Change to Vortex Data Message product format...

[senorpepr]

SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE 06-16
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
728 AM EST FRI MAR 31 2006

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...
AND NWS EMPLOYEES

FROM: THERESE Z. PIERCE
CHIEF...MARINE AND COASTAL SERVICES BRANCH

SUBJECT: CHANGE TO VORTEX DATA MESSAGE PRODUCT FORMAT...
EFFECTIVE ON OR AFTER JUNE 1 2006

ON OR AFTER JUNE 1 2006...THE MESSAGE TITLE OF THE VORTEX DATA
MESSAGE /VDM/ PRODUCTS WILL BE MODIFIED TO INCLUDE A CODED
STRING/STORM NUMBER IDENTIFIER IN ORDER TO FACILITATE USE OF THE
DATA IN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE /DOD/ AND DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
/DOC/ FORECAST AND DATABASE SYSTEMS. THE STORM NUMBER IDENTIFIER
ADHERES TO A STANDARDIZED FORMAT USED IN SEVERAL OTHER TROPICAL
CYCLONE TEXT PRODUCTS.

DOC AND DOD HURRICANE RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT PROVIDE VORTEX DATA
MESSAGES /VDM/ AS PART OF THE NATIONAL HURRICANE OPERATIONS PLAN
/NHOP/. THESE PRODUCTS AND ASSOCIATED HEADERS ARE PROVIDED IN
TABLES 1 AND 2 FOR THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC HURRICANE BASINS
RESPECTIVELY.

TABLE 1. VDM FOR THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE BASIN

FEDERAL AGENCY WMO HEADING
DOC URNT12 KWBC
DOD URNT12 KNHC

TABLE 2. VDM FOR THE EAST...CENTRAL...AND WEST PACIFIC HURRICANE
BASINS

FEDERAL AGENCY WMO HEADING
DOC URPN12 KWBC
DOD UPPN12 KNHC

THE CHANGE FOR THE DOC PRODUCTS WILL OCCUR ON JUNE 1 2006. THE
CHANGE FOR THE DOD PRODUCTS IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR BETWEEN AUGUST 1
2006 AND NOVEMBER 15 2006...PENDING NEW GROUNDSTATION AND
AIRCRAFT SOFTWARE UPDATES.

AN EXAMPLE OF THE MESSAGE TITLE UNDER THE OLD FORMAT:

VORTEX DATA MESSAGE

AN EXAMPLE OF THE MESSAGE TITLE WITH STORM IDENTIFIER UNDER THE
NEW FORMAT:

VORTEX DATA MESSAGE AL272005

STORM NUMBER IDENTIFIERS ARE FORMATTED AS BBCCYYYY WHERE:

BB IS THE OCEAN BASIN
AL - NORTH ATLANTIC BASIN...NORTH OF THE EQUATOR
SL - SOUTH ATLANTIC BASIN...SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR
EP - NORTH EAST PACIFIC BASIN...EAST OF 140 WEST
CP - NORTH CENTRAL PACIFIC BASIN...BETWEEN THE
INTERNATIONAL DATELINE AND 140 WEST
WP - NORTH WEST PACIFIC BASIN...WEST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE

CC IS THE CYCLONE NUMBER

NUMBERS 01 THROUGH 49 ARE RESERVED FOR TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL
CYCLONES. A CYCLONE NUMBER IS ASSIGNED TO EACH TROPICAL OR
SUBTROPICAL CYCLONE IN A BASIN AS IT DEVELOPS. NUMBERS ARE
ASSIGNED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.

NUMBERS 50 THROUGH 79 ARE RESERVED FOR INTERNAL USE BY
OPERATIONAL FORECAST CENTERS.

NUMBERS 80 THROUGH 89 ARE RESERVED FOR TRAINING...EXERCISES AND
TESTING.

NUMBERS 90 THROUGH 99 ARE RESERVED FOR TROPICAL DISTURBANCES
WHICH HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME TROPICAL OR SUBTROPICAL
CYCLONES. THE NUMBERS ARE GENERALLY ASSIGNED SEQUENTIALLY AND MAY
BE REUSED THROUGHOUT THE CALENDAR YEAR.

YYYY IS THE FOUR DIGIT CALENDAR YEAR. FOR THE SOUTHERN
HEMISPHERE... THE YEAR BEGINS EFFECTIVE 1 JULY WITH CALENDAR YEAR
PLUS ONE.

COMPLETE VDM FORMATS ARE PROVIDED IN THE NHOP APPENDIX G. THE NHOP
IS PROVIDED ON THE INTERNET AT /USE LOWER CASE/:

HTTP://WWW.OFCM.GOV/NHOP

THE 2005 NHOP IS NOW POSTED ON THE INTERNET AND THE 2006 NHOP WILL
BE POSTED BY JUNE 1 2006.

ALTHOUGH THE NOTIFICATION OF THE CHANGE TO THE DOC PRODUCTS
PROVIDES LESS THAN THE REQUIRED 75 DAYS SPECIFIED IN NWSI
10-1805...A WAIVER WAS APPROVED BECAUSE THE FORMAT OF THE CHANGES
AND THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE /THE JUNE 1 BEGINNING OF THE ATLANTIC
HURRICANE SEASON/ WERE AGREED UPON AND FINALIZED AT THE ANNUAL
MULTI-FEDERAL AGENCY HURRICANE CONFERENCE HELD LAST WEEK.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS...PLEASE CONTACT

CHRIS SISKO
TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER
NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
11691 SW 17TH STREET
MIAMI FLORIDA 33165

PHONE /305/ 229 4431

THIS AND OTHER SERVICE CHANGE NOTICES CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT
/USE LOWER CASE/:

http://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIF/HTM

$$