The Aviation Surface Forecast and Aviation Clouds Forecast graphics are snapshot images derived from a subset of the aviation weather forecasts valid for the continental United States (CONUS) and coastal waters used within the Graphical Forecasts for Aviation interactive web- based display. These graphics provide a low-bandwidth alternative to Graphical Forecasts for Aviation interactive web-based display and are provided through NOAAPORT/Satellite Broadcast Network. The static images are intended for FAA Flight Service Station providers, commercial and General Aviation pilots, operators, briefers and dispatchers with limited Internet access. The imagery is based on best available operational sources of National Weather Service (NWS) produced weather information.
NWS Product Description Document (PDD)
Choices of two types of Plots, 10 Regions (CONUS and 9 subsectors), and 3 hour forecasts out to 18 hours.
Aviation Surface Forecast
Aviation Clouds Forecast
CONUS | ||
Northwest | North Central | Northeast |
West | Central | East |
Southwest | South Central | Southeast |
3hr, 6hr, 9hr, 12hr, 15hr, 18hr. Select via “pull-down” or by “<<” / “>>”
(Forecasted points may not represent conditions in proximity)
The Aviation Surface Forecast and Aviation Clouds Forecast Graphic images are provided every three hours for one CONUS projection and nine regional projections with three-hourly forecasts of Surface (predominant weather, visibility, wind) and cloud coverage and layer (bases and tops) information out to 18 hours. These graphics will be available over NOAAPORT/Satellite Broadcast Network. World Meteorological Organization header information will be as follows:
T1T2A1A2ii CCCC
- CCCC is KKCI (Aviation Weather Center)
- T1 = Q (Regional Static Graphic)
- T2 specifies the forecast graphic as follows:
= I for the Aviation Clouds Forecast Graphic
= Z for the Aviation Surface Forecast Graphic
- A1 = T (Northern Hemisphere)
- A2 specifies the forecast time as follows:
= B for the 3 hour forecast
= C for the 6 hour forecast
= D for the 9 hour forecast
= E for the 12 hour forecast
= F for the 15 hour forecast
= G for the 18 hour forecast
- When T2 = I, ii specifies the regional domain of the Aviation Clouds Forecast Graphic as follows:
= 00 for Continental United States
= 01 for Northeastern United States
= 02 for Eastern United States
= 03 for Southeastern United States
= 04 for North Central United States
= 05 for Central United States
= 06 for South Central United States
= 07 for Northwestern United States
= 08 for Western United States
= 09 for Southwestern United States
- When T2 = Z, ii specifies the regional domain of the Aviation Surface Forecast Graphic as follows:
= 90 for Continental United States
= 91 for Northeastern United States
= 92 for Eastern United States
= 93 for Southeastern United States
= 94 for North Central United States
= 95 for Central United States
= 96 for South Central United States
= 97 for Northwestern United States
= 98 for Western United States
= 99 for Southwestern United States
The static images are provided in Portable Network Graphic (png) format
https://www.AviationWeather.gov/data/products/gfa/FHH_gfa_[sfc|clouds]_
[us|ne|e|se|nc|c|sc|nw|w|sw].png
https://www.AviationWeather.gov/data/products/gfa/YYYYMMDD/YYYYMMDD_HH_FHH_
gfa_[sfc|clouds]_[us|ne|e|se|nc|c|sc|nw|w|sw].png
Where
YYYY is the 4 digit year
MM is 2 digit month
DD is 2 digit day
HH is 2 digit hour
FHH is 2 digit forecast hour with F preceding (F stands for Forecast) (Ex: 03, 06, 09, 12, 15, 18)
Use sfc for Aviation Surface Forecast or clouds for Aviation Clouds Forecast
Use us, ne, e, se, nc, c, sc, nw, w, or sw for geographic region of the United States
png is the format of the graphic (Portable Network Graphics)
https://www.aviationweather.gov/data/products/gfa/F06_gfa_sfc_ne.png
https://www.aviationweather.gov/data/products/gfa/F12_gfa_clouds_c.png
https://www.aviationweather.gov/data/products/gfa/20170322/20170322_19_F03_gfa_sfc_us.png
https://www.aviationweather.gov/data/products/gfa/20170322/20170322_19_F15_gfa_clouds_sw.png