Author Topic: WXSIM & METAR's (Read 13497 times)

Tony · « **on:** April 13, 2012, 11:12:43 PM »

I have been mucking around with WXSIM to try and get a half decent weather forecast for my website... and for the fun of it ;-)

I hadn't realised up until now just how few METAR stations there are in NZ, with only one in the SI. What's the reason for this? I would have thought some of the larger regional airports would have have them, and was surprised Queenstown didn't seeing as it is an International Airport and apparently a very tricky on e to fly in and out of.

Is it just a matter of cost, or have they been superseded by something better?

As far as WXSIM goes, I had to turn the METAR off as a data source as Chch is far too different from Oamaru to be treated as "home", even with that the forecasts haven't been too bad.

Tony

Deano · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2012, 03:34:59 PM »

Would be nice Tony.
Here is a list of metars that Metservice recieve data from every 30 minutes. Complete with cloud sensosr.
Be nice to tap into this.
Note, these are all automated stations, and have a 5 digit number, not 4 as usual.

Ashburton NZASA
Bean Rock NZBNW
Brothers Is NZBRX
Cape Campbell NZCCX
Cape Foulwind NZFWW
Cape Karikari NZKAW
Cape Reinga NZCRX
Castlepoint NZCPX
Channel Is NZCLW
East Taratahi NZMSX
Farewell Spit NZFSX
Golden Valley Wahi NZGVX
Haast NZHTX
Hawera NZHAX
Hicks Bay NZHIX
Kaikohe NZKOE
Kaipara Harbour NZKHW
Kaitaia Hospital NZJKX
Kelburn NZKLX
LeBons Bay NZLBX
Levin NZLNX
Lumsden NZLUX
Lyttleton NZLYX
Mahia NZMHX
Mana Is NZMNX
Manakau Heads NZMKW
Mid Dome NZMDX
Mokohinau Is NZMUX
Ngawihi NZNWX
Nugget Point NZNGX
Okahu Is NZOKW
Paeroa NZPAX
Passage Rock NZPRW
Port Taharoa NZTRX
Purerua NZPEX
Puysegur Point NZPYX
Rimutaka Hill Roadside NZRIX
Secretary Is NZSCX
Slipper Is NZSLW
South West Cape NZSIX
Stephens Is NZSPX
Takapuna Plains NZTKX
Tara Hills NZTHE
Taumarunui NZJTX
Tongue Point NZKRW
Tutukaka NZTKW
Waiouru NZRUX
Whangaparoa NZWHX
White Is NZWIX
Whitianga Airport NZWTA

iomkiwi · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2012, 07:56:36 PM »

Pity we can't tap into those - one of them is only a few km away from me

beteljuice · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2012, 10:35:25 PM »

I thought those were 'commercial' AWS designations where the suffix means:

Key to the last letter of the five-letter location indicators
A = located at an aerodrome
X = not located at an aerodrome
W = wind data only
E = no pressure provided
T = temperature only

So eg. Bean Rock NZBNW only provides wind data ?

iomkiwi · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2012, 10:50:33 PM »

So if I was going to try putting one of these into my wxsim would I use the 5 letters, or leave the fifth letter off?

beteljuice · « **Reply #5 on:** April 22, 2012, 11:48:36 PM »

I have no knowledge of wxsim, but I would have thought just the 4 char ICAO.

... but then there is the issue of if that data is collected by whatever source wxsim uses (NOAA ?).

... and if there is any data it may not be current !

eg, NOAA for NZWP

2011/04/05 04:00
NZWP 050400Z 24019G30KT 20KM VCSH SCT040TCU 15/09 Q1007 TEMPO 6000 SHRA FEW040TCU

JennyLeez · « **Reply #6 on:** April 23, 2012, 12:07:30 AM »

Like Tony when I went looking some time ago there were only 3 live ones in New Zealand from NOAA
NZAA - Auckland
NZCH - Christchurch
NZWN - Wellington

Beteljuice the metservice obviously has a different setup in NZ going on the above.
The software I use to tap into those 3 from NOAA can not source any of them.

Tony · « **Reply #7 on:** April 23, 2012, 10:16:51 AM »

A lot of stations on the list Deano provided appear on the list of SYNOP stations that WXSIM pulls data from (via NOA) for putting together it's forecasts, I don't think they are particularly current. (~ 6hrs)

I'm not sure exactly what the difference between METAR and SYNOP is. I thought SYNOP didn't have a means of gathering cloud information, but I notice that some of them at least are providing cloud cover information when the forecasts are being compiled.

With the Met Services current record I can't see any more live data being provided free anytime soon.

Tony

beteljuice · « **Reply #8 on:** April 23, 2012, 10:55:05 AM »

Hmm ... ATM I can't find a single 'simple' application.

... but if you use Ogimet to find the WMO code(s)

here: http://www.ogimet.com/ultimos_synops.php?lang=en&estado=New+Z&fmt=html&Send=Send , click on a station to get:

http://www.ogimet.com/display_synops.php?lang=en&tipo=ALL&ord=REV&nil=SI&fmt=html&anof=2012&mesf=04&dayf=22&horaf=22&minf=44&ano=2012&mes=04&day=21&hora=22&min=44&lugar=93023 eg. 93023

You can then get this prog http://metaf2xml.sourceforge.net/ to get the info thus:

http://metaf2xml.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/metaf.pl?lang=en&format=html&mode=latest&hours=24&msg_metaf=&type_metaf=icao&msg_synop=93023&type_synop=wmo&type_buoy=buoy&msg_buoy=&.submit=decode

Your mission ... should you chose to accept it ....

TokWW · « **Reply #9 on:** April 23, 2012, 12:28:49 PM »

Only the three METARS as listed above are published to NOAA, for whatever reason... but yes, the SYNOPS are available and I have that selected for my weather forecasts in WXSIM and it knows which are relevant. Ogimet data - now that might prove interesting...

but I'm not sure if it could be assimilated into WXSIM.

Tony · « **Reply #10 on:** April 23, 2012, 01:46:25 PM »

Ahh.. could it be that there are other NZ METARs out there but just not getting uploaded to NOA

Ogimet SYNOP list looks identical to the list WXSIM pulls data from, plus others.

Tony

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Author Topic: WXSIM & METAR's (Read 13497 times)

Tony

WXSIM & METAR's

Deano

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iomkiwi

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beteljuice

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iomkiwi

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beteljuice

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JennyLeez

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Tony

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beteljuice

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TokWW

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Tony

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