This document describes the following: 1. GRIB FILES over SSB Email 2. How to get weatherfax files through Saildocs. 3. Other Information from NOAA 4. Download text versions of any website. 5. Access Buoyweather.com & QuickScat 6. Mexican & Central American Sites via email 7. Get Spot Forecasts for your position from saildocs. -- Compiled courtesy of S/V Sarana (http://www.sailsarana.com) -- July 25, 2006. Updated April 10, 2007. =========================================================================== 1. GRIB Files over SSB Email: (Parts of this were extracted from AIRMAIL's FAQ) The simplest way to request (or subscribe to) a grib file is by using Airmail's grib-request window (Window/Catalog menu, Saildocs, Grib files). Use the cursor to "drag" a rectangle for the area of interest, check the stats and change the options if desired, and then click "Request" or "Subscribe". This formats a request-message to Saildocs and places it into the Outbox folder. (Requires Airmail 3.0.897 or later, see www.airmail2000.com for updates). Grib requests can be formatted manually for Winlink or Sailmail users, but the format must be followed precisely; The format for a basic grib-file request is: grib:lat0,lat1,lon0,lon1|dlat,dlon|VTs|Params "lat0,lat1,lon0,lon1" are the lat-lon limits (whole degrees followed by N/S or E/W)- this field is required, there is no default. "dlat,dlon" is the grid-increment in degrees (e.g. "1,1" for a 1-deg by 1-deg grid), if omitted the default is "2,2", The minimum increment is 1 degree, and even degrees is recommended (i.e. avoid "2.5,2.5"). "VTs" is a comma-separated list of valid-times (e.g. "24,48,72"), if omitted the default is "24,48,72". Available valid-times are 00, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168, 192, 216, 240 hours, referenced to 00:00z. Note that anything over 4 or 5 days should be viewed with increasing skepticism. "Params" is a comma-separated list of parameters ("PRMSL" for mean sea-level pressure, "WIND" for the gradient surface wind (actually at 10 meters, the standard height for "surface" wind), and "HGT" for 500mb height, if omitted the default is "PRMSL,WIND". A full list of the parameters are: WIND,WAVE,HGT,SEATMP,AIRTEMP For example, to request a grib file which covers 10N-35N and 90W to 160W, on a 1-degree grid for valid times of 24 to 196 hours, containing surface pressure and wind, send the following email: ------------ To: query@saildocs.com Subject: anything send grib:10N,35N,090W,160W|1,1|12,24,48,72,96,120,144,168,192| ------- IMPORTANT: Do not insert any spaces, Saildocs uses spaces to delimit parameters. The vertical-bar character is the shift-backslash key on most keyboards. This example is around 5K bytes and covers a good bit of ocean. The size is directly proportional to the number of points: i.e. the size and resolution of the grid, the number of valid times, and the number or parameters. This sample is 3600 points (20 lat points x 20 lon points x 3 valid times x 3 paramters), roughly 1.5 bytes per point). These are uncompressed binary files which get compressed when sent via Sailmail or Winlink radio links, so there is no advantage to pre-compressed files. Subscribing =========== To subscribe to this grib, use the same format and change the "send" to "sub" (or "subscribe"). Subscriptions are for 14 days (changeable by adding a "days=xx" parameter, see the Saildocs "info" document), sent around 12z. For example: To: query@saildocs.com Subject: anything sub grib:10N,35N,090W,160W|1,1|12,24,48,72,96,120,144,168,192|days=30 (Cancellation instructions are sent with each file). =========================================================================== 2. How to get weatherfax files through Saildocs. Send an email to: query@saildocs.com subject: anything then in the body you use: send http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/fax/[file name] for example: send http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/fax/PWFI10.TIF The list of wind/wave files in the catalog for Mexico. Tropical Sea State Analysis VT00Z 20S-30N, E of 145W PKFA88.TIF Tropical Sea State Analysis VT12Z 20S-30N, E of 145W PKFA89.TIF Tropical Sea State Analysis (Most Current) PKFA10.TIF 24HR Wind/Wave Forecast VT00Z 20S-30N, E