Computer models are simulations of the atmosphere that utilize the most powerful supercomputers in the world. Also called Numerical Weather Prediction, or NWP, these supercomputers solve equations dealing with fluid dynamics and thermodynamics to predict the conditions of the atmosphere at different altitudes over a period of time. Some computer models are global in their scale, while some are regional, or "limited area" models.
In the weather business, we spend a lot of time doing analysis on maps that tell us different things about how the atmosphere behaves. Some maps and charts tell us different things depending on what level of the atmosphere they are representing (temperatures, winds, vorticity, humidity, etc.). We break these maps and charts down into two categories: "upper air" charts that deal with the atmosphere away from the surface of the Earth (broken down by pressure levels: 850 mb, 700 mb, 500 mb , 300 mb, and 250 mb being the main ones), and "surface" charts that deal with what is going on here on the ground (which includes rainfall, wind, and temperature forecasts among other things). Soundings are a profile of the atmosphere obtained by weather balloons when they are released twice a day. They contain temperature, dewpoint, and wind data from the surface to the top of the troposphere, and are essential in severe weather forecasting.
Global Scale Models:
GFS - Global Forecast System, developed by NOAA
NOGAPS - Developed by the US Navy
ECMWF - Model run by the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts
UKMET - Developed by the United Kingdom's national weather service
JMA - Developed by the Japanese Meteorological Agency
Limited Area Models:
NAM - North American Mesoscale Model, run by the National Center for Environmental Prediction
WRF - Weather Research and Forecasting model
GEMS - Developed by the Meteorological Service of Canada for Canada and North America
Computer Models
Understanding Computer Models:
Interpreting and understanding computer models, courtesy Jeff Haby
History of model performance
Model Links:
Upper Air Maps and Charts
Constant Pressure Level Analysis:
How to understand and interpret the different charts, courtesy Jeff Haby
Upper air analysis from the SPC
Sounding Sites:
All sounding sites from the College of Dupage
Sounding from Peachtree City (FFC)
Sounding from Birmingham (BMX)
Sounding from Tallahassee (TAE)
Surface Maps and Charts
Current Surface Data:
Current Southeast surface map (with temperature, dewpoint, wind, and sky condition)
Current National surface map (with fronts)
National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) surface plots (pick a region)
Precipitation Forecasts: (from Hydrometeorological Prediction Center)
Day one QPF forecast
Day two QPF forecast
Day three QPF forecast
Fronts/Precipitation Forecasts: (from HPC)
12 hour forecast
24 hour forecast
36 hour forecast
48 hour forecast
Day three forecast
Day four forecast
Day five forecast
Day six forecast
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