Localized Aviation MOS Program
LAMP Announcement
January 19, 2006
Attention LAMP users:
The LAMP system, which currently provides an update to the NGM MOS guidance, is currently being redeveloped to update the more modern GFS MOS guidance. Beginning on or around January 23, 2006, the web site https://www.weather.gov/mdl/lamp_about will contain information about the new GFS-LAMP system. At this site, you will be able to find experimental guidance from the redeveloped system, in addition to technical information about the new system. This web site is experimental, contains experimental products, and is not supported 24x7. However, as with the current NGM-based LAMP system, please contact us if you notice that the data are old, and we will try to rectify the situation as soon as we can.
As of January 2006, one GFS LAMP cycle is nearing completion, and that is the 0900 UTC cycle. Our next cycle will be 2100 UTC, and will be available on this web site in an experimental mode in Spring 2006.
For more details about the new system, please visit our web site.
Key differences between the NGM-based LAMP system and the GFS-based LAMP system are summarized below:
|
Category |
Current (NGM-based) LAMP |
New (GFS-based) LAMP |
|---|---|---|
|
Updates |
NGM MOS |
GFS MOS |
|
Runs |
Locally in AWIPS |
Centrally on NCEP computers |
|
Distribution |
Within AWIPS, NWS ftp server, experimentally on web |
Across NOAAport, SBN, NWS ftp server experimentally on web, received in AWIPS and at NWS National Centers |
|
Cycles |
Every 3 hours |
Every hour (planned) |
|
Projections |
Hourly out 20 hours |
Hourly out 25 hours |
|
Coverage |
CONUS |
CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico (Thunderstorm guidance available over CONUS only) |
|
Stations |
~ 1000 stations |
> 1500 Stations |
Key differences between the NGM-based LAMP forecast elements and the GFS-based LAMP forecast elements are summarized below:
|
Element |
Current (NGM-based) LAMP |
New (GFS -based) LAMP |
|---|---|---|
|
Temperature |
Yes |
Planned |
|
Dewpoint |
Yes |
Planned |
|
Wind Direction |
Yes |
Planned |
|
Wind Speed |
Yes |
Planned |
|
Wind Gusts |
No |
Planned |
|
Probability of Precipitation Occurring on the Hour |
Yes |
Planned |
|
Best Category (yes/no) for Occurrence of precipitation on the Hour |
Yes |
Planned |
|
Probability of Precipitation Occurring in a 6-h period |
Yes |
Planned |
|
Probability of Precipitation Occurring in a 12-h period |
Yes |
Planned |
|
Probability of Thunderstorm Occurring in a 20-km gridbox in a 2-h period |
No |
Planned |
|
Best Category (yes/no) for Occurrence of thunderstorm in a 20-km gridbox in a 2-h period |
No |
Planned |
|
Precipitation Type |
Yes |
Planned |
|
Precipitation Characteristics |
No |
Planned |
|
Sky Cover |
Yes |
Planned |
|
Ceiling Height |
Yes |
Planned |
|
Conditional Ceiling Height |
No |
Planned |
|
Visibility |
Yes |
Planned |
|
Conditional Visibility |
No |
Planned |
|
Obstruction to Vision |
Yes |
Planned |
|
Quantitative Precipitation Forecast |
Yes |
Not Planned |
|
Cloud Layers |
Yes |
Not Planned |
Text and graphical guidance for the 0900 UTC cycle for the above GFS-LAMP elements will be available on the web site starting on or about January 23, 2006, with the following exceptions: Probability of thunderstorms, best category of thunderstorms occurring, precipitation type, and conditional ceiling height. Guidance for these elements will be available on the web site as soon as they are thoroughly tested. In addition, probability of precipitation in a 12-hour period and precipitation characteristics will be available only via the BUFR formatted data. They will not be available in a text format.
The NGM-based LAMP guidance will continue to be available on the web site until such time that the product is no longer an operational product in AWIPS.
Thank you for your interest in LAMP.
Judy Ghirardelli
NWS/OST/MDL/LAMP
