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NOUS41 KWBC 242138
PNSWSH
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE 03-61
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
530 PM EDT WED SEP 24 2003
TO FAMILY OF SERVICES /FOS/ SUBSCRIBERS...NOAA WEATHER
WIRE SERVICE /NWWS/ SUBSCRIBERS...EMERGENCY MANAGERS
WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK /EMWIN/ SUBSCRIBERS...
NOAAPORT SUBSCRIBERS... OTHER NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
/NWS/ CUSTOMERS AND PARTNERS...NWS EMPLOYEES
FROM THERESE Z. PIERCE
CHIEF...MARINE AND COASTAL SERVICES BRANCH
SUBJECT MODIFICATIONS TO MARINE ZONE BOUNDARIES IN ALASKA
AND FORMAT AND COMMUNICATIONS HEADING CHANGES TO THE
COASTAL WATERS FORECAST PRODUCTS IN ALASKA...EFFECTIVE
NOVEMBER 19 2003 AND DECEMBER 16 2003 AT 4 PM ALASKA
STANDARD TIME /AST/
ACTION...USERS OF NWS MARINE FORECASTS AND WARNINGS ORIGINATING
FROM ALASKA MUST UPDATE THEIR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM DIRECTORIES TO
CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THESE PRODUCTS.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE /NWS/ WEATHER FORECAST OFFICES /WFO/
IN ALASKA WILL IMPLEMENT CHANGES TO THE MARINE ZONE BOUNDARIES IN
THEIR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY THIS FALL. THE CHANGES WILL BE
IMPLEMENTED IN TWO PHASES. WFO JUNEAU WILL IMPLEMENT MOST OF
THEIR CHANGES FIRST...FOLLOWED BY WFO ANCHORAGE AND WFO
FAIRBANKS...ON THE FOLLOWING DATES.
WFO JUNEAU COASTAL WATERS WED. NOVEMBER 19 2003 4 PM AST
WFO JUNEAU OFFSHORE WATERS TUE. DECEMBER 16 2003 4 PM AST
WFO ANCHORAGE TUE. DECEMBER 16 2003 4 PM AST
WFO FAIRBANKS TUE. DECEMBER 16 2003 4 PM AST
THE NEW ZONE NUMBERS AND GEOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS ARE LISTED IN
TABLE 2...AND PRODUCTS AFFECTED BY THESE CHANGES ARE LISTED IN
TABLE 3.
AN UPDATED ZONE MAP SHAPEFILE CONTAINING THE REALIGNED ZONES IS
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD FROM THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES /USE LOWER
CASE LETTERS/...
WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/GEODATA/CATALOG/WSOM/HTML/MARINEZONES.HTM
/FILES WILL BE POSTED TO THE ABOVE SITE THURSDAY SEPT. 25TH/
AND
HTTP://WWW.ARH.NOAA.GOV/CHANGES
FOR PARTNERS AND CUSTOMERS WHO USE MARINE ZONE NUMBERS AS
LOCATION CODES FOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO /NWR/ AND EMERGENCY ALERT
SYSTEM /EAS/ APPLICATIONS...THE COASTAL AND OFFSHORE MARINE CODE
LISTINGS FOR NWR AND EAS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT /USE LOWER CASE
LETTERS/...
WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/GEODATA/CATALOG/WSOM/HTML/MARINENWREAS.HTM
ALSO...THE COASTAL WATERS FORECAST /CWF/ AND OFFSHORE WATERS
FORECAST /OFF/ TEXT PRODUCTS ISSUED IN ALASKA WILL BE MODIFIED.
PRODUCT CHANGES WILL INCLUDE UPDATING THE FORMAT...DIVIDING THE
CONTENTS INTO NEW COLLECTIVES...AND MODERNIZING THE WMO HEADINGS
AND AWIPS IDS. ONCE IMPLEMENTED... THESE CWF PRODUCTS WILL
CONFORM TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INSTRUCTION /NWSI/ 10-310...
ENTITLED COASTAL MARINE FORECAST SERVICES...AND NWSI 10-311...
ENTITLED OFFSHORE NAVTEX AND HIGH SEAS MARINE FORECAST SERVICES.
THE CWF AND OFF FORMAT CHANGES WILL INVOLVE MODIFYING THE WAY THE
TEXT OF THE FORECAST IS PRESENTED. A FIVE DAY FORECAST WILL BE
GIVEN FOR EACH MARINE AREA AND IT WILL BE PRESENTED IN A
STRUCTURED PERIOD-BY-PERIOD FORMAT. THIS FORMAT USES THE DAYS OF
THE WEEK TO DESCRIBE EACH PERIOD EXCEPT THE CURRENT DAY...WHICH
IS DESCRIBED AS TODAY OR TONIGHT. ADVISORY AND WARNING
CONDITIONS WILL BE HEADLINED AT THE TOP OF THE FORECAST FOR EACH
MARINE ZONE.
