How to Decode the FWC Guidance

The following example gives a sample NGM MOS bulletin. The chart is given first, and a line by line
explanation follows:

1. FOUS14 KWBC 060357 2. DCA ESC NGM MOS GUIDANCE 03/06/91 0000UTC 3. DAY /MAR 6 /MAR 7 /MAR 8 4. HOUR 06 09 12 15 18 21 00 03 06 09 12 15 18 21 00 03 06 09 12 5. MX/MN 59 39 54 24 6. TEMP 37 34 33 38 45 53 52 49 46 43 40 42 47 51 42 39 35 30 24 7. DEWPT 27 28 28 30 32 36 40 38 41 41 37 33 28 27 25 21 20 19 19 8. CLDS OV OV OV OV OV OV OV OV OV OV BK BK BK SC SC SC CL CL CL 9. WDIR 26 18 08 12 14 14 15 18 24 27 28 29 29 29 29 33 01 02 00 10. WSPD 01 04 06 10 11 12 16 18 13 15 12 20 24 22 14 12 14 08 00 11. POP06 4 9 46 85 62 3 7 12 8 12. POP12 49 91 8 19 13. QPF 0/ 0/ 1/1 3/ 2/4 0/ 0/0 0/ 0/0 14. TSV06 2/ 0 3/ 0 4/ 1 5/ 1 6/ 2 16/ 3 11/ 1 8/ 0 0/ 0 15. TSV12 4/ 0 8/ 1 21/ 4 9/ 1 16. PTYPE S S S S S R R R R R R R R S Z 17. POZP 8 10 12 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 2 24 35 18. POSN 65 67 70 48 41 14 11 13 15 16 20 9 16 50 42 19. SNOW 0/ 0/ 0/1 0/ 0/0 0/ 0/0 0/ 0/0 20. CIG 4 5 4 4 5 6 7 6 3 2 1 5 6 21. VIS 3 4 3 5 5 5 5 4 2 2 1 3 4 22. OBVIS H H H N N N N F F F F H H1. Bulletin Header
2. Message Identification (Station, Routing, Model, Initial Date and Time (UTC)
3. Valid Month and Day (UTC)
4. Valid Hour (UTC)
5. Maximum or Minimum Temperature for Daytime/Nighttime Period (UTC)
6. Temperature at Specified Time (F)
7. Dew Point Temperature at Specified Time (F)
8. Cloud Cover Forecast for Specified Time (see below)
9. Wind Direction ( times 10 = compass direction) for Specified Time
10. Wind Speed (kts) for Specified Time
11. Probability of Precipitation for 6h Period Ending at Specified Time
12. Probability of Precipitation for 12h Period Ending at Specified Time
13. Precipitation Amount Forecast for 6 and 12h Periods (see below)
14. Thunderstorm/Severe Probabilities for 6h Period Ending at Specified Time
15. Thunderstorm/Severe Probabilities for 12h Period Ending at Specified Time
16. Precipitation Type Forecast for Specified Time (see below)
17. If precipitating, Conditional Probability of Freezing Precip. or Ice Pellets
18. If precipitating, Conditional Probability of Snow for Specified Time
19. Snow Amount for 6 and 12h Periods (see below)
20. Ceiling Height Forecast for Specified Time (see below)
21. Visibility Forecast for Specified Time (see below)
22. Obstructions to Vision Forecast for Specified Time (see below)

CLDS: PTYPE: OBVIS: CL - Clear R - Liquid H - Haze SC - Scattered Z - Freezing/Ice F - Fog BK - Broken S - Snow N - No Haze/Fog OV - Overcast QPF: format "A/B" SNOW: format "A/B" A - Value for 6h Period A - Value for 6h Period 0 - No Precipitation 0 - No Snow 1 - 0.01 to 0.09 inches 1 - Trace to < 2 inches 2 - 0.10 to 0.24 inches 2 - > or = 2 inches 3 - 0.25 to 0.49 inches 4 - 0.50 to 0.99 inches 5 - > or = 1 inch B - Value for 12h Period B - Value for 12h Period 0 - No Precipitation 0 - No Snow 1 - 0.01 to 0.09 inches 1 - Trace to < 2 inches 2 - 0.10 to 0.24 inches 2 - 2 to < 4 inches 3 - 0.25 to 0.49 inches 4 - 4 to < 6 inches 4 - 0.50 to 0.99 inches 6 - > or = 6 inches 5 - 1.00 to 1.99 inches 6 - > or = 2 inches CIG: VIS: 1 - < 200 ft. 1 - < 1/2 miles 2 - 200 to 400 ft. 2 - 1/2 to 7/8 miles 3 - 500 to 900 ft. 3 - 1 to 2 3/4 miles 4 - 1000 to 3000 ft. 4 - 3 to 5 miles 5 - 3100 to 6500 ft. 5 - > 5 miles 6 - 6600 to 12000 ft. 7 - > 12000 ft