of 145W PWFE01.TIF 24HR Wind/Wave Forecast VT06Z 20S-30N, E of 145W PWFE02.TIF 24HR Wind/Wave Forecast VT12Z 20S-30N, E of 145W PWFE03.TIF 24HR Wind/Wave Forecast VT18Z 20S-30N, E of 145W PWFE04.TIF 24HR Wind/Wave Forecast (Most Current) PWFE10.TIF 48HR Wind/Wave Forecast VT00Z 20S-30N, E of 145W PWFI88.TIF 48HR Wind/Wave Forecast VT12Z 20S-30N, E of 145W PWFI90.TIF 48HR Wind/Wave Forecast (Most Current) PWFI10.TIF 48HR Wave Period/Swell Direction VT00Z 20S-30N,E of 145W PJFI87.TIF 48HR Wave Period/Swell Direction VT12Z 20S-30N, E of 145W PJFI88.TIF 48HR Wave Period/Swell Direction (Most Current) PJFI11.TIF 72HR Wind/Wave Forecast VT00Z 20S-30N, E of 145W PWFK92.TIF 72HR Wind/Wave Forecast VT12Z 20S-30N, E of 145W PWFK93.TIF 72HR Wind/Wave Forecast (Most Current) PWFK10.TIF 72HR Wave Period/Swell Direction VT00Z 20S-30N,E of 145W PJFK93.TIF TROPICAL CYCLONE CHARTS (Watching for Hurricanes) 72 HR Tropical Cyclone Danger Area VT 03Z 0N-40N, 80W-180W PWFK88.TIF 72 HR Tropical Cyclone Danger Area VT 09Z 0N-40N, 80W-180W PWFK89.TIF 72 HR Tropical Cyclone Danger Area VT 15Z 0N-40N, 80W-180W PWFK90.TIF 72 HR Tropical Cyclone Danger Area VT 21Z 0N-40N, 80W-180W PWFK91.TIF 72 HR Tropical Cyclone Danger Area (Most Current) PWFK11.TIF Note: Tropical Cyclone Danger Area chart replaced by High Wind/Wave Warning chart Dec 01 - May 14. SATELLITE IMAGERY (For watching storms, cloud cover and rain) @00Z GOES IR Satellite Image, Tropical East Pacific evpn02.jpg 06Z GOES IR Satellite Image, Tropical East Pacific evpn07.jpg @12Z GOES IR Satellite Image, Tropical East Pacific evpn04.jpg 18Z GOES IR Satellite Image, Tropical East Pacific evpn08.jpg GOES IR Satellite Image, Tropical East Pac (MOST CURRENT) evpn10.jpg @06Z GOES IR Satellite Image, East Pacific evpn03.jpg 12Z GOES IR Satellite Image, East Pacific evpn13.jpg @18Z GOES IR Satellite Image, East Pacific evpn14.jpg 21Z GOES VISIBLE Satellite Image, East Pacific evpn00.jpg GOES Satellite Image, East Pacific (MOST CURRENT) evpn98.jpg 00Z GOES IR Satellite Image, Pacific evpn01.jpg 06Z GOES IR Satellite Image, Pacific evpn06.jpg 12Z GOES IR Satellite Image, Pacific evpn12.jpg 18Z GOES IR Satellite Image, Pacific evpn18.jpg GOES IR Satellite Image, Pacific (MOST CURRENT) evpn99.jpg ============================================================================ 3. Other Information from NOAA There is also a wide variety of general information, satellite photos and other images available. To get the list of all the files in your area: Email: query@saildocs.com Subject: anything send http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/fax/[FILENAME] For the FILENAME you can choose the following (all lower case!) rfaxtif.txt (TIFF viewing suggestions) rfaxatl.txt (Atlantic radiofax file directory) rfaxpac.txt (Pacific radiofax file directory) rfaxmex.txt (Gulf of Mexico and Trop Atl radiofax file dir) rfaxak.txt (Alaska radiofax and ice file directory) rfaxhi.txt (Hawaii radiofax file directory) otherfax.txt (Foreign charts file directory) marine1.txt (Highseas,Offshore,Open Lakes,NAVTEX text file dir) marine2.txt (Hurricane text file directory) marine3.txt (Coastal forecasts text file directory) marine4.txt (Offshore forecasts by zone directory) marine5.txt (Atlantic coastal forecasts by zone directory) marine6.txt (Pacific coastal forecasts by zone directory) marine7.txt (Gulf of Mexico coastal forecasts by zone dir) marine8.txt (Great Lakes coastal forecasts by zone directory) marine9.txt (Alaska coastal forecasts by zone directory) marine10.txt (Hawaii&Trust coastal forecasts by zone directory) uk.txt (UK marine forecasts from Bracknell directory) canada.txt (Canadian marine text forecast directory) buoydata.txt (Buoy and C-MAN data directory) robots.txt (Marine forecasts via e-mail systems) TEXT DISCUSSION INFORMATION: You can also receive text forecasts this way. For example the tropical weather discussion for Eastern Pacific is located at the following URL: http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/data/hurricane_products/eastern_pacific/weather/discussion.txt So to retrieve this text forcast: Email: query@saildocs.com Subject: anything send http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/data/hurricane_products/eastern_pacific/weather/discussion.txt EASTERN PACIFIC HURRICANE DISCUSSION OUTLOOKS: http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/data/hurricane_products/eastern_pacific/weather/outlook.txt LIST OF ALL TEXT FORECAST PRODUCTS (long file -- internet connection only): To find a forecast for your area of interest try this page. Recored the URL for later use over SSB Email. