H-VTEC in Hydro Products Jason Elliott NWS Huntsville
What is H-VTEC? Standardized coding that will appear in all watch/warning/advisory products NWS is testing this code in point-based river flood warnings and statements now. In the TVA area, the following WFOs are participating in the test: –MRX (Morristown, TN) –HUN (Huntsville, AL) –PAH (Paducah, KY) All other offices are scheduled to begin using the code in the summer of 2007
The H-VTEC Line A stC ddhhmm- /k.aaa.cccc.pp.s.####.yymmddThhnnZ B -yymmddThhnnZ E+6 / /nwsli.s.ic.yymmddThhnnZ B.yymmddThhnnZ C.yymmddThhnnZ E.fr/ hhmm am/pm time_zone day mon dd yyyy stC ddhhmm- /k.aaa.cccc.pp.s.####.yymmddThhnnZ B -yymmddThhnnZ E+6 / /nwsli.s.ic.yymmddThhnnZ B.yymmddThhnnZ C.yymmddThhnnZ E.fr/ hhmm am/pm time_zone day mon dd yyyy nwsli NWS Location Identifier s Flood Severity Code ic Immediate Cause yymmddThhnnZ B..Flood Beginning Date/Time yymmddThhnnZ C..Flood Crest Date/Time yymmddThhnnZ E..Flood Ending Date/Time yymmdd - Year, Month, and Dayyymmdd - Year, Month, and Day hhnn - Hour and Minute in UTChhnn - Hour and Minute in UTC “T” & “Z” - non-numeric characters (FIPS/ANSI)“T” & “Z” - non-numeric characters (FIPS/ANSI) fr Flood Record Status
The Forecast is Important! The forecasts issued by the RFCs and TVA will directly drive the times put in the code. Crest forecasts (when issued) will also directly populate the crest time in the code. stC ddhhmm- /k.aaa.cccc.pp.s.####.yymmddThhnnZ B -yymmddThhnnZ E+6 / /nwsli.s.ic.yymmddThhnnZ B.yymmddThhnnZ C.yymmddThhnnZ E.fr/ hhmm am/pm time_zone day mon dd yyyy stC ddhhmm- /k.aaa.cccc.pp.s.####.yymmddThhnnZ B -yymmddThhnnZ E+6 / /nwsli.s.ic.yymmddThhnnZ B.yymmddThhnnZ C.yymmddThhnnZ E.fr/ hhmm am/pm time_zone day mon dd yyyy
Calculations of Code Times Flood Stage Action Stage Observed Data 24 hr Forecast /TEST1.1.ER T0320Z T0600Z T2230Z.NO/
Calculations of Code Times Flood Stage Action Stage Observed Data 6 hr Forecast Crest Forecast /TEST1.1.ER T0331Z T1400Z T0320Z.NO/
The Biggest Pitfall? NWS software recommendations always assume that the forecast is correct! This means you (TVA) may be hearing from us (NWS) more during flood situations…especially as the “fall below flood stage” time approaches or occurs. Because of the coding, we must make a “call” on flood warnings within six hours of the time when the point is forecast to fall below flood stage. stC ddhhmm- /k.aaa.cccc.pp.s.####.yymmddThhnnZ B -yymmddThhnnZ E+6 / /nwsli.s.ic.yymmddThhnnZ B.yymmddThhnnZ C.yymmddThhnnZ E.fr/ hhmm am/pm time_zone day mon dd yyyy stC ddhhmm- /k.aaa.cccc.pp.s.####.yymmddThhnnZ B -yymmddThhnnZ E+6 / /nwsli.s.ic.yymmddThhnnZ B.yymmddThhnnZ C.yymmddThhnnZ E.fr/ hhmm am/pm time_zone day mon dd yyyy