LAMP Announcement
December 07, 2006
Updated: January 23, 2007
Attention LAMP users:
The LAMP system, which provides an update to the MOS guidance, is being redeveloped to update the GFS MOS guidance instead of updating the older NGM MOS guidance. The initial four cycles of the GFS-MOS based LAMP (GFS-LAMP) guidance became operational in July 2006. Beginning in 2007, the GFS-LAMP will provide operational guidance for as many (and eventually more) cycles as the NGM-MOS based LAMP (NGM-LAMP), and the NGM-LAMP will no longer be necessary.
Beginning with the OB8.1 release of AWIPS, we expect that there will be at least as many cycles of the GFS-LAMP guidance as the NGM-LAMP guidance. At that time, the NGM-LAMP system will be removed from AWIPS according to the approved OB8.1 content of the System Recommendation & Evaluation Committee (SREC). With the AWIPS OB8.1 release, the NGM-LAMP guidance will no longer be available, and the NGM-LAMP software will no longer run locally at CONUS WFOs in AWIPS. The product will be discontinued.
In response to the discontinuation of the NGM-LAMP in AWIPS, on or around November 1, 2007 the NGM-LAMP guidance will cease to be available on the NWS LAMP web site https://www.weather.gov/mdl/lamp_ngmlamp.
Users are encouraged to prepare for the discontinuation of the NGM-LAMP well in advance of this time. The new GFS-LAMP guidance is currently available, and will continue to be available after the removal of the NGM-LAMP, and is intended to be used as a replacement for the NGM-LAMP. Information about the GFS-LAMP, including the real-time GFS-LAMP guidance, is available at the web site https://www.weather.gov/mdl/lamp_home.
For your reference, key differences between the NGM-based LAMP system and the GFS-based LAMP system are summarized below. Please note that the GFS LAMP does not currently provide guidance for either Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts (QPF) or Cloud Layer Amounts and Heights for 3 layers of clouds. It is possible that these elements may be developed in the future for GFS LAMP. The new GFS LAMP will provide guidance for categorical Ceiling Height and Total Sky Cover.
|
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, National Digital Guidance Database, 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 |
> 1500-1600 Stations (depending on the cycle) |
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 |
Yes |
|
Dewpoint |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Wind Direction |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Wind Speed |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Wind Gusts |
No |
Yes |
|
Probability of Precipitation Occurring on the Hour |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Best Category (yes/no) for Occurrence of precipitation on the Hour |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Probability of Precipitation Occurring in a 6-h period |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Probability of Precipitation Occurring in a 12-h period |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Probability of Thunderstorm Occurring in a 20-km gridbox in a 2-h period |
No |
Yes |
|
Best Category (yes/no) for Occurrence of thunderstorm in a 20-km gridbox in a 2-h period |
No |
Yes |
|
Precipitation Type |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Precipitation Characteristics |
No |
Yes |
|
Sky Cover |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Ceiling Height |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Conditional Ceiling Height |
No |
Yes |
|
Visibility |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Conditional Visibility |
No |
Yes |
|
Obstruction to Vision |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Quantitative Precipitation Forecast |
Yes |
Not Planned |
|
Three Cloud Layers |
Yes |
Not Planned |
For more details about the new system, please visit our web site https://www.weather.gov/mdl/lamp_about.
Thank you for your interest in LAMP.
Judy Ghirardelli
NWS/OST/MDL/LAMP