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/forecast.htm ============================================================================ 4. Download text versions of any website. To retrieve data from a webpage (text only), you can try the following: Email: query@saildocs.com Subject: anything http://finance.yahoo.com or http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=amzn =========================================================================== 5. Access Buoyweather.com and QuickScat Here are some ways to get weather from Buoyweather and Scatterometer Wind Data for measuring windspeeds inside storms and fronts. **BUOYWEATHER.COM You can get the TEXT from Buoyweather.com's free 3 day forecasts for anywhere in the world. The following examples can be cut and paste into an email, just make sure there are no additional spaces or returns inserted into the long URLS. Cabo Corrientes near Puerto Vallarta (20.5N, 105.75W) http://www.buoyweather.com/wxnav6.jsp?region=ME&program=nww3BW1&grb=enp&latitude=20.5&longitude=-105.75&zone=-6&units=e Inside Baja Bahia Sanfrancisquito (28.5N, 112.75W) http://www.buoyweather.com/wxnav6.jsp?region=BA&program=nww3BW1&grb=enp&latitude=28.5&longitude=-112.75&zone=-7&units=e South End of Cabo San Lucus (22.75N, 110.0W) http://www.buoyweather.com/wxnav6.jsp?region=BA&program=nww3BW1&grb=enp&latitude=22.75&longitude=-110.0&zone=-7&units=e From the above examples, you can see how you could adapt this to other lat and longs, and different regions. Like the Tuanatepec, etc. Just go to buoyweather.com when you have an internet connection, and record the full URL so you can use it later. Or if you want to be creative, you can modify the URL yourself, and buoyweather will report back a forecast. You can change the LATITUDE and LONGITUDE values and email the request. Negative LATITUDE is SOUTH, and NEGATIVE LONGITUDE is WEST. Buoyweather will create a forecast for that position. If you are using it in the BAJA area, then REGION=BA, if you are using it in mainland Mexico, REGION=ME. For other parts of the world, you'll need to find out the proper REGION code off the buoyweather.com website. Note that the ZONE is the time zone offset from UTC for providing the hourly forecast report. Also, if you pick a LATITUDE and LONGITUDE that is out of Buoyweather.com's range (like on land, or if you have the wrong region for that position), it will return 0's for the forecast. Area Region Zone S. Calif. SD -7 N. Calif. NC -7 Oregon WA -7 Washington WA -7 Canada (pac) BC -7 Honduras HO -6 Guatemala GU -6 El Salvador EL -6 Nicaragua NI -7 Costa Rica CR -7 Panama PA -5 Columbia CO -4 Equador EC -4 Fr. Polynisia Tahiti -10 New Zeeland NZ 12 **QUICKSCAT from NOAA The best way to know what the wind is doing right now is to measure it with a technique called scatterometry. There are two polar orbiting satellites that sweep the earth making global measurements of the current wind conditions. Sometimes rain screws up the data, but they are improving it all the time. This is a good way to see the big picture of where the wind is really blowing. Source website with information about the plots http://manati.orbit.nesdis.noaa.gov/quikscat/ The images are a collection of data over 22 hours and you might have to get both images to find the wind in your area of interest. If you have trouble viewing the image, try using Internet Explorer (FILE->OPEN...etc). Assending pass Image send http://manati.orbit.nesdis.noaa.gov/dataimages21/cur/whole_as.png Descending pass Image send http://manati.orbit.nesdis.noaa.gov/dataimages21/cur/whole_ds.png ============================================================================ 6. Mexican & Central American Sites via email Often you can gauge the local wind conditions from getting an updated weather report from these land-based stations. Comments (and links) about their usefulness were taken from Don Anderson's Weather Information website. http://www.csus.edu/indiv/f/foxs/jour122/My%20Weather%20Sources.htm This page of Don's information is a treasure trove in and of itself. **************************************************************************** Follow the instructions for "4. Download text versions of any website" and use the URL of your choice from below. MEXICO Mexico, Hourly Reports Mexicali 32-38N 117-00W 22m http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MMML.html Loreto 26-01N 111-21W 15m Fairly good read on Southern Sea of Cortez on Baja side. