FORECAST
Sections
NAME
forecast - Forecast data parsing program
SYNOPSIS
forecast [parameters...] filename
PARAMETERS
| Command Line | Resource | Default | Description |
| -h | help | No | Lists basic help information. |
| -df=filename | default | .wxpdef | Sets the name of the resource file. |
| -na=name | name | forecast | Specifies the name used in resource file parsing. |
| -ba | batch | No | Run program in batch mode |
| -me=level | message | out2 | Specifies level of messages to be displayed
|
| -fp=filepath | file_path | current directory | Specifies location of database files. |
| -dp=datapath | data_path | current directory | Specifies the location (path) of the input raw data files. This may be modified in the name convention file. |
| -nc=name_conv | name_conv | name_conv | The name convention file specifies how files are named in WXP. This sets which name convention file to use. |
| -if=in_file | in_file | for_dat | Specifies the input file name tag. The default tag is for_dat but may need to be changed for specific forecast types. |
| -cu=[hour|la] | current | None | This specifies to use current data files. The current filename is based on the name convention. An optional hour can be specified for older data. If la is specified, the program will search back to find the most recent available file. |
| -ho=hour | hour | None | This resource specifies the exact hour that a data file is valid for. This locks in the start hour for a multi-file sequence. |
| -nh=num_hour | num_hour | 0 | This specifies the number of hours that will be used. If this is not specified, a single hour will be parse. Otherwise a set of hours will be parsed. |
| -fc=forecast | forecast | User Prompt | This specifies the product header to search for.
|
| -st=state | state | None | Specifies the state weather forecast office to use. This is a 4 letter ID. |
| -pa=param | parameter | None | Specifies additional plotting parameters. |
| filename[#seq] | filename | None User Prompt Batch: current=la |
The name of the surface data file to be used. An optional sequence number can be added to designate the time for non-WXP files. |
DESCRIPTION
This program parses forecast data for a specific forecast product from a specific WFO. The input to the program is a ingested forecast data file. The name of the input file is determined through the in_file resource. The default tag is for_dat.
The programs starts off by prompting the user for input data file name. The user may specify the input file either via the command line of through the current resource.
Next, a menu of possible forecasts is listed and the user enters the forecast type. If
the forecast type is a zone forecast, the user will also be prompted for a zone. A
sample zone would be "INZ029".
Header Files
The use of a header file can considerably improve access to data files. Rather than parsing the entire file which at times is larger than 1MB, the product headers can be parsed directly out of a header file. Header files are much smaller and parse very fast. The header file contains a byte offset into the large file.
EXAMPLES
To parse for the latest state forecast from KIND
forecast -cu -nh=-12 -fc=state -st=KIND** FPUS1 KIND 022030 *** SFPIN INZ002>089-031000- STATE FORECAST FOR INDIANA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 330 PM EST THU OCT 2 1997 .TONIGHT...FAIR AND WARMER. LOWS 50 TO 55. .FRIDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY...BREEZY AND WARMER. HIGHS 80 TO 85. .FRIDAY NIGHT...BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. LOWS IN THE LOWER 60S. .SATURDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY...BREEZY AND A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. WARM. HIGHS MIDDLE 70S TO AROUND 80. .EXTENDED FORECAST... .SUNDAY AND MONDAY...MOSTLY CLEAR AND WARM. LOWS MIDDLE 50S TO AROUND 60. HIGHS UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S. .TUESDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY AND MILD. LOWS AROUND 50 TO MIDDLE 50S. HIGHS IN THE 70S. DS
To parse for the latest zone forecast
forecast -cu -nh=-12 -fc=%INZ029 -st=KIND ** FPUS53 KIND 022040 COR *** INZ020>023-028>030-035-036-043-044-051-052-060-067-030930- CARROLL-CASS-CLAY-CLINTON-FOUNTAIN-KNOX-MIAMI-MONTGOMERY-PARKE- SULLIVAN-TIPPECANOE-VERMILLION-VIGO-WARREN-WHITE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CRAWFORDSVILLE...FRANKFORT...LAFAYETTE... LOGANSPORT...TERRE HAUTE...VINCENNES 330 PM EST THU OCT 2 1997 .TONIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY AND WARMER. LOW IN THE MIDDLE 50S. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH. .FRIDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY AND WARMER. HIGH 80 TO 85. BREEZY SOUTHWEST WIND 15 TO 20 MPH. .FRIDAY NIGHT...BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. MILD. LOW IN THE LOWER 60S. .SATURDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY...BREEZY AND A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. MILD. HIGH IN THE UPPER 70S.
FILES
SEE ALSO
- parse - the text data parsing program
Last updated June 10, 1998