-------- Original Message --------
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NOUS41 KWBC 281217
PNSWSH
TECHNICAL INFORMATION NOTICE 08-37
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
817 AM EDT MON APR 28 2008
TO: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE /NWS/ OFFICES
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION /FAA/ USERS
FAMILY OF SERVICES /FOS/ SUBSCRIBERS
OTHER USERS OF NWS AVIATION FORECASTS
FROM: KEVIN L. JOHNSTON
CHIEF...AVIATION SERVICES BRANCH
SUBJECT: TEST TAFS TO ENSURE PROPER DECODING OF 30-HOUR TAF
FORMAT TEST DATE SCHEDULED: APRIL 30 2008
REFER TO SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE /SCN/ 08-15.
NWS WILL PROVIDE A MONTHLY TEST TAF SO USERS CAN CHECK AND
EVALUATE THEIR ABILITY TO DECODE THE NEW DATE AND TIME FORMAT.
GENERALLY NWS WILL PRODUCE TEST TAF PRODUCTS WITH THE 30-HOUR
TAF FORMAT ON THE LAST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH THROUGH OCTOBER
2008 AT 1400 UNIVERSAL COORDINATED TIME /UTC/.
NWS WILL PROVIDE REMINDERS OF THE TEST TAF 3 DAYS BEFORE THE
SCHEDULED TEST DAY. IF CRITICAL WEATHER OCCURS ON THE TEST
DAY...THE TEST WILL BE POSTPONED UNTIL THE NEXT NON-CRITICAL
WEATHER DAY.
A LINK TO THE TAF TESTBED AND TAF FORMAT EXAMPLES IS AVAILABLE
AT /USE LOWER CASE LETTERS/:
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/AVIATION/TAF_TESTBED.SHTML
THE 30 HOUR TEST TAF FOR APRIL SHOULD LOOK AS FOLLOWS:
FTXX90 KWBC 061754
TAF KABC 261128Z 2612/2718 14005KT P6SM SCT025 OVC040
TEMPO 2612/2616 OVC025
FM261600 13015G23KT P6SM OVC015
FM262100 13015G22KT P6SM OVC008
TEMPO 2621/2701 1SM -SN
FM270100 09015KT 3SM BR OVC006
TEMPO 2701/2705 2SM -SN BLSN
FM271500 01015KT 5SM BR OVC006=
USERS WILL NEED TO CODE THEIR SYSTEMS FOR FTXX90 KWBC TO SEE
THIS TAF.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS TECHNICAL INFORMATION
NOTICE PLEASE REFER TO SCN 08-15 OR CONTACT:
MICHAEL GRAF
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
SSMC-2 STATION 13314
1325 EAST-WEST HIGHWAY
SILVER SPRING MD 20910
PHONE:301-713-1726 X 117
EMAIL:MICHAEL.GRAF@xxxxxxxx
NWS SERVICE CHANGE NOTICES ARE ONLINE AT /USE LOWER CASE/:
HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIF.HTM
$$
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