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The medium range forecast products include surface pressure patterns, circulation centers and fronts, daily maximum and minimum temperatures and anomalies, probability of precipitation in 12-hour increments, total 5-day precipitation accumulation for the next five days, and 500 hPa (mb) height forecasts for days 3–7. In addition, a narrative ...
An automated prognostic chart of the 96-hour forecast of 850 mbar geopotential height and temperature from the Global Forecast System. Atmospheric models are computer programs that produce meteorological information, including prognostic charts, for future times at given locations and altitudes. [10]
Each of the 122 Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) send their graphical forecasts to a national server to be compiled in the National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD). [31] The NDFD is a collection of common weather observations used by organizations and the public, including precipitation amount, temperature, and cloud cover among other parameters.
The probability of precipitation can also be expressed using descriptive terms instead of numerical values. For instance, the NWS might describe a precipitation forecast with terms such as "slight chance" meaning 20% certainty and "scattered" meaning 30–50% areal coverage. [10] The precise meaning of these terms varies. [11]
The quantitative precipitation forecast (abbreviated QPF) is the expected amount of melted precipitation accumulated over a specified time period over a specified area. [1] A QPF will be created when precipitation amounts reaching a minimum threshold are expected during the forecast's valid period.
An example of a two-day weather forecast in the visual style that an American newspaper might use. Temperatures are given in Fahrenheit. Most end users of forecasts are members of the general public. Thunderstorms can create strong winds and dangerous lightning strikes that can lead to deaths, power outages, [86] and widespread hail damage.
Average precipitation. The characteristics of United States rainfall climatology differ significantly across the United States and those under United States sovereignty. Summer and early fall bring brief, but frequent thundershowers and tropical cyclones which create a wet summer and drier winter in the eastern Gulf and lower East Coast.
Precipitation is a major component of the water cycle, and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the planet. Approximately 486,000 cubic kilometres (117,000 cu mi) [2] of water falls as precipitation each year; 373,000 cubic kilometres (89,000 cu mi) of it over the oceans. [2]