WXP version 5
Resource Reference

Resource: time

Resource time
Command Line -ft=time
Environment Variable wxptime
Default Value User prompt

This resource is used to specify the forecast time.  This is often used with model data but can be used with observed data to specify a range of time or accumulation. There are several ways to specify the forecast time. The syntax is:

time[-range][type]

You can specify a time by using entering the time and its units:

Value Description
init Initial time
anal analysis
12hr 12 hour forecast
h12 12 hour forecast
2day 2 day forecast
d2 2 day forecast
4.5day 4 1/2 day forecast
e4 4 1/2 day forecast
time use the value of the time resource (useful in var files)
miss missing value, take first available

The range is an hour range which is followed by the type of range.  The types of ranges are:

Value Description
rng range
avg average
acc accumulation
dif difference

This leads to several possible combinations:

Value Description
anal-12acc 12 hour accumulation up to analysis time or 12 hour observed accumulation.
anal-24dif 24 hour difference between current and previous 24 hours.
24hr-12acc 12 hour accumulation up to the 24 hour forecast time.
time-12acc 12 hour accumulation up to time specified in time resource (used in var files).

Forecast Times and GRIB Data

Often gridded model data is specified with a complex time.  The time and range syntax is a way of solving the problem of accessing these grids.  A simpler way is to specify only the valid time.

   -ft=24hr
   -ft=24hr-12acc

The GRIB search algorithm will find the first grid with that valid time.  The more verbose method will also work if there is more than one grid matching the same valid time.

Forecast Times and MOS Data


Last updated July 30, 1998