CURRENTLY...THE FORECAST FOR THE FIRST TWO DAYS IS WRITTEN IN A
NARRATIVE FORMAT THAT DESCRIBES THE TIMING OF MAJOR CHANGES IN
WEATHER CONDITIONS RATHER THAN PROVIDING FORECASTS FOR
STANDARDIZED TIME PERIODS. A THREE TO FIVE DAY EXTENDED FORECAST
IS PROVIDED SEPARATELY...USUALLY ENCOMPASSING MORE THAN ONE
FORECAST ZONE.
THE WEATHER PARAMETERS INCLUDED IN THE MARINE FORECASTS /WIND
DIRECTION AND SPEED...WAVE HEIGHT...AND SIGNIFICANT WEATHER/ WILL
NOT CHANGE. THE ONLY CHANGE RELATING TO CONTENT IS THE EXPANSION
OF EXTENDED FORECAST INFORMATION FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL MARINE AREA.
THE WMO HEADINGS AND AWIPS IDS FOR THE CWF PRODUCTS AND OFF
PRODUCTS ARE ALSO BEING UPDATED DURING THIS TRANSITION. THESE
CHANGES ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 1.
TABLE 1. WMO HEADING AND AWIPS ID CHANGES THE COASTAL WATERS
FORECASTS AND OFFSHORE MARINE FORECASTS IN ALASKA.
/NOTE: SOME OLD COLLECTIVES WILL BE DIVIDED INTO TWO OR THREE NEW
ONES DUE TO INCREASING PRODUCT LENGTH. ALSO...WMO HEADINGS FOR
CWF PRODUCTS ISSUED BY WFO ANCHORAGE WERE MODERNIZED IN
SEPTEMBER 2003...SO THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS LIST./
OLD OLD NEW NEW CHANGE
WMO HEADING AWIPS ID WMO HEADING AWIPS ID DATE
FZAK61 PAJN CWF061 FZAK51 PAJK CWFAJK 11/19/03
FZAK52 PAJK CWFAEG 11/19/03
FZAK47 PAYA CWFYAK FZAK57 PAYA CWFYAK 11/19/03
FZAK48 PADQ CWFADQ FZAK58 PADQ CWFADQ 12/16/03
FZAK48 PAVD CWFVDZ FZAK58 PAVW CWFVDZ 12/16/03
FZPN01 PANC OFFANC FZAK67 PAJK OFFAJK 12/16/03
FZAK61 PAFC OFFAER 12/16/03
FZAK62 PAFC OFFALU 12/16/03
FZAK66 PAFA CWF066 FZAK59 PAFG CWFAFG 12/16/03
TABLE 2. MARINE ZONES IN EACH WFO GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF
RESPONSIBILITY WITH CORRESPONDING UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHIC CODES
/UGC/.
...WFO JUNEAU...
ZONE NAME UGC PRODUCT
SYNOPSIS FOR INSIDE WATERS PKZ098 FZAK51 PAJK
GLACIER BAY PKZ011
NORTHERN LYNN CANAL PKZ012
SOUTHERN LYNN CANAL PKZ013
ICY STRAIT PKZ021
CROSS SOUND PKZ022
STEPHENS PASSAGE PKZ031
NORTHERN CHATHAM STRAIT PKZ032
SOUTHERN CHATHAM STRAIT PKZ033
FREDERICK SOUND PKZ034
SUMNER STRAIT PKZ035
CLARENCE STRAIT PKZ036
SYNOPSIS FOR OUTSIDE WATERS PKZ099 FZAK52 PAJK
DIXON ENTRANCE TO CAPE DECISION PKZ041
CAPE DECISION TO CAPE EDGECUMBE PKZ042
CAPE EDGECUMBE TO CAPE FAIRWEATHER PKZ043
CAPE FAIRWEATHER TO ICY CAPE PKZ051
ICY CAPE TO CAPE SUCKLING PKZ052
SYNOPSIS FOR EASTERN GULF OF AK PKZ398 FZAK67 PAJK
GULF OF ALASKA NORTH OF 55 DEGREES
NORTH AND EAST OF 144 DEGREES
WEST PKZ310
...WSO YAKUTAT...
ZONE NAME UGC PRODUCT
SYNOPSIS FOR YAKUTAT BAY PKZ097 FZAK57 PAYA
YAKUTAT BAY PKZ053
...WFO ANCHORAGE...