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MMLT.html Guaymas 27-58N 110-56W 27m Fairly good read on Central Sea of Cortez on mainland side. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MMGM.html Los Mochis 25-41N 109-05W 4m Fairly good read on Southern Sea of Cortez on Mainland side. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MMLM.html La Paz 24-04N 110-22W Fairly good read on winds in La Paz area. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MMLP.html San Jose Del Cabo 23-09N 109-42W Use with caution. When wind speeds are high, they are usually high offshore. However the wind direction rarely agrees with that across the water. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MMSD.html Mazatlan 23-10N 106-16W Winds tend to be much less than offshore, unless from the westerly quadrant when they seem to be a reliable indicator of coastwise conditions, especially afternoons. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MMMZ.html Puerto Vallarta 20-41N 105-15W Rarely a good indicator of winds in Banderas Bay, especially La Cruz and Punta de Mita where afternoon winds are often strong from the west. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MMPR.html Manzanillo 19-09N 103-34W Very reliable indicator of coastal daytime and early evening conditions in that area, especially the afternoon southwesterlies. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MMZO.html Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo 17-36N 101-28W Very reliable indicator of coastal daytime and early evening conditions in that area, especially the afternoon southwesterlies. During winter months, marine forecasts usually show light and variable winds 10 kts or less from Chamela to Puerto Huatulco. However, for this stretch of the mainland, land-based reports as well as those from anchored vessels, show light to calm winds night and early morning, and occasionally 10 to 15 kts off the land. By noon winds veer to the S to SW 5 to 10 kts, and by mid afternoon are frequently SW to WSW 10 to 15 kts, occasionally 20 to 25 kts. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MMZH.html Acapulco 16-46N 099-45W http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MMAA.html A light wind area, especially during the winter months. Not a good indicator of winds 50 to 100 NM offshore. Reliable for afternoon southwesterly wind reports. Puerto Escondido 15-52N 97-05W 88m http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MMPS.html Good indicator of on coastal winds between Acapulco and Bahias de Huatulco. Bahias De Huatulco 15-47N 096-16W http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MMBT.html Located on the west end of the Gulf of Tehuantepec, but not a good indicator of conditions in the Gulf. Winds are usually from the southern semicircle less than 15 knots. Even when there are gale or storm conditions in the Tehuantepec. Minatitlan 18-06N 094-35W http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MMMT.html Located on the Bahia de Campeche on Atlantic side of the Tehuantepec. A good indication of conditions in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. If it’s blowing 15+ from the northerly quadrant, then it’s probably blowing a gale in the Tehuantepec. When it’s blowing from the other quadrants, it’s usually light and variable in the Tehuantepec. (By far the best 2- and 5-day forecasts for the Gulf of Tehuantepec may be found in the USN FNMOC COAMPS and NOGAPS Tropical East Pacific Surface Streamlines and Wind Speeds graphics at https://www.fnmoc.navy.mil/PUBLIC/ **************************************************************************** Meteorological Stations, Central America, Hourly Reports San Jose, Guatemala 13-55N 090-49W 2m Fair indication of conditions in Puerto Quetzal. