NHC Experimental Gridded Marine Forecasts
The NHC/TAFB gridded marine forecasts are now available
on an experimental basis in the
National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD).
Gridded forecasts of marine weather elements are available over the
TAFB high seas forecast area
of responsibility (AOR), which also includes the
offshore waters forecast AOR.
The gridded marine parameters include:
- surface (10-m) wind speeds with direction
- surface (10-m) wind gusts
- significant wave heights
- marine hazards
These elements are available at a spatial resolution of 10 km for
TAFB. The data have an initial temporal resolution of six (6) hours
out to 144 hours or six (6) days. Plans are to eventually move toward
a temporal resolution of 3 hours for all the marine centers
contributing to the NDFD.
The grids are produced by forecasters through the AWIPS Graphical
Forecast Editor (GFE) and should be available by 0330, 0930, 1530,
and 2130 UTC each day.
With this implementation, forecasts for these elements are
available from NDFD in the following standard methods:
- Gridded Binary Version 2 (GRIB2) files via Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
- Extensible Markup Language (XML) via Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP)
- Graphics via web browser
More details regarding this experimental service are available in the
Product Description Document
from the online catalog of experimental NWS products and services.
Please see the public information statement for additional information.
![[NDFD example grids - click to access viewer]](/images/ndfd_example.jpg)
View Graphical Forecasts
The marine forecast images are available via the
experimental NDFD graphical interface.
Select the "Oceanic" option to view wind speed, wind gusts, significant wave heights, and hazards for the National Hurricane Center, Ocean Prediction Center, CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam areas of responsibility.
Access Gridded Data
The NDFD oceanic domain covers the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic basins for the offices issuing
offshore waters and high seas forecasts. The upper right lat, lon for this grid is: 79.99N,
10.71E. The lower left corner lies directly on an NCEP grid 204 point, which coincides with
all other Pacific region NDFD grids. The lower left lat, lon for this grid is 30.42S, 129.91E.
Specific information on the NDFD grid domains, including the oceanic domain, can be found at
http://graphical.weather.gov/docs/ndfdSRS.htm.
Technical information on accessing and using NDFD elements can be found at http://ndfd.weather.gov/technical.htm.
The GRIB2 marine data on the NDFD oceanic domain can be downloaded at the following locations:
Note: Areas of the NDFD oceanic domain that coincide with the NDFD CONUS domain
are included in the CONUS grids as well. Use the NDFD technical page to find
access to the CONUS GRIB2 files.
Comments & Feedback
The marine elements will remain experimental until the NWS
assesses feedback and completes a technical analysis. At
that time, the NWS will determine whether to move these
experimental elements to operational status, discontinue
them, or revise and extend the experimental feedback period.
Comments and feedback on the experimental TAFB Offshore and
High Seas NDFD elements, as well as the OPC Offshore elements,
are welcome at:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/survey/nws-survey.php?code=EGOSWHSMF
General feedback on NDFD GRIB2 service:
http://www.weather.gov/survey/nws-survey.php?code=ndfd-grids
General feedback on NDFD XML SOAP service:
http://www.weather.gov/survey/nws-survey.php?code=xmlsoap
General feedback on the experimental NDFD map viewer:
http://www.weather.gov/survey/nws-survey.php?code=wxmap
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