Title: Climate Prediction Center 6 to 10 Day Probabilistic Temperature and Precipitation Outlook Data Files for the Contiguous United States and Alaska

Dataset Location: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/archives/short_range/
Subdirectories are named after the year month and day of forecast issuance in YYYY/MM/DD format (i.e. 2011/05/12 for forecast issued May 12, 2011).
File naming convention is fcst610.[YYYYMMDD].data where YYYYMMDD is the forecast issuance date.

Dataset Contents: These data are produced in ascii format and contain the following fields:

Lines 1 and 2) Header lines that contain parameter listings and column headings.
A listing of parameters are indicated below:
STN) Station World Meteorological Organization (WMO) number
YYMMDD) Forecast Issuance Date (for data created before August 2008)
        Center of Forecast Valid Period (for data created after July 2008)
HHMM) Undefined
TBLW) Probability of below normal temperatures (Units are 0-100)
TNRM) Probability of near normal temperatures (Units are 0-100)
TABV) Probability of above normal temperatures (Units are 0-100)
TCAT) Temperature Category (Units are 1-3; where 1=below, 2=near, 3=above)
PBLW) Probability of below median precipitation (Units are 0-100)
PNRM) Probability of near median precipitation (Units are 0-100)
PABV) Probability of above median precipitation (Units are 0-100)
PCAT) Precipitation Category (Units are 1-3; where 1=below, 2=near, 3=above)
Originator: Climate Prediction Center, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, National Weather Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce

Publication_Date: 20010101

Online_Linkage: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/archives/short_range/srarc.ind.php

Abstract: The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) issues 6 to 10 day probabilistic temperature and precipitation outlooks for the United States. CPC expresses the outlooks in a 3-category probabilistic format as the chance the mean temperature or total precipitation for the period will be above, below, or near normal (or median in the case of precipitation).

Purpose: These outlooks pertain to the average temperature or total precipitation for the entire valid period and not to the variability within it.  As such, they will be of most use for business and economic planning, particularly when used with 30 year base period means.

Range_of_Dates/Times:
   Beginning_Date:20010101
   Ending_Date: Present

Point_of_Contact:
   Contact_Information:
   Contact_Organization_Primary:
   Contact_Organization: Climate Prediction Center, NOAA
   Contact_Position: Scott Handel
   Contact_Address:
   Address_Type: Mailing and physical
   Address: 5200 Auth Road
   City: Camp Springs
   State_or_Province: Maryland
   Postal_Code: 20746
   Country: United States of America
   Contact_Voice_Telephone: (301) 763-8000
   Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: scott.handel@noaa.gov
   Hours_of_Service: 08:00 - 5:00 PM Eastern
   Data_Set_Credit: Jon Hoopingarner, CPC, is the creator of this dataset while Scott Handel transmits this data to the www for public access.

  Data_Quality_Information:
    Attribute_Accuracy:
      Attribute_Accuracy_Report: The accuracy of this dataset is vetted through a daily verification process (which compares the forecast data with observations).
    Completeness_Report: Quality control of this dataset includes: 1) Making sure probability values add up to 100, 2) Making sure that negative probability values are not present, 3) Making sure that category values have a value of 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0.  All users of this data are encouraged to follow steps (1), (2), and (3) above and contact the Climate Prediction Center if the data does not pass these quality control criteria.

    Process_Description: These data are produced based on interpolation of official 6 to 10 day temperature and precipitation probability maps.  The forecast maps are produced using National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (N-AWIPS) General Environmental Meteorological Package (GEMPAK) software.  GEMPAK software is used to produce Virtual Graphics Files (VGF) of the 6-10 day forecasts.  These VGF files are then interpolated to stations via Barnes objective analysis (using the GEMPAK grphgd subroutine).  These data are then converted to ascii format using the GEMPAK gdlist subroutine.

    Resource_Description:
    Distribution_Liability: The user assumes the entire risk related to its use of this data. NWS is providing this data "as is," and NWS disclaims any and all warranties, whether express or implied, including (without limitation) any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will NWS be liable to you or to any third party for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special or exemplary damages or lost profit resulting from any use or misuse of this data. As required by 17 U.S.C. 403, third parties producing copyrighted works consisting predominantly of the material appearing in NWS Web pages must provide notice with such work(s) identifying the NWS material incorporated and stating that such material is not subject to copyright protection.
Refer the NOAA National Weather Service disclaimer; http://www.weather.gov/disclaimer.php