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MGSJ.html Compala, El Salvador 13-26N 089-03W 25m Fair indicator of conditions at Marina Barillas. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MSLP.html Chinandega, Nicaragua 12-38N 087-08W 60m Good read on wind direction but coastal winds often stronger than reported. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MNCH.html Bluefields, Nicaragua 12-00N 086-46W 5m Useless indicator of winds on the Pacific side. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MNBL.html Liberia, Costa Rica 10-37N 085-26W 80m The best read on Gulf of Papagayo winds, but often coastal winds are stronger by as much as 15 kts with much stronger gusts. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MRLB.html Chacarita, Costa Rica 09-59N 084-47W 2m Only 5 miles east of Puntarenas. Good reliable reports. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MRCH.html Tobias Bolanos International, Cost Rica 09-57N 084-09W 994m Located 100 miles ESE of Gulf of Papagayo and 36 miles N of Punta Quepos. A fairly good indicator of winds along the coast, especially if strong from E to NE. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MRPV.html Santiago, Panama 8-05N 080-57W 88m Located on peninsular at west side of Gulf of Panama. Best indicator of the strong winds prevalent off Punta Mala. Daytime winds usually 5 to 10 kts greater than marine forecasts. Night and early morning winds usually calm or much less than marine forecasts. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MPSA.html Marcos A. Gelabert, Panama 08-59N 079-31W Good indicator of Canal Zone weather http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MPMG.html Tocumen, Panama 09-03N 79-22W 45m http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/MPTO.html Good indicator of Canal Zone weather ============================================================================ 7. Get Spot Forecasts for your position from saildocs. Another helpful tool comes from saildocs. Get weather from the NOAA GFS and WWW3 models for your chosen lat-lon. http://www.saildocs.com/spotforecasts or send blank email to spotforecasts(at)saildocs.com This page of Don's information is a treasure trove in and of itself. **************************************************************************** To get a forecast simply send an email message to query@saildocs.com in the following format: TO: query@saildocs.com SUBJECT: anything MESSSAGE: send spot:LAT,LONG|DAYS,INTERVAL Where LAT is in degrees like 14.5N (which is 14deg 30minutes N) LON is in degrees like 125.25W (which is 125deg 15minutes W) DAYS is the number of days you want for a forecast (16 max, but 4-7 is probably where the accuracy stops) INTERVAL is the hourly interval that you want a forecast for (3, 6, 12, 24) **NOTE: Model data is available on a grid (0.5-degree for wind, 1 x 1.25 deg for waves) EXAMPLE: You want a forecast at 13°12'N 088°54'W for 4 days out at 3 hour intervals. Just use: send spot:13.2N,88.9W|4,3 (Remember to convert your minutes to decimal degrees, divide the minutes by 60 and that's your decimal information) THE RESULTS LOOK LIKE THIS: Forecast for 13°12'N 088°54'W Date Time WIND DIR PRESS WAVES DIR PER utc kts deg hPa mtrs deg sec ----------- ----- --- ------ ----- --- ---- 04-11 06:00 5.8 289 1011.2 04-11 09:00 4.1 329 1008.9 04-11 12:00 3.5 008 1009.5 04-11 15:00 1.5 344 1012.0 04-11 18:00 7.1 217 1011.0 04-11 21:00 10.9 226 1007.2 04-12 00:00 9.1 238 1008.2 04-12 03:00 7.9 266 1011.9 [...continues on for 4 days total] A handy feature lets you subscribe to get reports sent to you: sub spot:13.2N,88.9W|4,3 time=12:00 This will send a report to you every day shortly after 1200 UTC. The models are updated 4 times a day at 6 hour intervals starting at 0000 UTC. You can also specify the COAMPS model for North America, parts of the Caribbean waters and a few other spots. The COAMPS model takes into account of some of the land effects (thermals and gap winds). For COAMPS just send the following line which uses all the same parameters as for the GFS and WWW3 model: send spot(coamps):13.2N,88.9W|4,3