Frequently Ask Questions

This is a growing list of questions related to navigation of the National Weather Service at Binghamton's web site.

Quick Helpful Links

Briefings

Briefing are only issued for significant weather forecast events such as a winter storm, severe weather outbreaks Briefings , etc.

When available they can be found either by clicking on the following icon, at the bottom of the page or through the menus, Current Hazards then click on Briefing Page.

There is also the Weather Story. This is a twice daily graphic showing what significant weather we are talking about. It can be found on the Weather Story webpage.

Warning/Watches/Advisories

What are Severe Thunderstorms or Tornado watches and warnings? or watch "Whats' a Watch"
What is a Winter Storm Watch? Blizzard Warning?

Extreme Cold/Windchill

Cold Weather Safety
What is a Windchill Advisory or Warning?
What is Windchill?
Where can I find Windchill forecasts?

Heat

Heat Safety Information
What is a Heat Advisory or warning? Read this
What is Heat Index? Read this
Where do I find Heat Index forecasts? Read this

Climate/Archive Data

Global Warming Frequently Asked Questions can be found a Climate.gov.

Climate Data

Can I find daily averages/normals and records for Binghamton, Syracuse, and the Scranton/Wilkes-barre area? Answer: NOWData page and on the main climate page. You can also find them on the NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access webpage.
Where can I find daily temperatures, rainfall, snowfall etc, for Binghamton, Syracuse, and the Scranton/Wilkes-barre area? Answer: Try to the climate help page
Is there daily climate data for locations other than Binghamton, Syracuse, and the Scranton/Wilkes-barre area? Answer:Yes, on the NOWData page. Note that this page also include Binghamton, Syracuse, and the Scranton/Wilkes-barres. For help try NOWData help page.
The Daily Climate Report or CLI is send 3 times a day, early morning, late afternoon and late evening. This text only product contains detailed daily weather statistics. The early morning release contains daily data for yesterday (midnight to midnight), and the late afternoon/late evening data is for the current date since midnight. The report includes temperature, precipitation, degree days, wind, and humidity. It also includes sunrise/sunset, and record temperature data for the current and following day. Daily precipitation data, measure from midight to midnight, includes both daily and monthly totals, calendar year and water year totals, percent of normal values, and comparisons to normal. You can find this product at www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=bgm
My child is doing a project where they need the temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, etc at a certain time of the day. However, we forgot to write it down. Can I find that here? Answer: Yes, there is a 7 day of hourly conditions on the observations page.

Radar/Data

NEXRAD Data Archive, Inventory and Access - archive data for download.
Historical Reflectivity Mosaics - Reflectivity is available from 1995 to near-real time in five-minute increments.
nowCOAST - Radar mosaic with a lot of overlays.

Past Weather Events

Besides the climate page, where can I find reported snowfall and rainfall amounts? Answer: Please read the Snow and Rain Reports and the Public Information Statement
Where can I find information about a past, significant weather event(s)? Answer: Please check either the Weather Events.

Past Radar Events

Miscellaneous

Air Quality

Outreach

External talks, office tours, teacher and student resources.

Forecasts

Some useful forecast terms used in the point and click and Zone Forecasts.

Federal Holidays

Why is Washington's Birthday used in the forecast? Answer: Please read the following page Frequently Asked Questions: Washington’s Birthday and the Federal Holiday Schedule.

How can I become an observer or storm spotter for the National Weather Service? Answer: Please look over the information on our SKYWARN section.
Is there a page where I can convert temperatures from Fahrenheit to Celsius or calculate the Heat Index, etc? Answer: Yes its the Meteorological Calculator.