Cold Front Dropping South Across the Western U.S.; Watching Threat for Tornadoes and Flooding in the South

A cold front will push south across the Western U.S. into Tuesday with mountain snow and areas of gusty to high winds. An area of low pressure will form along this front on Tuesday and bring a potential for severe thunderstorms with tornadoes and excessive rainfall in the lower to mid Mississippi River Valley. To the north, heavy snow is possible in parts of the upper Midwest. Read More >

Each six-digit Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) Location Code “PSSCCC” uniquely identifies a specific geographic area. The "P" allows for subdividing or partitioning the area defined by the "CCC" into smaller parts in the case of a very large or uniquely shaped area, or because of widely varying climate, population, or geographic features. The area defined by the “CCC” can be divided into 2 to 9 partitions. Area partitions may be of unequal size and when combined will cover the entire "CCC" area without overlap.

More Information

Partial County Alerting (PCA) Overview
PCA Technical Discussion
PCA Benefits for Residents and Broadcasters
PCA Example: Flash Flood Warning
NWS Offices Using PCA
Description of the SAME Location Code PSSCCC
(#2 under Description of Columns)

Illustration of P = 1-9

Number and descriptive partition labeling

In actual use, partitions may be of unequal size and fewer than 9 partitions may used.

1

Northwest

2

North

3

Northeast

4

West

5

Central

6

East

7

Southwest

8

South

9

Southeast

Illustration of P = Zero

Defined as "All or unspecified portions"

1

Northwest

2

North

3

Northeast

4

West

0
All or unspecified portions
5 Central

6

East

7

Southwest

8

South

9

Southeast

To program a receiver to alert for SAME alerts intended for a portion of a county or for the entire county, program the "P" digit in PSSCCC as shown specifically on the WFO pages listed at Offices using Partial County Alerting.

To program a receiver to alert for all SAME alerts for a county, program the "P" digit in PSSCCC as zero "0".

COUNTY	SAME #	COUNTY	SAME #	COUNTY	SAME #
Some examples of partitioned county patterns

(in 2 parts)		(in 3 parts)		(in 4 parts)
APPLE-NW	1SSCCC	JUICE-N	2SSCCC	PEAR-NW	1SSCCC
APPLE-SE	9SSCCC	JUICE-Cen	5SSCCC	PEAR-NE	3SSCCC
RAISIN-N	2SSCCC	JUICE-S	8SSCCC	PEAR-SW	7SSCCC
RAISIN-S	8SSCCC	GRAPE-W	4SSCCC	PEAR-SE	9SSCCC
BANANA-W	4SSCCC	GRAPE-Cen	5SSCCC	BROCCOLI-NW	1SSCCC
BANANA-E	6SSCCC	GRAPE-E	6SSCCC	BROCCOLI-W	4SSCCC
CORN-NE	3SSCCC	NUT-NE	3SSCCC	BROCCOLI-SW	7SSCCC
CORN-SW	7SSCCC	NUT-Cen	5SSCCC	BROCCOLI-E	6SSCCC
RICE-NW	1SSCCC	NUT-SW	7SSCCC	CAULIFLOWER-N	2SSCCC
RICE-SE	9SSCCC	PEA-NW	1SSCCC	CAULIFLOWER-SW	7SSCCC
BEET-NE	3SSCCC	PEA-Cen	5SSCCC	CAULIFLOWER-S	8SSCCC
BEET-SW	7SSCCC	PEA-SE	9SSCCC	CAULIFLOWER-SE	9SSCCC

(in 5 parts)		(in 6 parts)		(in 7 parts)
COUNTY	SAME #	COUNTY	SAME #	COUNTY	SAME #
CARROT-W	4SSCCC	OKRA-NW	1SSCCC	ARTICHOKE-NW	1SSCCC
CARROT-N	2SSCCC	OKRA-N	2SSCCC	ARTICHOKE-N	2SSCCC
CARROT-Cen	5SSCCC	OKRA-NE	3SSCCC	ARTICHOKE-NE	3SSCCC
CARROT-S	8SSCCC	OKRA-SW	7SSCCC	ARTICHOKE-W	4SSCCC
CARROT-E	6SSCCC	OKRA-S	8SSCCC	ARTICHOKE-Cen	5SSCCC
		OKRA-SE	9SSCCC	ARTICHOKE-E	6SSCCC
		OKRA-SE	9SSCCC	ARTICHOKE-S	8SSCCC