forecast products, and some point forecast products for a variety of MoT sites (scroll down to BC-MoTH section of list).
http://weather.eos.ubc.ca/wxfcst/
26. University of Washington Atmospheric Science.
Excellent source for a variety of information
http://www.atmos.washington.edu/data/
27. BC and Yukon Web Cams.
EC’s Mo Ruping put together this compilation of web cams around BC and Yukon. Bottom of page also has a slick tool for real-time weather data and other info.
http://members.shaw.ca/ruping/webcams/pyrwebcams.html
28. Meted Program at UCAR (high level material, for the scientifically inclined).
29. NAVCAN Aviation weather training
30. Sam Barricklow’s Index of web based training materials
http://www.k5kj.net/training.htm
31. NOAA from Louisville Kentucky.
Good material on winter precip forecasting, and winter processes in the atmosphere.
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/soo/docu/index.php
32. University of Illinois
Good introductory material
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/home.rxml
33. Chuck’s Home Page
Chuck Doswell from the National Severe Storms Lab in Oklahoma. An entertaining writer on scientific aspects of meteorology without too much math or physics. Check out his essays under “Writings”.