ZONE NAME UGC PRODUCT
SYNOPSIS FOR THE NORTH GULF COAST PKZ197 FZAK51 PAFC
CAPE SUCKLING TO GORE POINT PKZ120
RESURRECTION BAY PKZ121
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND PKZ125
PASSAGE CANAL PKZ129
BARREN ISLANDS AND KAMISHAK BAY PKZ130
KODIAK ISLAND WATERS GORE POINT TO
SITKINAK PKZ132
SHELIKOF STRAIT PKZ138
COOK INLET NORTH OF KAMISHAK AND
ENGLISH BAY PKZ140
KACHEMAK BAY PKZ141
SYNOPSIS FOR SOUTHWEST ALASKA AND
THE ALEUTIANS PKZ199 FZAK52 PAFC
SITKINAK TO CASTLE CAPE PKZ150
CASTLE CAPE TO CAPE SARICHEF PKZ155
CAPE NEWENHAM TO PORT HEIDEN PKZ160
PORT HEIDEN TO CAPE SARICHEF PKZ165
CAPE NEWENHAM TO DALL POINT PKZ180
CAPE SARICHEF TO NIKOLSKI PKZ170
UNALASKA BAY PKZ171
NIKOLSKI TO ADAK PKZ172
ADAK TO KISKA PKZ175
KISKA TO ATTU PKZ176
PRIBILOF ISLANDS PKZ179
ST MATTHEW ISLAND PKZ185
SYNOPSIS FOR WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA PKZ399 FZAK61 PAFC
GULF OF ALASKA NORTH OF 55 DEGREES
NORTH AND WEST OF 144 DEGREES
WEST PKZ350
SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA PKZ499 FZAK62 PAFC
SOUTH CENTRAL BERING SEA EAST OF
THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE PKZ410
...WSO KODIAK...
ZONE NAME UGC PRODUCT
SYNOPSIS FOR CHINIAK AND MARMOT BAYS PKZ198 FZAK58 PADQ
CHINIAK BAY PKZ136
MARMOT BAY PKZ137
...WSO VALDEZ...
ZONE NAME UGC PRODUCT
SYNOPSIS FOR VALDEZ PORT NARROWS
AND ARM PKZ196 FZAK58 PAVW
PORT OF VALDEZ PKZ126
VALDEZ NARROWS PKZ127
VALDEZ ARM PKZ128
...WFO FAIRBANKS...
ZONE NAME UGC PRODUCT
SYNOPSIS FOR WESTERN ALASKA AND THE
ARCTIC COAST PKZ299 FZAK59 PAFG
NORTON SOUND PKZ290
DALL POINT TO WALES PKZ295
KOTZEBUE SOUND PKZ200
WALES TO CAPE LISBURNE PKZ205
CAPE LISBURNE TO CAPE HALKETT PKZ210
CAPE HALKETT TO DEMARCATION POINT PKZ215
TABLE 3. ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY NEW MARINE
ZONES AND UGCS.
PRODUCT NAME WMO HEADINGS AWIPS IDS
SPECIAL MARINE WARNING WHAK57 PAJK SMWAJK
WHAK51 PAFC SMWAER
WHAK52 PAFC SMWALU
WHAK59 PAFG SMWAFG
MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT FZAK87 PAJK MWSAJK
FZAK81 PAFC MWSAER
FZAK82 PAFC MWSALU
FZAK89 PAFG MWSAFG
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT ALL USERS OF NWS MARINE FORECASTS AND
WARNINGS ORIGINATING FROM ALASKA MAKE SURE THAT THEIR
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM DIRECTORIES EXACTLY MATCH THE HEADINGS
LISTED IN TABLE 1. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL PREVENT THESE PRODUCTS
FROM REACHING THEIR INTENDED AUDIENCE.
NWS CUSTOMERS WHO AUTOMATICALLY PROCESS PRODUCTS LISTED IN
TABLE 3 USING THE Z FORM OF THE UNIVERSAL GEOGRAPHIC CODE /UGC/
MAY NEED TO PROGRAM THE NEW Z CODES INTO THEIR SYSTEM/S/ TO
CONTINUE TO PROCESS THE PRODUCTS.
A WEB PAGE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO ALLOW USERS TO TEST THE
CHANGES TO ENSURE THEY CAN DECODE THE MODIFIED PRODUCT CORRECTLY.
SEE EXAMPLES AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/...
HTTP://WWW.ARH.NOAA.GOV/CHANGES
ALL OTHER ALASKA REGION WEATHER FORECAST OFFICES WILL MODERNIZE
THEIR COASTAL MARINE FORECASTS AND OFFSHORE MARINE FORECASTS
WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. LOOK FOR FUTURE SERVICE CHANGE
NOTICES REGARDING THESE CHANGES.
NWSI 10-310 AND 10-311 ARE AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT /USE
LOWER CASE LETTERS/...
WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/DIRECTIVES
CLICK ON 10-OPERATIONS AND SERVICES...AND THEN SCROLL DOWN AND
CLICK ON 10-310 COASTAL MARINE FORECAST SERVICES OR 10-311
OFFSHORE NAVTEX AND HIGH SEAS MARINE FORECAST SERVICES.
PARTNERS/CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOTIFY THE FOLLOWING POINT OF CONTACT
IF THEY BELIEVE THE CHANGES WILL ADVERSELY IMPACT THEIR
OPERATIONS...OR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING
THIS CHANGE...
AIMEE DEVARIS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
ALASKA REGION MARINE PROGRAM MANAGER
ANCHORAGE AK
PHONE 907.271.3507
E-MAIL AIMEE.DEVARIS@xxxxxxxx
THIS NOTICE AND OTHER SERVICE CHANGE NOTICES ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE
AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/...
WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIF.HTM
$$
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