Author Topic: Have you seen this Ken?  (Read 655 times)

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Offline Jasiu

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Re: Have you seen this Ken?
« Reply #1 on: July 24, 2020, 11:53:05 AM »
I sent feedback letting them know that this is used as a backup forecast when the point is unavailable for many personal weather sites.
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Offline saratogaWX

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Re: Have you seen this Ken?
« Reply #2 on: July 24, 2020, 01:57:19 PM »
Yes, saw that this morning from the NWS mailing list (PNS20-57:Soliciting comments on the use of the Zone Forecast Product (ZFP) through August 19, 2020)

Quote
Comments are being solicited on the use of the ZFP by NWS partners and the public. The NWS is asking for feedback on how the ZFP currently supports decision making processes and what the impact would be to users if this product were terminated.

The ZFP is a text product that provides an overview of the forecast over a county or parish for the next 7 days with a brief description for both day and night. This description includes cloud cover, high and low temperatures, wind direction and speed as well as any precipitation or other weather hazard(s). There is greater detail for the next 3 days and less detail for days 4-7 of the forecast.
I'll send feedback as well.  Given the current (somewhat unreliable) point forecast, the zone forecast is the only available fallback so is needed.
Ken True/Saratoga, CA, USA main site: saratoga-weather.org
Davis VP1+ FARS, Blitzortung RED, GRLevel3, WD, WL, VWS, Cumulus, Meteobridge
Free weather PHP scripts/website templates - update notifications on Twitter saratogaWXPHP

Offline Jasiu

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Re: Have you seen this Ken?
« Reply #3 on: December 15, 2020, 03:32:22 PM »
Good news! Just got an email from NWS:

Quote
Thanks again for providing your feedback on the ZFP product. Based on the comments received, NWS has decided NOT to terminate ZFP at this time.

Zone forecasts are staying put for now.
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Offline saratogaWX

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Re: Have you seen this Ken?
« Reply #4 on: December 15, 2020, 03:39:03 PM »
Yes, I got my (favorable) reply this morning
Quote
Hi Ken,

Thanks again for providing your feedback on the ZFP product. Based on the comments received, NWS has decided NOT to terminate ZFP at this time.

Let us know if you have any questions,

Danielle Nagele, PhD
Public Weather Program Coordinator
Severe, Fire, Public, and Winter Weather Services Branch
NOAA NWS Analyze, Forecast, and Support Office

On Fri, Jul 24, 2020 at 2:08 PM Ken True <webmaster at saratoga-weather.org> wrote:

    Dear Danielle,

    I write and distribute free weather website scripts to the weather
    enthusiast community and have supplied
    a PHP script (advforecast2.php) that uses both the Point and Zone
    forecasts in order to display the forecast data.
    The Zone forecast is generally used (automatically) whenever a Point
    forecast is unavailable (which happens
    quite frequently), so termination of the ZFP would cause NO forecast
    data to be present if a Point forecast fails
    for whatever reason.

    I have two versions of my widely used script:
    V4.05  uses the point-printable URL from MapClick.php on the current
    forecast.weather.gov site
    V5.17 uses the api.weather.gov GeoJSON /point/lat,long/forecast data

    Both scripts rely on having a fallback to the Forecast Zone text
    forecast if the point data is not available.

    Unless the point data becomes fully reliable and timely (which it is not
    currently), I strongly discourage the discontinuation of the ZFP.

    --
    Best regards,
    Ken True
    https://saratoga-weather.org/
    CWOP: CW1792

So, good news.. the Zone forecasts will remain (for now).
Ken True/Saratoga, CA, USA main site: saratoga-weather.org
Davis VP1+ FARS, Blitzortung RED, GRLevel3, WD, WL, VWS, Cumulus, Meteobridge
Free weather PHP scripts/website templates - update notifications on Twitter saratogaWXPHP

 

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