An unusual early Spring heat wave will continue much above-normal temperatures over the Southwest U.S. through early next week. Many locations are likely to set records for the highest-ever March temperature. Periods of critical fire weather will persist from the central Rockies to the central Plains through Saturday as gusty winds and low relative humidity continue. Read More >
The NWS is involved in the OFCM and WMO documented activities on meteorological and hydrological code changes and the activities on the formation of WMO communication headings with respect to the definition of the components of the headings, the defining tables within the WMO manual 386, and the defining of the fields of the heading. The GRIB and BUFR communication headers are defined in the NCEP office note 388 and are reflected in the WMO manual on code No. 306 documentation. The codes and communication headings are under continual update as new sensors are developed and new products are generated.
This server provides portions of the WMO Manual 386 to illustrate the structure and recommended guidance on use of the communication headers of bulletins for purposes of exchanging data. The heading tables are provided to allow for the interpretation of the meaning of the WMO abbreviated heading. This guidance material is only a partial content of manual 386. It is difficult to stay current in most published documents, therefore, as changes in these areas become known this server will attempt to provide these changes.
The United States is a Member country of the WMO which has a Commission for Basic Systems (CBS) that meets every two years. Changes to meteorological codes, telecommunication protocols, WMO communication abbreviated heading practices, and the heading structure defining tables are approved. After approval these changes are entered into the WMO codes manual 306 and 386 at a later time. WMO provides a Catalog of WMO Publications. Publications can be purchased from How to Order a WMO Publication.
